This is the After Event Recap from our 2025 Big Game Hunting event. This was a direction-finding event but without the driving and walking around from similar Fox Hunting events.
I chose a location that was not as good as the 2024 Big Game Hunting event. Downtown Sacramento, on the top floor of the parking garage directly north of the Capitol seemed like a good compromise location. It was high, but not higher than the buildings around me. In fact, 925 L Street was directly west of me (right across the street behind my truck) and probably served to reflect my signal quite effectively. Since we did not have any participants from Yolo County, I figured this would be acceptable.
I operated in four Rounds – starting with 50 watts PEP and working down to 25 watts, then 10 watts, and finally 5 watts.
The stations performing the hunting offered signal reports for each round, and if they had a directional antenna, they provided a compass heading from their location.
We used a made-up grid as seen on the map. This just let us chop up the county into workable zones. The station numbers (in the circle) are in their described grid, but not necessarily accurate to their actual location. The grid system worked well enough.
These are the signal reports for Round 1 at 50 watts. First reports were good Q4 and Q5 with directions generally in the right direction, but some were not confident with their readings quite yet.
Round 2 at 25 watts. Still good Q reports from the verticals, and the directions are consistent, mostly, with their reports from Round 1.
Round 3 at 20% power (10 watts). Q reports and directions are still consistent.
Station 7 in grid 11 was pointing in the wrong direction each time. We discovered why later.
The question marks (?) represent the guessed-at locations.
Round 4 at 5 watts. I did see stations slowly reduce their Q reports with the distance and drop in power, yet many still heard me quite well.
Station 7 in grid 11 discovered he was experiencing reflected signals.
While no one actually guessed downtown, their directions, when extrapolated out, certainly were pointing right at me.
Very well done, team!
Overall the team performed very well and I think many learned some new things about their directional antenna. This location proved to be pretty good with most stations able to hear me even at HT strength. Next time we will need to pick an even more challenging location.
P.S.
I need to apologize for my haste in wrapping up the comments at the end of our event. I was being pestered by the private security team. They literally kicked me out and threatened to call the cops on me.
You are allowed to park in a single space only, and can only travel to and from your vehicle.
Allied security
I am sure I was the highlight of their day.