[ARDF] Testing opportunities at large events...

[Marvin Johnston]

Thanks for your kind comments about Hungry Valley!

I didn't get a chance to head out to the test transmitters for Brno, so
I can't comment there.

The test day in Hungary (1998) had IIRC two 2M transmitters and two 80M
transmitters in a forested area in back of the dorms. The distances were
fairly close to the "start" but there was a mile or two of trails past
the transmitters to give a good feel for how the receivers would react
in that type of vegetation. We also had a good orienteering map of the
area. This was by far what I feel was the best setup compared to later
years.

China (2000) had either three or five transmitters spread around a local
park, the vegetation didn't really match that of either the 2M or 80M
competition courses and I don't remember a map being given out of the
area.

Slovokia (2002) had IIRC two transmitters very close to the hotel where
we stayed, and I don't remember receiving a map of the area.

If there is an orienteering map of the area, stakes marking distance
would be unnecessary since competitors are expected to have map reading
skills. Without the orienteering map, I think that stakes would help out
a lot, especially at maybe 500M and 1KM from the transmitter.

I am undecided about the importance of having vegetation in the test
area. Competitors should have practiced the necessary map reading skills
to have a feel for the amount of attenuation given by different types of
vegetation and terrain. As such, I'm not sure it makes a significant
difference between line of site and vegitation obstructions as long as
the conditions are known.

However (at least right now), I do feel it important to be able to find
out how a competitors receiver reacts to the actual transmitters used
for the competition. It is possible my feelings may change as I gain
more experience :).

I would be *very* interested to hear what world class competitors have
to say about this topic!!!

Marvin, KE6HTS



Matthew Robbins wrote:
> 
> One thing I was thinking about as I was doing this testing was how
> important it is to have the opportunity to test your equipment against
> the competition transmitters.
> 
> I thought Marvin's test day at Hungry Valley was a perfect test day
> (and the tri-tip barbeque was awesome, too).
> 
> I was really disappointed at the test day in Brno.
> 
> I've been meaning to ask several things:
> 
> What other people thought about the test day in Brno?
> 
> How that test day compared to other large international events?
> 
> Whether it would be appropriate for someone like Dale or Joe to bring
> up the topic at some large ARDF rules meeting so future large events
> will allow competitors to have some specific expectations about what
> to expect.
> 
> Personally, I'd like several transmitters of each band in
> representative settings, *plus* one transmitter of each band in a
> flat, range-like location with about 1km of line-of-sight.  Markings
> every 100m would be nice for people without GPS receivers, or if the
> location is forested and GPS performance is degraded by the canopy.
> 
> If I had to pick between "representative settings" and a 1km range,
> I'd pick the range.  (Although for events like the US Champs, where
> beginners are expected, the representative settings are certainly more
> important.)
> 
> Matthew
> AA9YH
> Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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