Fred's RDF Page

This page represents my real passion in HAM Radio (other than yacking on 2m and 70cm), Radio Direction Finding.  Also known as RDF and Foxhunting, I liken it to a grown man's hide and seek.  While the content on this page is a little stark right now, I am planning on making this one of my bigger sections in the next few months, adding lots of links, pictures and tips.

What is foxhunting?  Well, you could watch a bunch of grown men running around in their cars, antennas sprouting from every fender, desperately trying to find a hidden transmitter and be reminded of a scene from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World".   We're all just searching for "The Big 'W'".  On any given Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you might find us either practicing our skills (read:playing), or testing out new equipment we hope to use to win the next big hunt.

Probably the best resource possible to learn more about foxhunting is from Joe Moell's (KØOV) "Homing In" WEB page. Many of you might know Joe from his book with Thomas N. Curlee, WB6UZZ, "Hidden Transmitter Hunting".  For all intents and purposes, this is the only book on the subject and although a little dated, is the best place to start.  Well, other than this WEB page.

Shortly, I will have detailed information and techniques about foxhunting and the construction of my AHHA Solutions Doppler and 8 element antenna design.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, here are some details and experiences with various types of equipment I've built or borrowed (and of course, never returned).  I've included lots of pictures so you can see how these work and are constructed.  And just so you know, I haven't really borrowed anything. If I didn't build it, I bought it from a HAM who did, won it in foxhunt, or it was given to me by a generous Elmer.   Isn't HAM radio great?

RDF LINKS
Piedmont TXmitter Tracking	The Piedmont Transmitter Tracking site sponsored by Charles Scharlau. Yes our initials are P.T.T.!
WRUPP	My Buddy Bill Rupp's (N0MJK) Great Radio page with lots about foxhunting and doppler units
WB2HOL	Another buddy Joe Leggio (like Le-jee-oh), has a great site with cool projects.  Joe is the inventor of the "tape measure beam" and a widely used active attenuator circuit
Montreal Fox	Jaques Brodeur's site with information on PIC controllers and the Montreal Fox and Montreal Doppler and an Audio Field Strength Meter
Agrelo Systems	Agrelo Systems Doppler page.  They make a small microcontrolled plug and play unit.  Everything including the antenna is part of the package.
K0OV's "Homing In" WEB page.	Joe Moell's, author of the 73 Magazine column "Homing In", web site.  Probably the best resource on the net
DF Systems	DF Systems page, home of the "Roanoke" Doppler
Dopplers by Greany	Great resource page by Ed Greany (KB6DOL)  Source for circuit boards and a tutorial on how to build systems and antennas for dopplers
Doppler Systems	Doppler Systems manufactures a line of good (albeit expensive) doppler equipment including commercial grade stuff
AHHA	The system I recommend for people wanting to build a doppler from a kit at a reasonable price. Microprocessor controlled, very sophisticated, firmware upgradeable.
Motron Fingerprinter	The expensive, but best radio fingerprint device.   It samples the initial keyup of a signal, tracking the PLL settle time, to make a unique print of every radio.  It can made a database and match known fingerprints to any transmission.
Rdf Links

 

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