Amateur Radio FAQ

jc1240 · Feb 22, 2023

Can anyone identify the "alphabet" in the PDF? I'm not sure I have ever seen anything like it before. This is the 2nd clue to a fox hunt in Carroll County this Saturday (10am start). Clue 1 was in CW and since I can't seem to upload an mp3, it is "Give me liberty and give me a canoe."

First Fox Hunt of 2023 is scheduled for next Saturday (2/25) starting at 10:00 am with check-in. Attached is clue 1 of 3. Subsequent clues will be released in the coming days (Tues/Thurs) leading up to the big hunt. The chase will be most likely to succeed through combined use of transportation by vehicle and by foot. On air coordination will be through linked club repeaters. Sharing your location and bearings with fellow hunters is allowed and encouraged.

After hunt gathering to be decided upon by hunters gathered at the fox.

Specific information for fox and repeaters:
• Fox will be transmitting on 146.565 MHz.
• Westminster: 145.410 MHz, “-” offset 600 KHz, PL 114.8 Hz
• Westminster: 449.875, “-” offset 5 MHz, PL 127.3 Hz
• Sykesville: 147.285 “+” offset 600 KHz, PL 107.2 Hz

gamer_jim · Feb 22, 2023

jc1240 said:
Can anyone identify the "alphabet" in the PDF? I'm not sure I have ever seen anything like it before. This is the 2nd clue to a fox hunt in Carroll County this Saturday (10am start). Clue 1 was in CW and since I can't seem to upload an mp3, it is "Give me liberty and give me a canoe."

I spent about an hour looking at this. I love solving encryption problems.
I was looking for public parks which ended in the pattern ABBCD.
Words I could try are: Miller, Woods, Valley, Supply, Greens.

The other problem is the last letter is also used twice in the middle of the phrase at positions 12 and 14. an "S" would make sense.
I figured they would be doing this at a public park but couldn't find any in Carroll County that matched that pattern.

I don't think it's a number as there are 13 unique characters. If we add a negative symbol, a decimal and a comma then it might be LAT/Long coordinates.
The third character is repeated at #3, 7 and 17 position. So I doubt it's a decimal.
Maybe they put a plus symbol at front but then #4 would need to be decimal which isn't repeated in the phrase, and also first is repeated at #5.

It's probably a riddle to the location and not the proper name of the location.

Your first clue is probably the boat dock at Liberty reservoir.

Good luck and let me know what the answer is when this is over.

jc1240 · Feb 22, 2023

I'm thinking the reservoir also. The fellow did say there would be a little hiking involved, so I don't think it's immediately at the dock. Piney Run Park is on the short list as well due to Liberty RD and a few businesses over the years in that area with Liberty in their names.

Part of me is interested in the clues, but part of me enjoys the act of RDF itself including nothing at first and driving around until I start to hear it. I've just never seen anything like what is in the PDF.

E.Shell · Feb 22, 2023

Ham Exams In Two Weeks

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 5:45 PM

American Legion Post 175,
832 Manhattan Beach Rd
Severna Park, MD

Administered by Laurel VEC & Maryland Mobileers.

Walk-Ins are OK.

Pre-registration is NOT required, but is appreciated (saves ALL of us time when you get there). We can process you when you arrive.

It DOES make things smoother for YOU if you have already gone to the FCC site, registered there and have been issued an "FRN" (Federal Registration Number). The FRN is used in reporting your successful exam results to the FCC. ( https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn )

EXAM Pre-registration info:
https://sites.google.com/view/mmarcveteam/pre-registration

Note that the FCC is now charging a $35.00 license fee. We do NOT collect the fee at the exam, we will send successful exam results to the FCC for the candidate and they will have 10 days to pay through the FCC site. This fee does not apply to upgrades (Tech-to-Gen, Gen-to-AE).

