This reduced the possible search area to the coverage area of the repeater itself, but it also had other advantages.įor one thing, anyone could tell when the hidden T was actually transmitting by listening to the repeater output channel, while simultaneously hunting for signals on the input channel. The hidden TX was operated on the input frequency of the Mount Wilson repeater, and one of the rules required that the repeater must "key up" and repeat the signal, clearly. The winners ( when they became the hidden T in the following month ) had to provide modest refreshments ( water and / or soft drinks ) for hunters who found the hidden T, since they might have to wait there for a couple of hours, until the hunt ended. which often is more fun than winning the hunt itself. There were two different ways to win the hunt, ( described later ) and the winners were given the right to become the "hidden T" in the next hunt.
Anyone who still couldn’t find it ( by end of hunt ) was "talked in" to the TX site. They were pretty vague at the start, but became progressively more specific, so that ( eventually ) almost anyone who could read a map could find the transmitter. These hints would begin after the first hour or so of the hunt. To achieve this "guaranteed success", the hidden T would transmit more often ( and for longer intervals ) as the hunt progressed, and would also announce "hints" and "tips" about where the transmitter was hidden. not everyone can win, but dismal failure will usually kill any further ambitions, especially for novice hunters. nothing is more frustrating that driving for hours and failing to find the hidden T in a hunt. One of the cardinal reason for the success of these hunts ( I believe ) was the fact that ever participant was ( more or less ) "guaranteed" to succeed in finding the hidden T.
Many tall stories about the hunt occurred at these dinners, and people often compared notes about equipment and techniques. Hunts were followed by a modest dinner at some local restaraunt or pizza parlor, near the site of the hidden T. The hunts were limited to the Los Angeles county, ( county lines were the boundaries ) and they were furthermore limited to 4 hours of duration, beginning at 2 p.m. Generally this was the last Sunday afternoon of each month, but sometimes was changed, for convenience.
The hunts were always conducted on a weekend afternoon, ( once a month ) which was chosen to not conflict with other ( local ) social events, scheduled at the same time. The hunts were intended to develope skills for tracking down jammers, but they were also a lot of fun. These hunts had some unique rules that strongly encouraged participation, especially by new hunters. I ( Bob Simmons ) used to participate in some very successful ( high-attendance ) hunts in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Mount Wilson Repeater Association. Ultimately, T-hunts must be FUN, or they simply will not succeed. For people considering the creation of a club-sponsored T-hunt, this page should provide some useful guidelines.Ī successful T-hunt requires some forethought, and a few important principles ( in the hunt rules ) can make all the difference between an event that people will want to join, or an event that is so discouraging that people will only attend once, or not at all. Mobile hunts ( using vehicles ) are described here, as well as pedestrian hunts. This page describes the details of an organized T-hunt, such as one that might be sponsored by a club.
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