Radio Orienteering Short Course Results
We had short practice courses each of the three weekends of Radio Orienteering classes. Here are the course results from April 21, 28, and May 4.
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Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF)
Welcome to Radio-O. Here is how it works! We provide a radio receiver with a directional antenna, an orienteering map, a compass, and a finger stick. By pointing the antenna and listening to the signal you can determine the direction of the signal. Using this information you navigate to the transmitter and punch in with your finger stick. Only the start and finish are marked on the map and it is important to keep track of where you are. To qualify as finishing you must find at least one transmitter on your course and reach the finish within the time limit. To calculate results -- first; the number of assigned transmitters you found, then; your time on the course. We offer beginner through advanced courses, Regular BOK fees apply, and Pre-Registration is required.
Latest News in Radio Orienteering
Open Radio-O/ARDF 80 m Classic at Umstead South, May 12 2024
We will have an 80 m classic course at William B. Umstead Park South Reedy Creek entrance on Sunday, May 12, 2024. The Reedy Creek entrance is off Harrison Avenue, just north of exit 287 from I-40 GPS: 35.83311, -78.760
For more information about Radio-O/ARDF, see the BOK ARDF page. Starts are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The courses close at 3 p.m.
In order to be sure we have enough rental receivers we will be renting them for a morning session 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. (If all the receivers aren’t rented then there may not be a 1.5-hr time restriction.)
Directors: Evgeny and Erin.
Online registration is required. Please register by Friday May 10. There is no need to sign up for a particular course. Everyone gets the same map. If you are renting a receiver, make sure to bring your own headphones.
There is no beginner class at this event.
The check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. at/near the big shelter. Maps and any reserved equipment will be available there. Start and finish are nearby.
Course notes. As we are nearing competition season we are aiming to stay close to the international ARDF rules in terms of course length. There is no starting corridor though. The courses are on the typical William B. Umstead park terrain with ups and downs crossing reentrants. There are a few water features marked uncrossable on the map so please pay attention to the map. Foxes will be of typical classic course power used at US national championships, on 3.52 MHz (foxes) and 3.60 MHz (homing beacon). There is a 750 m exclusion zone around the start.
Courses.
| Level | Approximate effective length |
| FULL (5 foxes) | 9 km |
| LONG (4 foxes) | 8 km |
| MEDIUM (4 foxes) | 6 km |
| SHORT (3 foxes) | 4.6 km |
| 1 FOX | 2 km |
USA Radio Orienteering Championships 2024
The 23rd USA Radio Orienteering Championships will be held near Chelsea, Michigan, October 5-13, 2024. Training camp and practices will be held October 5-9, and the competitions will be held October 10-13.
Registration is not yet open, so it’s a bit too early to sign up. But Bulletin #2 is out, so you can start making your plans. Joe Burkhead, KE8MKR, is the Event Director in 2024. He’s an experienced radio orienteer and organizer and has set up the following information channels for the 2024 event.
Event Website: www.radioorienteeringchamps.us
Social media channel for developments & relevant info: https://www.facebook.com/2024USRadioO
The USA Championships are open to everyone. They are a great way to learn more about the sport and get experience on world-class courses. If you can safely navigate in a forest environment and use your receiver to find your way to the finish beacon before the course closes, you are welcome to participate. So mark your calendar and look for more information in the coming months.
Radio Orienteering Classes
Learn Radio Orienteering (aka, ARDF) as the pros learned it. These classes are for those new to radio sport and would like to learn how it is played.
Read MoreUmstead South Radio Orienteering Sprint Results (2024-03-24)
We were fortunate to be able to add a radio orienteering event to the open orienteering event at Umstead South. A dozen people participated in the sprint and most of them decided to ignore the course assignments and completed the entire course to practice. The course proved to be rather physical involving at least 130m […]
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