Let's look inside a Ham Radio Fox Box (Hidden Transmitter)

[@nicklewis7291]

Yeah, an ammo can with an antenna looks like an IED sure enough. Labels are a good idea.

[@tomsherwood4650]

I built precisely the same thing many years ago for Civil Air Patrol. They had a practice ELT that operated on a specific air band frequency that was not the emergency channel. Then training excercises would take place where field teams searched for the ELT. I got a green ammo can, and had the same sort of antenna arrangement and cutout foam inside for the ELT to set in. IT was clearly marked as to it being CAP property and what it was on the outside of the can. Worked fine.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Sounds like a good setup!

[@yllib68]

Well guess who made it into May's QST magazine!!! Bravo Rob!!😊

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks Billy!

[@Radiowild]

Horrible Freight has cheep ammo boxes if you don't want to use a really good one (I suspect this ammo box is worth more than the Baofeng). Great idea and build! Would get more stealthy with the labeling and tape. If it's chained to something, thieves would break off or steal the whip out of spite. Get a can of army green rattle can paint and do that too.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I think this can actually is from HF but the label was peeled off. Painting the antenna is a great idea!

[@1crazynordlander]

Sounds like a fun project. I could send the grand kids out to hide it and I could find it. Which comes to a good question. Would they be violating FCC rules if I was the one that turned on the fox and all they did was hide it and I hunted it? How about another good question? If my grandson is using my pickup but I turned on my APRS capable Yaesu radio that sends out beacons that report location and I wasn’t with him. Would he be considered the one that is transmitting the beacon?

[@SevenFortyOne]

In the first scenario - no. In fact, you'll see just that in next week's video. My licensed sister keys the fox box and my unlicensed son hunts it with a receiver. The second situation might be breaking the rules...we'd have to dig into the technicalities of unattended operation of equipment to really find out.

[@tomsherwood4650]

@@SevenFortyOne I think you will be safe when the feds meanwhile ignore ham rigs being used for CB with 10 KW linears which are advertised in KZbin videos.

[@w0jwjohn680]

how long will the 9 volt last if you have the fox transmit user-programmed times ? Thanks for your time 73

[@SevenFortyOne]

Since this isn't my box I really don't know...sorry I can't be of more help

[@MPLS_Andy]

What is that controller? Couldn't find any info online. Piccom?

[@SevenFortyOne]

They are from byonics www.byonics.com/piccon

[@zappatx]

Mine will be simply attached to my cat!! We will soon find out where he hides every day!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Hmmmm