[ARDF] Re: Fox Box Labelling

[Homingin at aol.com]

Ken Harker wrote:
>do you attach a description to the outside of the box, just in case 
>someone stumbles across it?

I think all my boxes have at least two or three tags/labels on them, added as 
the need has developed over the years.  (And with each new one, the type size 
gets bigger!)

The original sticker was just a theft warning, with words to the effect that 
"This station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.  Federal 
law provides severe criminal penalties for tampering with licensed radio 
communications equipment.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation handles cases of 
theft and vandalism these units."

The newest one reads:

DO NOT DISTURB
RADIO TEST BEACON
Continuous monitoring in progress
Will be removed later today.
Owner's Cell (760) XXX-XXXX
Owner's Pager (714) XXX-XXXX
info at www.homingin.com

Depending on the site, advance notification is important.  Last Saturday I 
did my first event in a wilderness hilly area within the city of Glendora.  
Normally no vehicles are allowed inside.  The local ham club representative 
checked with the city, hoping to get them to open the gates so I could drive the 
powerline access roads when putting out and picking up the foxes.  That was 
nixed, apparently because of fire concerns.  The club rep and I also visited the 
site caretaker a couple of weeks ahead and told him what we would be doing.

As another ham and I were carrying a bunch of ammo can foxes up the trail 
early Saturday, a family was hiking down.  We greeted them, but apparently we 
looked suspicious.  April, who was waiting in the van by the caretaker's house, 
soon called on simplex to tell me that two police cruisers were beside her and 
the officers (a man and a woman) were giving her a bad time about parking 
there and wanting to know what was going on.  They had gotten a call about 
suspicious activity.

April is great at PR, so even though both cops had their hands on their 
weapons as they approached her, she managed to explain to them what we were doing 
and even got them to look over some of the RDF gear in the back of the van.  
The host club ham was also on frequency and provided the name of the Community 
Service Officer who had been previously contacted.  That satisfied the cops -- 
at least the male one.  April says the female officer did nothing but glare at 
her the whole time.

I can see how the authorities might have some homeland security concerns, 
since the site includes an underground reservoir, a big above-ground water tank 
and a major power line.  It's also next to a freeway.  I stayed away from all 
of them when placing the foxes.  No sense tempting fate.

73,
Joe Moell K0OV