Mike Brunsdon GM8KCS (R) and his son Michael MM3MDB won the 2026 D/F Hunt in 1h 38 mins.
Summary: the Fox station, operated by Peter Dick GM4DTH, was located in the Midmar fields west of Blackford Hill. The aerial was a 12m vertical with four radials, fed with 4 Watts of RF at 1.872MHz.
Results: (1) Mike GM8KCS with his son Michael MM3MDB, won in 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Melvyn Bond GM4HYR retired soon after the start with a receiver fault.
- Ed Bain GM4AIS and James Gentles GM4WZP retired after hunting for 1 hour 58 minutes.
- Full report below from (Fox) Peter GM4DTH.
- After the event, we adjourned to Wee Bennet’s Bar for refreshments.
Full report by (Fox) Peter GM4DTH: Photos tnx Peter GM4DTH & Mike GM8KCS.
This year there has been some upgrading of the Fox station which required a change in frequency to 1.872MHz. The Fox equipment was fully tested before packing and transporting it to the DF Hunt location.
This year the Fox location was within a clump of mature trees in the Midmar field to the west of Blackford Hill (NT252704).
It was at Point A, 0.9 km (0.5 miles) from the usual start location at the ‘TARDIS’ – Point B – where it was easily received.
The aerial was a 12m vertical, supported on a fibreglass telescopic pole, with four 12m evenly spaced radials. It was matched by a ‘T’ network fed with four Watts of RF at 1.872MHz..
The transmitter has changed as I managed to pick up a small medium wave broadcast modulator which will function up to 2MHz. That is why the frequency changed as 1.872MHz fits into the broadcast 9kHz channel raster. As it stands it runs four watts which is about right for our hunt. The 12m aerial is matched with a ’T’ network tuner with four 12m radials. Matching was monitored with a two meter QRP SWR bridge bought from the Dundee Club at Blackpool in 2025. In addition I used a simple current transformer to monitor the aerial current. Maximum current did not coincide with the best match but it was near. I also replaced the battery for an eight AH lithium iron phosphate unit which is small and light. The battery fed a dc to dc converter supplying 15V for the transmitter. The tone generator remained the same as before but the output was amplified to the line level needed by the transmitter. A small battery powered field mixer performed this function.
Being electrically small, the aerial would not be efficient and the ERP would be low. However, it was received on Nathan’s (M9PSY) SDR (see above) in Dalgety Bay, about 16.25 km (10 miles) away in Fife. This was a reassuring indication that the Fox was radiating a reasonable signal.
The start proved to be a problem for Melvyn GM4HYR who had receiver issues which preventing him from taking part. He contacted the Fox by mobile phone and retired from the hunt. Melvyn has been one of the two top hunters in recent years. The other top hunter, Mike GM8KCS assisted by his son Michael MM3MDB, proceeded on their journey to find the Fox. The third team consisted of Ed GM4AIS and James GM4WZP who were less experienced but have participated in the past.
Mike GM8KCS plotting a bearing.
One hour and ten minutes into the hunt Mike and his son walked right past the Fox and were heading towards the Hermitage of Braid. Twelve minutes later they emerged from the Hermitage and six minutes later found the Fox. They took one hour and thirty eight minutes to find the Fox to be the winners of the Lothian’s DF Hunt 2026. The remaining team of Ed and James called the Fox, just under two hours after starting, and retired from the hunt. They were not far away and were able to join the group at the Fox. At that point with no other known hunters the Fox station closed down and was dismantled. The entire group headed to ‘Wee Bennets’ bar at Morningside Station for a well-deserved refreshment.
Mike GM8KCS with Peter GM4DTH at the Fox station.