BERKELEY – Somewhere in the vicinity, there is a fox, and it was up to the Holiday City Amateur Radio Club to find it.
Of course, it wasn’t a real fox. The members called this exercise a “fox hunt” because it entails a group of people tracking down their prey. One member of the club goes off on their own and starts broadcasting a signal. The club members gathered at the Holiday City South Clubhouse to begin their search.
They held their antenna aloft, pointing in different directions until they found a signal. The antenna were fashioned with PVC pipes and tape measures hooked up to receivers. Amazingly, these makeshift devices were able to tune in on the right frequency. Whereas antennas that used to sit atop televisions needed to be aimed at the broadcast towers, these antennas need to be pointed toward the fox.
Once they got a signal, they went to another location, just outside the Robert J. Miller Airpark. There, they took more readings. The process continued until they found the transmitter.
It’s a way for the group to train themselves. Larry Puccio, treasurer of the group, said all amateur radio enthusiasts are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. Hunts like this help keep their skills in practice for any emergency.
The radio club members will offer up their services during storms that cause power outages, as most towns have CERT – Community Emergency Response Teams. They’ll use their knowledge and skills to fill in the blanks when other forms of communication fail.
John Roberts said when he was living in Alabama he was a tornado spotter. “We could spot a tornado before the weather bureau.” They’d let the public know and save lives.
That’s not to say that club members don’t do it just for fun. Member Jeff Pennell said he loves to just get on there and chat with whoever else might be on. You never know who you’ll meet.
Pennell said he got his license when he was 10 and he’s 68 now. “It’s fun to get on the air. Once you get the gear and put it up, you don’t have to spend a lot of money” on the hobby. The last time he bought equipment it cost $300 used. It was 30 years old and still worked. “If you take care of something, it will last.”
Despite the club’s name, not all of the members were from Holiday City.
Doug Poray, the president of the club, said that the American Radio Relay League provides a lot of background information, or you can visit HCARC.us. People interested in joining can call him at 732-928-2316.