Side note:
If you're interested in Amateur Radio ("ham"), would like to eventually get licensed, have read through this thread and STILL don't know where to start: https://www.ar15.com/forums/outdoor..._learning_basic_VHF_UHF_operations/22-646491/

K31 · Feb 22, 2023

motorcoachdoug said:
I know this might be a little bit off topic but I am looking for a good used HF Rig to receive only since I live in an apartment here in Aspen Hill area of Silver Spring,the home of 12 zip codes, and do not have much room to string a dipole antenna. I am using the magnetic loop and a couple of SDR Dongles with a converter that will let me pick up the HF range that the SDR dongles will not pick up without it.
So what would you recommend. Budget , I would like to keep it under $300 if I can as I am going to order the remote kit for a Harris XG100M with the CH100 color control head and that is $595.
Thanks

Various clubs like the Anne Arundel Radio Club W3VPR.org sell donated or deceased members equipment. I know that AARC has "Open Shack" hours on Sunday so you may be able to see and test something that strikes your fancy. Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) and Gigaparts also have consignment and used sales on their website but they might not deal in anything in your price range and will probably have a higher markup than a club sale.

You may want to check out the classifieds on QTH.com https://swap.qth.com/index.php or Universal radio https://www.universal-radio.com/used/used1.html

Also QRZ.com https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?forums/ham-radio-gear-for-sale.7/ although sellers there may be wary of buyers without callsigns they can verify.

There unfortunately are scammers on the amateur radio sites who buy equipment to swap working parts and then claim they are defective so sellers generally will not warranty their sales. Buying from a locally listed source ie. Maryland can make it possible to see the item is in working order before you buy.

Last there is Craigslist if you want to be robbed.

Bottom line is that I would peruse club offerings. You are more likely to get to see want you are buying and you could be helping a widow and their family.

K31 · Feb 22, 2023

jc1240 said:
Part of me is interested in the clues, but part of me enjoys the act of RDF itself including nothing at first and driving around until I start to hear it. I've just never seen anything like what is in the PDF.

I despise fox hunts with clues. At least, over-the-air clues.

Boxcab · Feb 22, 2023

motorcoachdoug said:
I know this might be a little bit off topic but I am looking for a good used HF Rig to receive only since I live in an apartment here in Aspen Hill area of Silver Spring,the home of 12 zip codes, and do not have much room to string a dipole antenna. I am using the magnetic loop and a couple of SDR Dongles with a converter that will let me pick up the HF range that the SDR dongles will not pick up without it.
So what would you recommend. Budget , I would like to keep it under $300 if I can as I am going to order the remote kit for a Harris XG100M with the CH100 color control head and that is $595.
Thanks

Let me look... I might have an old receiver sitting in my basement. I got it a few years ago from someone that was going to throw it away. I've never plugged it in or turned it on. It's yours if I can find it. If interested, PM me, and I'll dig it out and get it to you.

.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

jc1240 · Feb 23, 2023

Carroll County fox hunt, 3rd and final "clue"

Also, my wife is brilliant. She figured out clue 2 is called puzzle code and there is a key:

Puzzle Code

Details of Puzzle Code, an alphabet invented by Josh Ragsdell with letters that all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

www.omniglot.com

E.Shell · Feb 24, 2023

Help NASA study 'grey line' propagation in the day time?

Next eclipse (October 14, 2023) provides an opportunity to experiment with propagation during the unusual atmospheric condition created and NASA will be on the air via "HamSCI".

https://science.nasa.gov/science-ne...ators-we-need-your-help-during-solar-eclipses

Even if you're not interested in NASA, you might find an opportunity to make contacts that are normally difficult/unavailable during the eclipse as the grey line is distorted.

gamer_jim · Feb 25, 2023

Played with the Reverse Beacon Network this morning. Found the CW beacon feature on my radio and sent TEST and my callsign.
A beacon heard me 681 miles away on 5 watts.
I thought that was cool.

Andybrown · Feb 25, 2023

73 es Best DX de K3BR.

jc1240 · Feb 25, 2023

Fox hunt update. So, I didn't find it. I knew it was around Liberty Reservoir, but I was on the wrong side of the lake. Doh. here's how the clues worked.

