Radio Orienteering

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

November 12th, 2024

Results – Gray Owl Orienteering & Radio-O Weekend Nov 15, 16, 17, 2024

What a fantastic weekend. The rain stopped the day before and we had clear cool weather throughout the weekend. A couple of folks camped and we had participants that came in from Virginia, Boston, Spain, and Oregon. We had 37 participants and they ran 66 races. There was frequent praise on the technical difficulty of […]

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November 10th, 2024

Results: Fall 2024 Radio Orienteering Beginner Classes

All four of the “first timers” from week 1 who participated on week 3, completed the course, finding all five “cycling” foxes. Outstanding!

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September 11th, 2024

Radio-O Sprint PopUp Sept 13, 5-7pm

Here are the final details:

  • Location: Pullen Park, upper parking lot
  • Turn on transmitters: 5pm
  • Finish by 7pm
  • Slow 3.52
  • Spectator 3.55
  • Fast 3.57
  • Beacon 3.60

I will set up SI-Timing for Start, Spectator, & Finish if you want to time your sprints. Results won’t be published, but you can see your result on the Tablet.

Everyone experianced in Radio-O is welcome. We won’t have beginner instruction. Sprints require fast locating and good memory. Practice, practice and more practice – make evaluating the field automatic. After this first practice we will try and do some weekday evenings.

Notices regarding Radio-O are sent out in the BOK-Radio-O mail group. To subscribe, send an email to BOK-Radio-O+Subscribe@BackwoodsOK.org.

September 8th, 2024

Schenck Forest Radio-O Sept 7 & 8 Results

What a pleasure to have cool weather for the weekend. Thanks to Matt and Will for picking up the controls. Schenck Sept 7 – 8, 2024 Radio-O Classic, Results Schenck Sept 7 – 8, 2024 Radio-O Classic, Results 2024-09-01 80m Long 180 min (6 Controls) 1 Imre Polik #2 Backwoods Orienteering Klub 5 p (29:18) […]

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July 17th, 2024

Advanced Foxoring at Umstead East – Results

Between the rain, the heat, the humidity, and the uncrossable powerlines, it was a very challenging course. Congratulations to everyone who completed it.

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