The ham stuff is only good with FM trackers only. Walston/Comspec use SSB or CW modes that perhaps a Kenwood F6A might be workable with. I've ground tested but not done any range checking. Arrow sells an offset attenuator and so does Marvin West: http://www.west.net/~marvin/k0ov.htm I've also have one of his 2 Meter beacons for fun: http://www.west.net/~marvin/microhnt.htm I thought Keith was using a VX-8GR and then went with an FT1DR for APRS tracking. The -6R doesn't do APRS but could be used for FM RDF. Loop antenna might not be as sensitive at range than a yagi. A good offset attenuator like Marvin's helps very close so I don't think you have to invest in a loop. I've never seen anyone use a loop in six Midwest Powers I've attended. Granted a loop is smaller and easier to carry. If you can get close enough with a Yagi/attenuator, you should be able to find it.
Kurt KC9LDH ------------------------------------------- On Mon, 6/1/15, Max McHatton <[email protected]> wrote: Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] DF with Yaesu VX-6R To: [email protected] Date: Monday, June 1, 2015, 9:48 PM Rob, Kevin stated correctly, that you will need a directional antenna and attenuators or a variable attenuator. An in-line analogue signal strength meter is also very usefull. I used my VX-6R last year, during my successful L-2 flight. I had a 3 element arrow yaggi antenna. I didn’t yet have an attenuator. So I utilized a trick I learned when DFing ELT’s. When I got close, I disconnected the antenna. WARNING: Do Not Transmit without an antenna. A loop antenna is more directional than a yaggi; so I plan to buy one, and a set of in-line attenuators. There are some other helpful tricks, like body shadowing to determine if the signal is in front or behind. Another trick I tried with limited success was utilizing the top null of a whip. Most whip antennas have a radiation pattern like a doughnut, with a null on top. So theoretically, if you pan the HT horizontally, you should have a null, when pointing the whip antenna directly at the RF source. Max Mc in Medford -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum
