NSRC Fox hunt

Our annual Fox hunt and social gathering will be held on the second Tuesday in July at the Glen. A Fox Hunt, in amateur radio, is a group activity where the “Fox” hides a transmitter, and the hunters use direction-finding techniques to locate it.

We are meeting at the northwest corner of Gallery Park, at the intersection of West Lake and Patriot Blvd. There is a parking lot across the street from Mint Lane (see map).

Group photo from the 2022 Fox Hunt, outside the meeting location.

FOX HUNT 2025 Rules of the game

  • There are two hidden Fox transmitters. You must find the first transmitter before searching for the second.

  • If you find a transmitter, do not remove it or turn it off. Just take a proof-of-discovery ticket to claim your win.

  • The first Fox transmits at 146.46 MHz. Third harmonic is 439.38 MHz.

  • The frequency of the second Fox will be revealed only to those who found the first Fox.

  • If you find the first Fox, take a proof-of-discovery ticket to claim the order in which you found the hidden transmitter.
    The proof-of-discovery ticket contains information about the second Fox.

  • If you find the second Fox, take a proof-of-discovery ticket as well.

  • You must find the first Fox to be eligible to look for the second one.

  • Private property, indoor spaces such as public bathrooms, and areas outside the park are out of bounds.

  • Neither transmitter will be hidden in the lagoons.

  • Do not transmit at either Fox frequencies.

  • Use the club’s 440 FM repeater for communications.

WHAT TO DO WHEN IF YOU FIND THE FOX TRANSMITTER

Be inconspicuous. This is not the time for altruism and camaraderie, so make sure you don’t share your location with others. Suppress the urge to jump up-and-down screaming, “I found it, I found it”. Look over your shoulder to make sure you are not watched or followed.

Do not remove and do not relocate the Fox transmitter. Do not turn it off.  Take a sheet labeled “proof of discovery” to bring to the welcome table. Read the instructions on that sheet before returning to the welcome table. There may be a second fox to hunt, if you feel up to it.

Please do not cross into private property or go over the RR tracks.

Fox Hunt Boundaries

West – The Glen Club Golf Course

North – Willow Road

East – the east edge of the park

South – Chestnut Ave.

Technical note

For those of you new to fox hunting the concept is pretty simple: direction finding. Known as the "Fox," a transmitter operates within a designated area, emitting signals at regular intervals. The signal is in Morse code. You don’t need to know Morse code to participate. Just find where the signal comes from. Participants use various tools, from basic antennas and handheld radios to more advanced RF sniffers, to pinpoint its location and compete effectively.

This activity often involves hiking through challenging terrain, so appropriate attire is essential. Equipment ranges from simple Yagi antennas with attenuators to innovative setups—like using a paperclip in an antenna mount or employing body shielding—to determine direction.

As hunters draw closer to the transmitter, they employ more sophisticated techniques such as listening for the third harmonic — for 146.460 MHz the third harmonic is 439.380 MHz. Some participants utilize commercially available or homemade tracking devices, which can expedite things.

Yet, the major challenge lies in the last few feet. Skilled "Fox hiders" conceal the transmitter in clever spots—a trail with disturbed vegetation, a concealed garbage can, or even a seemingly unsuspecting bystander's bench—requiring acute hunting skills to discover.

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 7 PM GALLERY PARK, GLENVIEW IL.

Registration opens at 6:30 PM

Subject to weather conditions, the club may decide to start the hunt before the scheduled time, or to cancel the event.

PARKING LOT ENTRANCE: MINT LANE & W. LAKE AVENUE [ See Map above ]

There are three parking lots along W. Lake Avenue. Please come to the westmost one, nearest to Patriot Boulevard. Its entrance is at the intersection of Mint Lane and W. Lake Avenue as shown on the map.

TALK-IN FREQUENCY: CLUB’S 440 FM REPEATER (442.725/+/114.8)

WHAT TO BRING:

A folding chair, if you’d like to hang out at the welcome area. Insect repellent and sunscreen. Any radio equipment you wish to use and a flashlight.

Logistics

Check-in desk opens at 6:30 PM in the parking lot at Mint and W. Lake.

Hunt begins at 7 PM and ends at 8:30 PM. Park closes at dusk (9 PM).

Water, soft drinks, snacks, and maps will be available at the check-in desk.

The end of the hunt will be announced on the Fox frequency and the 440 repeater

FOX FREQUENCY: 146.460 FM SIMPLEX

The Fox transmits a message, in CW, at 13 words per minute. The message says “This is the fox de NS9RC”. Its length is about 26 seconds. There will be a minute of silence and then the transmission repeats. You don’t need to know Morse code to participate in the Fox Hunt.

Suggested Equipment

Equipment varies from the simple to the sublime. Most people carry a Yagi with some kind of attenuator, but some people have won this event by simply sticking a paper clip into your antenna mount on your HT and use their body to shield the signal to get some rough sense of direction. While this is very elementary, it does work. As you get closer, different techniques are used to reduce the incoming signal including calculating the third harmonic. The current frequency is 146.460 MHz, and the third harmonic would be 439.380.

Others have various versions of tracking devices – some commercially available and some homebrews. These trackers are incredibly efficient and some athletic participants can usually find the Fox in short order. For this reason, we deploy a second Fox.

However, there remains the challenge of managing the final few feet. Skilled Fox hiders will tuck the Fox in clever places so that it does take some acute hunting skills to find it (a trail with broken grass, a garbage can, or perhaps even suspicious mom sitting with her kids in a park, masking the transmitter under her chair!) Good times are had by all!

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFIED

As a courtesy, the club contacts the Glenview Police Department 24 hours prior to the event and informs them about our presence and activities.