"T Hunts" Were Fun
Best Hobby A Young Man In The 1950's Could Have!
We Had Young Men Around Us Helping... Why You ASK?
T-Hunting, you say? What's that?
Transmitter Hunting (known as T-Hunting, Fox Hunting, Radio Direction Finding) is a popular activity among Amateur Radio operators where a transmitter is actually hidden somewhere and "hunted down" (found) using radio direction finding techniques!
The transmitter is usually on the air intermittently, and identifies either in Morse code or voice automatically.
Amateurs participating in transmitter hunts usually start at a common start point, and the fun begins!
When the transmitter is on the air, the hunters "take bearings" using directional antennas by determining the direction where the signal is the strongest.
This is done throughout the hunt until the transmitter is found!
First, to put a rumor to rest, you do not need expensive equipment for transmitter hunting! All you need are three things.
1) A receiver that will listen to the frequency you would like. You will need some sort of analog, LED or digital meter read out to inform you of the strongest signal direction.
2) An attenuator to decrease the signal as you become closer to the transmitter. This is so you can still receive a bearing on the meter.
3) A directional antenna (Yagi, Quad, etc.) Should be tuned for the frequency you would like to hunt on.
*Note: It is possible to track down a transmitter with an omni antenna but can be very difficult.
All aspects of Amateur Radio should be enjoyable, and transmitter hunting sure is! On the other hand, there is a competitive part of Transmitter Hunting around the world. On Foot in or out of a Vehicle.
We Had Secret Weapons) - Girls
The girls worked in Paul's Dad's dime store and Paul junior told them how much fun a T-Hunt was. They said "We will give it a try!" I remember Judy was a red-head and quite charming; I had NOT discovered girls yet so I didn't pay much attention.
The pictures below shows our setup. The girls would drive and use the map while Ed would operate the radio and I would attempt to keep the antenna from stabbing the car next to us.
When we got close, we would exit the car and all the guys would come and help us (wonder why???) Duh!
It took Ed and I a few more years to understand why the guys were always so willing to help us out! Duh!
Judy was the driver and Paula the navigator. Ed and I turned the antenna, watched the S-Meter, and yelled "Left", "Right", "Straight-Ahead" or whatever!