|
Radio Society of Great Britain
At the start the information on the folding of the map gave strong clues as the location of Tx2, only on the long course, so I decided to get that one first. On the way build up information regarding the location of the remainder, collecting them in a clockwise direction to minimise the amount of climb required.
Was on the main road near Tx2 when it came on for its second transmission and by the time it turned off I was happy that it was more or less below me. Carefully working down the hill, in visual mode located it before it came on another time.
With one Tx collected it was now back up the hill and down the south of the map to get the rest. Didn’t retrace my steps back up the hill as it was steep. I also didn’t want to give too many clues to others as to its location. I was about half way between the café and Tx1 when Tx4 came on very loudly. Distracted by this and forgetting an earlier bearing for it I ventured down the hill. After a little while I realised my mistake and returned to the top of the hill, in a big loop that lost me about 5 to 6 minutes. Was on the main road by the open area when Tx1 was transmitting and got close enough, whilst still on the road, before it went off to determine which part of the forest to search.
Tx5 was next and whilst running down the track it was getting louder indicating that it was over the edge of the hill. It had turned off by the time I reached the edge of the hill so proceeded down the large re-entrant in visual mode. It was two more transmissions before I eventually located it. After the first of these I had a good bearing that I didn’t follow for long enough. If I had looked at the map and seen the large depression I probably would have found it.
Tx4 didn’t give me any trouble locating it soon after it had finished a transmission.
It was a long slog up the hill to Tx3. Unfortunately when I got to the top it was a little while before its next transmission, and a visual search didn’t locate it until it next came on.
The return to the finish was hard work, a long a tiring climb.
It was a challenging course with a good mix of Txs on the top of the hill, to keep them loud, and on the slopes to make things interesting.
Fox-Oring course.
In looking at the location of the controls, I decided to collect them in a clockwise direction with the southern ones first. Part of the though process here was that the return to the finish from the last control would be down hill.
There was only one control that I was undecided when to collect. It was either going to be the second or the sixth. As it turned out, the first was quite a way down the hill, and not very far above the track so it became the sixth. When locating it, it didn’t feel very far from the main track down the ridge.
I found using a PJ-80 that the Txs were very quiet. Once I had the receiver tuned, for which it was useful to have the sample Tx, I was able to hear all the Txs as I approached them.
I know the transmitter power level was reduced from that used at Blackwood last year, but I think for future events somewhere between the two levels will be better.
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for an very enjoyable event.
Michael
|