Step 2  - getting ready to hunt on your own Once you are feeling confident about using the DF receiver and can track down the Micros and the Maxi transmitters, it is time to find out about the Minis. Up until now you have only been looking at part of the picture, these events use a 'tree structure'.   Powerful transmitters bring you to an area where you can hear less powerful transmitters. Just like a family tree, here the term 'Parent' is used for the big Tx (transmitter) that brings you within range of the little ones.  You have already met the Maxi and the Micros but we haven't mentioned what comes between - the Minis. If you haven't done so already take a look at the overview, don't worry about the detail just notice the three types of Tx and how they are used to entertain people hunting at different levels, then return to this page.   Link to the overview. As the overview says the Minis are included to challenge people who have been 'DFing' for many years. They are harder because: There is no A4 white sheet near them, just the camouflaged 'Triffid' and placing them deeper into the bushes. They only transmit for one minute in each five. Putting five on one frequency meaning you have to be very careful about identifying them.   The fact that they are only on for one minute means it is very easy to go past one when it is off.  As you have probably already realised using the 'null' to get a direction isn't too difficult but using the sense circuit can be tricky and it gets more error prone the closer you get to the Tx. So having gone by a Mini it might be some time before you realise your mistake. Micro with A4 sheet Mini without! However,  Minis aren't all bad! When you are at a distance from them finding the 'null' and taking a 'sense' to give their direction isn't that hard. As always you will be helped with this but if you want to read about it and hear the sounds check this page and then return here. On your next event try listening to each of the Minis in turn, sketch their directions on a piece of paper and ask your helper to check them. Up until now the event organiser has been telling you roughly where to hunt for the Micros but if you knew that one of the Minis had a Micro near it, you could use the Mini signal to get you close to the Micro without asking where to search next, independence beckons .... Which Minis (or Maxi) will guide you to a Micro is in a secret envelope provided to help novices, it is called a 'Parent Envelope' and the event Organiser or Starter can provide one.  In the example on the right you can see that Maxi A could be used to get you near Micro X;  Mini H leads to Micro Y;  and  J takes you near both W and Z.   The order you attempt them in is not important. The structure of every event is different so you must get a new envelope each time.  You can read more about the 'Parent Envelope'  here. When you do your next event ask the Organiser about the envelope, he should have one with him and will help you to get started. Practise using an envelope for a few events while still coming directly to the site.  When you feel confident, team up with an 'Expert' to experience the long distance phase of the event (Step 3). Contents of a Parent Envelope Please do not let an 'expert' see this! A - x H - Y J - (W & Z) Organiser's Mobile 0781234999 Call if you need help.