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How Do You Get Started Transmitter Hunting?

Created by Paul Signorelli, W0RW on 2020-07-12

 

How Do You Get Started Transmitter Hunting?

 

...You need a good shielded receiver that won't overload when you get close to the transmitter.
...You need a receiver with a signal strength meter, and a Lighted display for night hunting.
Surprisingly the Baofeng UV-5R has better receiver isolation than my Yaesu FT-411.
...You need a 4 element yagi tuned to the frequency you are hunting and you need to
practice  with it so you know it is working right. You can get bearings off of repeaters or other stations. You need to learn how to ignore reflections.


   If you chase a signal to the South and run up to the top of a  mountain and the bearing switches back to the North, you have been chasing a reflection.


   The best way to track down a station is to mount the beam on the side of the car so it can rotate when you are in motion and have a driver do the driving for you.


...You need to have a 60dB attenuator to drop the signal strength as you close in, Here is a typical one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-Step-Attenuators-RF-ATTENUATOR-82DB-50-for-Ham-Radio-Transmitter/293556349548?hash=item4459526a6c:g:ChMAAOSwaXNeoRYF

 

If the signal is just too powerful when you are close to the transmitter you can tune off the frequency and find a spur and track down the spur.
If you suspect there is a Ham involved (Maybe a stuck on transmitter) you can get a list of hams in the area by ZIP code at:
http://www.arrl.org/fcc/search , This can save a lot of time, Look for call letter auto plates, and for antennae too. Ask the Neighbors/Post Man if they have seen anyone with a Walkie Talkie... etc.


Don't let the guy (Jammer) know you are tracking him, so do not transmit on his frequency.
Use a different coordination frequency, Like 446.5 or 147.xx, if you are hunting with a friend.
Never, Never,  Transmit into your attenuator or you will blow it up.

 


Paul,  w0rw



W0RW2020-07-22
Re: How Do You Get Started Transmitter Hunting?
That's what i use it for, Interference too...
i used my T Hunt rig to show the power line guys that they had an arcing support brace. An AM receiver is best for power line arcing.
They fixed it for me.
Paul w0rw
Reply to a comment by : KB6QXM on 2020-07-18

I do not care about transmitter hunting.but it would be nice to use the same techniques to find HF jammers and report them to the FCC.
Reply to a comment by : VE3CUI on 2020-07-17

Transmitter hunts were an avidly-followed regularity here with the local radio club, back in the mid-late 1970's... Don't know that the group even does that sorta thing anymore these days, in all honesty.
KB6QXM2020-07-18
Re: How Do You Get Started Transmitter Hunting?
I do not care about transmitter hunting.but it would be nice to use the same techniques to find HF jammers and report them to the FCC.
Reply to a comment by : VE3CUI on 2020-07-17

Transmitter hunts were an avidly-followed regularity here with the local radio club, back in the mid-late 1970's... Don't know that the group even does that sorta thing anymore these days, in all honesty.
VE3CUI2020-07-17
How Do You Get Started Transmitter Hunting?
Transmitter hunts were an avidly-followed regularity here with the local radio club, back in the mid-late 1970's...

Don't know that the group even does that sorta thing anymore these days, in all honesty.