BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - are RDF's still usable in todays world. radio direction finding???

wrote in :

yes im actually talking about the old school am beacon radios with the
dial ontop of the box you turn...from the 60s-70s etc.
they also usually get fm too

You don't need some expensive "marine" RDF to find AM radio stations. Any
AM portable radio will work as an RDF for this purpose. All you need to
know is how the ferrite rod antenna inside is oriented in the
box...normally the long way to the ends. Open the back and look for the
grey ferrite rod with lots of wire wrapped around it.

The "null" of signal is off the end of this ferrite rod. Just put an arrow
parallel with the rod and use it as a sight across your compass. Rotate
the radio around its vertical axis until the signal is weakest (or nulls
out completely) and the ferrite rod end is pointed towards the
station...that's all the old AM RDF did... Take two station readings not
inline and plot them to find your position on the chart.

If you want to use a station you don't know the position of on the chart,
just call the station on the phone and ask them their antenna's lat/long.
It's printed on the station license from the FCC. Plot it on your chart,
permanently, and you'll have a great reference as far as you can hear them.

There's still lots of room for this simple RDF on anyone's boat. Great way
to get the kids involved with radio navigation, too. Let them find your
position with their pocket radio, probably the first time they've ever had
it on AM any more...(c;

--
Larry

This jerk called my cellphone and was nasty.
Continental Warranty -- MCG Enterprises -- Mepco-
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