Date: May 2022
Amount: $1,824

Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) is an athletic sport sanctioned by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Participants use handheld directional radio receivers, a compass, a map, and radio direction finding skills to search for transmitters emitting specific signals in the amateur radio 2-meter and 80-meter bands. The ARRL ARDF committee has identified lack of access to equipment as one of the factors limiting growth of the sport in the United States.

With this grant, the Sangamon Valley Radio Club (SVRC) plans purchase the equipment and supplies necessary to allow them to conduct ARDF events for groups, including amateur radio clubs, outdoor enthusiasts, and youth groups such as 4- H, Civil Air Patrol, and Scouts. This equipment will help the SVRC in their long term commitment to growing ARDF, while at the same time, introducing people to amateur radio. This project is also designed to be a prototype for other groups wanting to set up their own ARDF activities.

By having a full set of equipment and supplies with which to conduct multiple ARDF events each year, the SVRC hopes to introduce youth, outdoors enthusiasts, and members of the public to amateur radio. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Civil Air Partol and 4-H can participate in organized ARDF activities to meet their activity requirements. Similarly, these activities will increase awareness of amateur radio among outdoors enthusiasts and members of the general public.

For more information about SVRC, visit http://svrc.org.