Eventual winner Melvyn GM4HYR making his first decision on which bearing to boldly go to find the Fox station GM3HAM/P.
The LRS annual D/F Hunt was held on Wednesday 25th May 2016, organized by Peter Dick GM4DTH using the callsign GM3HAM/P transmitting on 1.875MHz. There were only two receiving stations – Melvyn Bond GM4HYR and Mike Brunsdon GM8KCS (assisted by son Mike Brunsdon Jr MM3MDB and Alan Masson GM3PSP). The start point was on Braid Hills Road at the Tardis at Braid Hills Avenue. The fox station was located close to the Union Canal near the Slateford aqueduct and was first found by Melvyn GM4HYR in 1h 4m followed by Mike GM8KCS and his team in 2h 1m. After the event the participants adjourned to the nearby Blue Goose hostelry for well-deserved diet lemonades.
Mike GM8KCS getting his first bearing at the start point.
Mike’s second bearing was taken along Braid Hills Road with Blackford Hill in the background.
Mike was joined by his son Mike Jr MM3MDB bringing (thankfully) fresh batteries for the receiver which had gone rather deaf with its 15-year-old rechargeable batteries.
Plotting the bearings and hoping they would all cross at the same point (they didn’t at first)!
Getting close – after climbing up from the Water of Leith Visitors’ Centre on Slateford Road onto the Union Canal aqueduct.
Mike MM3MDB, Peter GM4DTH, Melvyn GM4HYR (winner) and Mike GM8KCS (runner-up).
The Fox station GM3HAM/P operated Peter GM4DTH was hidden in bushes close to the Union Canal just to the west of the Slateford aqueduct. The Tx ran 5W to a Slim-Jim vertical antenna and a wire-fence counterpoise.
Melvyn will be presented (again) with the LRS D/F Trophy (Edinburgh Castle glass paperweight) at the LRS Summer Barbecue on 29th June (if he remembers to bring it)!