Radio Society of Great Britain
Esher Common Sunday 12 Nov 2017

ARDF Training Day "To improve my TX hunting skills"

Summary
The ARDF Training event on Sunday, 12th November 2017 at Esher Common will be organised as two separate training courses on 2m and 80m with 5 transmitters each. The Training event will be a “low key” “self-timing” and “self-managing” event under the badge “To Improve My ARDF TX-Hunting Skills” and there will be plenty to explore and discuss. Please come with all of your “problems” or questions.

Location, Car Parking and Directions:
The location of the ARDF Training Event is Esher Common, Surrey. The Start and Finish will be co-located at Copsem Lane Car Park and the nearest post code is KT10 9HH. Click here for a map extract showing the location

From the North and West: Follow the M25 anticlockwise to Junction 10 with the A3. Take the A3 towards London and leave at the second junction on the A3 and go left towards Esher. The Copsem Lane Car Park will be on the left 200-300m from the junction. The car park is free

Format of the ARDF Training Event

Two ARDF Training courses will be on 2m and 80m, which will conform to the general principles of IARU, but will be less formal than a Championship. The distances between the transmitters and Start/Finish will be more than 300m from each other on 2m band and more than 100m on 80m band (Sprint-like).

On 2m there will be 5 hidden transmitters (in a five minute cycle – one minute transmission each) and TX#5 will be last to be found and hidden close to the Start/Finish. There will be no Beacon on 2 m. Self-navigation will be required from TX#5 to the Car Park.

On 80 m there will be 5 transmitters (in one minute cycle – 12 seconds transmission each). There will be a separate Beacon on a different frequency and placed close to the Finish.

On both bands there will be an option for a Long Course of 5 transmitters, a Short Course of 4 transmitters and Novices Course of 3 transmitters. Competitors can elect to hunt all 10 ‘foxes’ (5 + 5 Long Course) with or without a break, or specified 8 ‘foxes’ (4 + 4 Short Course). Some competitors could choose one band only. Self-timing and self-managing of Start-Finish. There will be a Letter Code at each Transmitter, which should be entered into the Individual ARDF (Punching) Card together with the Start/Finish times and left to the organiser for entering into the Event Results. Time limit is 150 minutes combined time for both courses but no later than 14:30 pm, when both courses close.

The results will be posted on this web site as soon as possible after the event.

Map and the Area

The map is 1:10,000, A4 landscape and is NOT on waterproof paper. Competitors should plan to apply waterproofing after receiving the map at the start,

Part of the area lies south of the A3 and there are two bridges for footpaths across the main road, together with two minor road bridges. No other route is to be used to cross the A3. The minor roads must be crossed with care.
In addition, fences should not be crossed.

Timetable

10:00 Registration opens. Information sheets issued to ALL entrants.
10:00-1200 Starts - self managing, self timing
14:30 Courses close.

Entries

Entry fee is £5

Procedures

Registration, Start and Finish for the both ARDF training courses will be co-located. Assembly will be at the organiser’s car in the Copsem Lane Car Park.

In accordance with the informality of the event the organisers will not require you to deposit your receiver in a pound before the transmitters start sending. They do expect you to respect the spirit of this concession by refraining from using your receiver until reporting to officials in the start area and then only under their supervision.

Safety

Competitors are responsible for their own safety and take part at their own risk. No smoking in the forest. Whistles should be carried (the emergency signal is 6 blasts repeated at 1 minute intervals).

Loan Equipment

Receivers for 3.5MHz and 144MHz are available on loan. E-Mail the organiser (address below) to reserve.

Enquiries

Vlad Boev at: vladboev@aol.com; gsm: 07754621351