AN EXCITING AMATEUR RADIO SPORT

 ARDF - amateur radio direction finding, is an exciting branch of amateurradio activities,  attracting people from youngsters and teenagers toexperienced old timers and veterans. ARDF joins the amateur radioskills  like construction of transmitters and receivers, knowledge of HFand VHF propagations  phenomena, antenna patterns, evaluation ofstrenght  and quality of received signals (and basic knowledge ofMorse  code too!) - with orienteering skills like proper using of map andits symbols,  usage of compass and taking bearings and azimuths,continous knowledge of own position in the terrain (without using ofGPS satellite  equipment), and - last but not least - with physical  fitness  and ability to run a couple of kilometers in diversified terrain,mostly wooded. But over all, ARDF is a pleasure of being in directcontact with nature, of breathing the fresh and unpolluted air, of joining  with friends from diffrent amateur radio clubs and societies.

It is an unforgetable  experience to meet - when running from onehidden  transmitter to another - a deer family or lonely hare wonderingwho disturbs  his quiet forest enclave.

Tens and hundreds  of ARDF events are organized every year bythe local amateur radio clubs, amateur societies and on the highestlevel - by the  International Amateur Radio Union. Participants ofthese  events arrive to the spot annouced by the organiser, dressthe sport garments suitable for running and start in small groupsto meet the direction finding adventure. Their task is to discover  -by taking  radio bearings - four or five low power hidden transmitters,located in a forest in adequate distance each from other. Thediscovery  of hidden transmitter has to be confirmed by personalpresence  at the spot and punching the starting ticket. The winnerof the event is an amateur who discover, visit all prescribedtransmitters and appear at finish line in a shortest possible time.

ARDF is not  only a joy for its enthusiasts. It is a powerful tool forattracting people, especially youngsters, towards the amateurradio. A thousands of nowadays experienced transmitting amateurshave started  their amateur radio activity as ARDF competitors in ajunior  category. ARDF is the only amateur activity open to thepublic  - usually there are hundreds of spectators at the start andfinish of big  events like regional or worldwide championships,which  are usually served by the media - press, radio and TV.Thus - ARDF is a powerful tool of informing the society on theexistence and  aims of amateur radio. From the point of IARU andits  international tasks - ARDF is often a mean of attracting theamateur societies  in developing countries, leading them to joinIARU.

( from "Information" published by the ARDF-WG of IARU Region 1 - June 1995 )