Training Log Archive: Vector

A very technically challenging US ARDF champ's radio-O 2m course w/ lots of reflections today. I handled it quite well but definitely had a very NON-optimal route. Doubted #1 due to marsh reflection possibility but should have trusted my high ground bearing. Silver medal once again very close behind the pro Ken. Overall pretty satisfied w/ how I did considering the technical challenges and only my 2nd 2m competition ever. Another beautiful day in the Tahoe area forest, and cooler temps too!

CY18 control goal count = 624

Sprint format race at US ARDF (radio orienteering) championships. This was my 1st time ever trying a Sprint radio-O event.

Coming out of start chute I didn't hear anything at all, just static. Started freaking out thinking something happenned to my receiver. It appeared everyone else could hear a signal in my start group becuas they were all going the same direction so I kept up w/ them trying to figure out what was going on. Found the 1st control just by looking around. Then I decided to see if I could hear it on other frequencies. It took a lot of time but I finally found the signal on a different frequency (3510). Then I had to teach myself how to hunt these things down with only 12 seconds per transmitter. That took a lot of getting used to. Eventually I started getting the hang of it. But on the second loop of 5 transmitters I forgot to skip the 1st one due to my class, despite telling myself before starting not to do that. I did remember to skip on the 1st loop.

Another beautiful day and spent some time at Lake Tahoe. Ankle felt. I have better today and much less swollen. Tomorrow is the 2m Classic similar to ELT hunting.

So all in all a good learning experience and I definitely will be at least 20 min's faster on this same course if I did it over again. I think it would have been helpful to have an example / model transmitter on at the start just like we did at the Foxoring race yesterday because several other racers reported the same problem with the frequencies being significantly off.

CY18 control goal count = 620

Event: 2018 US ARDF Championships
 

"Foxoring" format race today at US Radio Orienteering (ARDF) Championships. Foxoring is a mix of orienteering and low-power 80m fox hunting. Silver finish and much better than last year. Missed gold only by 1 minute behind Ken. Looks like 3rd fastest result across all classes so I'll take that and be happy w/ it for my 2nd-ever Fox-O race and a sprained ankle to go with. Ankle wasn't too bad an issue but definitely slowed me down a bit.

1- spike
2- Argh! was pressing the bottom/wrong button for F/B Zoom w/o realizing it giving me 180 degree wrong indications. Realized what was going on after discovering signal getting weaker when pressing button and following. This one mistake cost me gold!
3- A little tricky as I passed by it w/o realizing so wound up doing big circle around it till I found it.
4- spike
5- spike
6- skipped for my class
7- went past it but found quickly
8- spike
9- spike
10- went straight to it up the monster hill. should have taken the slightly longer but less-climb-required route as most others did. grueling climb and lots of vegetation and rocks etc so lost time here.
F- bad route choice mostly just because I didn't want to climb more.

CY18 control goal count = 611

US radio orienteering championships training day - 2m course.

1st time using the new VK3YNG Sniffer 4 today and pleasantly surprised that everything worked! I did test it on a an HT a couple times and seemed like it was working but nice to confirm today.

Took a slow while getting acquainted w/ how to use the eqpt and get the right settings locked in plus had some trouble visualizing and organizing the initial bearings. Should have used the high ground from the start.

Got #1 first. Reflections made it tricky at times and very well hidden in bushes. Next few were spikes. On #5 I went running off towards #4 because didn't pay enough attention to beeps to hear it was actually still beeping on #4 not #5. Saw Ruth going opposite way which made me stop and think and thus realize my error. Hot out - around 90 - ugh!

Had a pretty major ankle roll too - enough to cause me to fall down and may have heard a pop. Definitely the worst ankle roll I've had. But still runnable. Very bad timing for this but will tough it out this week and rehabilitate it when I get home before Masters.

80m training course at US ARDF-O champ's. Overall pretty good except was waffling between #2 and #3 because I seemed to be getting an equal signal- wasted time going towards 3 when should have chose 2 and changed mind a couple times--it was a dilemma. Real sloppy going to 3 as it took at least 3 cycles. #1 jammed me up a bit too due to losing some map contact and going past it. Good practice and ankle held up decently despite the occasional pain.

CY18 control goal count = 600

Armchair-O: Radiovka Fox-O.

CY18 control goal count = 590