radio direction finding, transmitter hunting, california

Starting this transmitter hunt from the west end of central Ave in Fremont, next to the salt flats, I used my 4-element beam and Sniffer-MK4 to get an initial bearing of 245*. My mobile radio and Doppler could not hear the signal at all. I drove off, planning to follow my Doppler to the hidden fox.

I corrected my initial bearing when my Doppler received a brief signal pointing north from the top of the Dumbarton Bridge. I figured the fox was in San Bruno, Treasure Island or Alameda.

Programming the Garmin StreetPilot-2610, I followed it's recommended street route north and kept checking my MK4 (U-R-Here) radio for any indication that I was nearing the fox. After passing the San Francisco Airport, it became clear the fox was somewhere on Treasure Island. Thank goodness for my SP-2610, I was able to pilot my way through the maze of highways in and around San Francisco and Treasure Island.

At the north end of Treasure Island, I stopped and took some pictures of the fantastic San Francisco shore-line.

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Arriving at the fox (6:20PM) with a MK4 attenuation level of 7, I sniffed out the fox transmitter with a folding 3-element beam and my MK4.

There was some confusion about the transmitter being located on a PRIVATE road. Some hunters drove around the Island, trying to find the transmitter in a public place, only to be directed onto private property.

The Foxes

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The MK4 told me early-on where the transmitter was located, so I had no choice but, to drive down a private road.
The Sniffer-MK4 is the greatest transmitter-hunting tool I own. It seems to know where the fox is hiding.