SARL

South African Radio League

ARDF

ARDF – AMATEUR RADIO DIRECTION FINDING

Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) formerly known as Fox Hunting, Is an exciting branch of Amateur Radio activities. It attracts people from all ages and walks of life. The purpose of an activity is to discover the location of one or more hidden low power radio transmitters. You don’t need to have any radio experience, or even your Amateur Radio Licence in order to participate!! 

ARDF, is a timed event in which individual competitors use a directional radio receiver and if needed a topographic map to navigate through an area, park or woods, while looking for radio transmitters. You can do it alone or with your friends or family.

Most ARDF events are organised by a local radio club, but there is nothing stopping a group of interested individuals from organising their own events. In South Africa, the SARL (South African Radio League) is the primary sponsor of ARDF with the Johannesburg Amateur Radio Club acting as the convenor of ARDF events and activities.

Currently there are around twenty countries that regularly host ARDF (Amateur Radio Direction Finding) events, with the majority concentrated in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia.  

While some variations exist, standardised rules have been adopted for use worldwide for ARDF competitions.

The IARU (Interational Amateur Radio Union) is the principal international organisation promoting the sport.

ARDF events may be organised at local club level, regional and national levels. Winners from each country are able to participate in and compete against other countries’ national teams. Certificates are awarded for local participation. International events are serious affairs where competitors can win prizes and medals.

Every ARDF event whether local or national presents new challenges and helps develop new skills..

Competitive ARDF competitions or events usually take place in a park, wooded area or forest in order to provide a safe environment for competitors. Though there is nothing stopping an event from taking place in an urban area.

Competitors carry radio receivers and directional antennas and use these to find the bearing of a transmitter and then using various skills ‘hunt down’ the transmitter location. Once a transmitter is found, the time and name of the competitor are logged.

A young competitor taking part in an ARDF event. (picture: IARU)

ARDF provides opportunities for every interest. Some competitors buy their receivers but others construct their own, either from kits or even from scratch at component level.  Whatever your individual area of interest, ARDF provides a wide range of skill development activities and interests. Learn about HF and VHF radio propagation phenomena, and find out about how different antennas have directional patterns and evaluate the of strength and quality of received signals. Develop basic orienteering skills like proper using use of a map and its symbols, usage of  using a compass and taking bearings and azimuths without the benefit of GPS. You can even maintain a continuous knowledge of your own position in the terrain.  And, because the activity takes place on foot, it keeps you fit because you will be walking several kilometres whilst hunting down the hidden transmitter/s.

Not only is ARDF a joy for its enthusiasts. It is a powerful tool for attracting people, especially youngsters, to amateur radio as a hobby. Thousands radio amateurs started their amateur radio activity as ARDF competitors in a junior category.

One of the great things about ARDF is that it is the only amateur activity open to the public. The Scouting movement including the Voortrekkers in South Africa,  already have badges in Morse Code, Signalling and they participate in the annual Jamboree on the Air, JOTA. 

ARDF provides yet another opportunity for radio and orienteering.

For more information please contact the SARL ARDF coordinator: ardf@sarl.org.za

For kits and components please contact the Johannesburg Amateur Radio Centre. zs6tjclub@gmail.com

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