2016 United States ARDF Championships

Technical Information

The 2016 United States ARDF Championships will use radio transmitters on the 144 MHz and 3.5 MHz bands that will conform, as close as possible, to the technical specifications in the IARU Region I ARDF Rules Appendix 1: Technical Specifications for Amateur Radio Direction Finding Equipment. Competitors should be familiar with these specifications before they arrive at the competition. Some specific notes about this competition (subject to change):

• 144 MHz: Mode A2A (AM keyed carrier). The control transmitter frequency will be 144.525 MHz and the homing beacon transmitter frequency will be 145.565 MHz. Transmitter antennas will be omnidirectional and horizontally polarized. All transmitters will identify with a call sign at the end of each one-minute transmission.
• 3.5 MHz: Mode A1A (keyed CW). The control transmitters and homing beacon frequencies will be different for each event, but your receivers should be able to tune to 3.510 MHz, 3.530 MHz, 3.540 MHz, 3.570 MHz, and 3.579 MHz. Transmitter antennas will be omnidirectional and vertically polarized. All transmitters will identify with a call sign at the end of each one-minute transmission.
• Map Details:
  • The Berry Springs Park and Preserve maps (for the training day) will be 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 cm x 28 cm), landscape orientation, at 1:7500 scale with three (3) meter contours.
  • The Dana Peak map (Fox Oring competition) will be 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 cm x 28 cm), portrait orientation, at 1:10000 scale with three (3) meter contours.
  • The map for the Sprint competition at Parrie Haynes Ranch will be will be 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 cm x 28 cm), landscape orientation, at 1:5000 scale with five (5) meter contours.
  • The map for the 144 MHz Classic Distance Competition will be printed on 11 x 17 inches (28 x 43.2 cm) paper at 1:10000 scale, portrait orientation. The map can be trimmed/folded to an area of 11 x 12 inches (28 x 30.5 cm) when placing on a map board. Contour intervals on the Parrie Haynes maps are five (5) meters.
  • The map for the 3.5 MHz Classic Distance Competition will be printed on 11 x 17 inches (28 x 43.2 cm) paper at 1:10000 scale, portrait orientation. The map can be trimmed/folded to an area of 11 x 15 inches (28 x 38.1 cm) when placing on a map board. Contour intervals on the Parrie Haynes maps are five (5) meters.
  The maps for Parrie Haynes Ranch and Berry Springs Park and Preserve were created in 2015 and 2016 by Jennifer Harker. The map for Dana Peak Park was created in 2013 by Nancy Bowers.
• Time keeping: Clocks synchronized to a WWVB time standard will be present at both the start and finish areas. All competitors will use SportIdent for recording their time on course.