Marvin Johnston, KE6HTS--shown here competing in the 2002 USA ARDF Championships in Georgia--chaired the 2004 ARDF US Championships in Santa Barbara earlier this month.

Team USA Seeking Participants for 2004 ARDF World Championship

NEWINGTON, CT, June 29, 2004--Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Team USA is now forming for the ARDF 12th World Championship. The competition will take place September 7-12 near Brno in the Czech Republic. Every two years, hams from around the world gather to see who is best at on-foot hidden transmitter hunting--also called foxtailing, radio-orienteering and Amateur Radio direction finding (ARDF). There are separate events on 80 and 2 meters, each with five transmitters scattered in a forest that can encompass 1000 acres or more.

"The USA has been represented at every ARDF World Championships since 1988, and 2004 will be no exception," says ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. He urges anyone interested in competing to act now. More than 200 participants representing two dozen or more countries are expected to turn out for the event.

"Each country may send up to three competitors in each of nine age categories--five for males and four for females, in accordance with rules of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)," he said. "Team members are responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from the Czech Republic."

Coming down the final stretch in the 2003 USA competition is Dale Hunt, WB6BYU. He has found all his transmitters and has folded up his antenna to help him run faster. [All Photos Copyright Joe Moell, K0OV, Used by Permission]

More than a dozen US ARDF enthusiasts already have expressed strong interest in attending. The categories for males between 40 and 59 years of age (as of December 31, 2004) already have three or more signups. Team USA selection in these categories will be made based on performances and standings in the Third USA ARDF Championships (Ohio, July 2003) and/or the Fourth USA ARDF Championships held earlier this month in California.

Moell says openings remain for men under 40 and for all women's categories. "So it may be possible for inexperienced radio-orienteers in these age ranges to join the team," he said. "It is also possible to attend as a non-competing visitor, but all visitors must be listed as such on the national team roster."

Moell asks anyone interested in traveling to the 2004 ARDF World Championships as a member of Team USA or a US visitor to contact him via e-mail, homingin@aol.com. Include your full name and mailing address, home telephone number and date of birth.

For more information on Team USA, radio-orienteering in the US and ARDF competitions, visit Moell's Homing In Web site.

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