1st (cw) was obvious to me - give me liberty and a canoe

2nd (puzzle code) - most important clue. it spelled "monumental.dodging.tipped" which turns out is a GPS system based on 3-meter squares each identified by 3 words. https://what3words.com/ In this case it was the intersection of Rt32 and Pine Knob Road.

3rd clue was a the crossword puzzle that identified a car to spot in the parking area (2014 white Hyundai Santa Fe). I was across the bridge as I had no idea there were access points from Pine Knob Rd. My attenuator didn't work, so I couldn't reduce the signal to get a bearing due to being too close and reflected signals.

Other than still having fun, the benefit is I don't have to run the next one which allows me to hunt.

fscwi · Feb 25, 2023

Anybody using Winlink? I've been doing WinLink Wednesday for about a month, the general check ins have been going well but have not been able to get P2P to work so I need to spend some more time on that.

Original Winlink Wednesday

BigCity · Feb 25, 2023

gamer_jim said:
Question: How many radios do you need?
Answer: Just one more

Got my new Yaesu FT-818ND today. Yaesu discontinued manufacturing these last December. HRO got one last shipment in of which I pre-paid. Learning CW now and hope to do QRP POTA later this year.

Jim,
How are you learning CW? I just started with LICW.

Also, is anyone familiar with the Morserino? Not sure if this is a good thing for a beginner.

I will be going to Dayton Hamvention in May.

gamer_jim · Feb 25, 2023

BigCity said:
Jim,
How are you learning CW? I just started with LICW.

Also, is anyone familiar with the Morserino? Not sure if this is a good thing for a beginner.

I will be going to Dayton Hamvention in May.

I am roughly following their plan. I basically do the Morse code training web app and then tweak it to how I am making progress.

Attend as many classes as you can. The Sunday Morning "how to practice" class has been great and gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the tool.

I don't have the Morserino and don't plan on buying one. My radio, FT-450, can generate the side tone and I can use that for sending practice for now.

Use the https://morsecode.world/ tools to help send and receive as well.

I've found that sending faster spacing is better then slower. You want to train your brain to hear the patterns and not the individual ditts-and-dahs. By hearing faster then your forcing your brain into the "language" mode instead of hearing mode. You are kinda hacking your brain to skip the listening part and instead treat Morse code as a new language, which your brain is very well wired to already do.

PM me if you want to get together or have other questions. I'm still new to this too, only in my 3rd week at LICW but doing well.

K31 · Feb 25, 2023

jc1240 said:
My attenuator didn't work, so I couldn't reduce the signal to get a bearing due to being too close and reflected signals.

If you are close enough you might try using 2nd order or 3rd order harmonics of the frequency.

jc1240 · Feb 26, 2023

K31 said:
If you are close enough you might try using 2nd order or 3rd order harmonics of the frequency.

Aye, good idea.

BigCity · Feb 26, 2023

Thanks Jim. Not sure why I have so many problems answering forum questions on my phone lately. I wish it were that simple to hear code like you describe....

jc1240 · Feb 28, 2023

So cute. 6-year-old Technician from back in the CW-required days.

E.Shell · Feb 28, 2023

Ham Exams NEXT WEEK

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 5:45 PM

American Legion Post 175,
832 Manhattan Beach Rd
Severna Park, MD

Administered by Laurel VEC & Maryland Mobileers.

Walk-Ins are OK.

Pre-registration is NOT required, but is appreciated (saves ALL of us time when you get there). We can easily process you when you arrive.

It DOES make things smoother for YOU if you have already gone to the FCC site, registered there and have been issued an "FRN" (Federal Registration Number). The FRN is used in reporting your successful exam results to the FCC. ( https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn )

EXAM Pre-registration info:
https://sites.google.com/view/mmarcveteam/pre-registration

Note that the FCC is now charging a $35.00 license fee. We do NOT collect the fee at the exam, we will send successful exam results to the FCC for the candidate and they will have 10 days to pay through the FCC site. This fee does not apply to upgrades (Tech-to-Gen, Gen-to-AE).

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