Transmitter Hunting in the San Francisco Bay Area
Pleasanton Transmitter Hunt
June 16, 2001

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Story and Photographs by: Jim-KD6DX
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Last updated: Monday, October 17, 2005

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOX

THE PLAYERS

TOP to BOTTOM & LEFT TO RIGHT
Fox: Paul Shinn
Jim-KD6DX, Rich-KN6FW, Jeff-KD6TOJ, Chris-K6OZY, Mike
Bill-N6IMS, Art-W6VV, Peter-VK5TZX, Dianne, Adrian-VK5ZSN
Henry-KF6PCE, Bill-KF6QGK, Gary-WB6YBU, Larry-KD6FFN, Sandy
Chris-KF6VFU, Ron-N7TVE

Participants for this transmitter hunt

1) First, look for transmitter #1 on 147.455MHz, which was to be 1 minute on and 1 minute off. Equipment failure made this transmitter 100% on.

2) Then, look for transmitter #2 on 146.565MHz, which transmits for 58 seconds, with a 2 second off or rest period.

Nine teams gathered at the Pleasanton start point, the Valley Christian School Center in Dublin, California.

Also, since I could not hear transmitter #1 off the hill, I left the Doppler listening to transmitter #2 and set it to 'Absolute'. This setting uses a field effect compass and converts all the Doppler bearing to true compass bearings.

The Doppler's true compass bearing, began turning as I drove south on Foothill Blvd. When it registered 90*, I stopped and plotted a secondary bearing to transmitter #2. The triangulation was surprisingly accurate, which probably accounted for my low mileage. AHHA MicroFinder Doppler.

Of course, I listened to both fox transmitters on my mobile radio so when I began hearing transmitter #1 again, I switched my Doppler back to 147.455MHz.

Concentrating on finding transmitter #1, I guessed it might be on top of Killkare Ridge, as my Doppler began swinging West and to the right of my car.

Just as I got to the mouth of Castlewood Country Club (on my right), my U-R-Here Radio (Icom R3) began sounding off (attinuation-2), meaning the transmitter was only about 1/2 mile West.

Using rule #3 (trust your equipment) and rule #4 (check your immediate option), I diverted my drive to Sunol and headed up (west) to the Castlewood Country Club.

Taking a little time out, I plotted a point, triangulated previously to transmitter #2 and had my Garmin StreetPilot-III to route the shortest distance to transmitter #2.

What a time and mileage saver this new gadget, the Garmin StreetPilot-III has turned out to be. 

Again I used my 4-element beam and the Optoelectronics Scout-40 frequency counter to sniff out the fox transmitter hidden under a hedge.

1) Arrow, 4-element 2-meter beam.
2) Arrow, -75db attenuator.
3) Standard, C558A dual band transceiver (for beam).
4) Compass, Maps, Protractor and felt pens.
5) Garmin, StreetPilot-III (street level maps).
6) AHHA, MicroFinder-1 Dopppler with Compass.
7) Standard, C568A twin band transceiver (for Doppler).
8) Standard, C5900DA tri-band mobile radio (long range)
9) Icom, R3 'DF' mode scanner. (short range).
10) Optoelectronics, Scout-40 frequency counter (sniffer, extremely short range). 

I also let Chris borrowed my Scout-40 frequency counter and Arrow antenna setup to sniff out the hidden transmitter on his own.

Jeff-KD6TOJ was kind enough to take a photo of me, Jim-KD6DX.