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The start was at Eight Ash Green, about 14 Km if you had the abilities of a crow. Many of us didn't, with reports of wildly inaccurate bearings meaning that several took 50-60 mins to locate the site! This was doubly embarrassing because Larby had used the same site 2 years ago.

This was G4TEB's first attempt at setting up ten Txs, how did he get on?

Firstly, thanks to everyone that turned up and also to Roy for his untiring efforts in maintaining the equipment.
I always knew that planning was paramount but just where does the time go? So we have 4 micros, 5 minis and 1 main TX in the lounge all charged and instructions read and understood. The dog was invited out at 7:30am and I took 4 micros, stakes, triffids and plan of site. (How did we manage without Google Earth and the chance to put on those coloured pins?)
I sited “X”, “Y”, “Z” and “W” arriving home at 9:20. The delays were set on the minis for 180 minutes so switching them on from 10:30. I chose now to drive around siting the minis and switching on the micros. I went to “I” and managed to switch it off. I had no accurate timepiece so that was left off. I stopped off to site “K” forgetting to take “L”. I then went to switch on “X” and “Y”. Next to be sited was “J” and switching on “Z”. The aerial was erected for “A”. I stopped off near to “H”, sited it, and went to switch on “W”. Drove home and the time was now 12:20 and just a couple of jobs left!

A quick shower, set “A” for 60 minutes delay at 12:30 whilst drying myself! Take “L” and site it, take “A” and set it up, drive to “I” and switch on. Then eat full English breakfast? Now time to re-arrange the best use of time and prioritise. Food was placed in cake tin to be eaten on the way around. I set up “A” at 1:20, ran off with “L” which burst into life as I finished siting it. Back to car and drive up to “I” this time with the GPS showing accurate time. I waited for the appropriate slot and switched it on, nothing! Then it dawned on me there was to be a 180 minutes delay! So find a thorn to switch the DIP switches to off. Wait until the slot again and hurrah! My work has now been done, shall I go home for a rest or collapse where I am. I decided to have a tea from the flask and checked all the minis were working. Yes they were. Let’s have a walk to ensure the micro can be heard from it’s parent mini. Yes to that as well. It was then that I noticed “J” was starting to falter only to die completely. This meant that “Z” wasn’t going to be looked for perhaps?

It was excellent to see Andrew and Daphne out, Daphne on site and “guiding” Andrew around. Rosie was calm at the car whilst Colin ran off. Rosie told me she was out for a stroll. She then strolled into “Y” whilst Ian and Colin ran past it.

I watched as Colin nearly crushed the triffid at “L” then run away from it, even Daphne and I saw it from 50 feet across the brook!
The day was busy with people who were curious as to what we were up to. Instead of minding their own business or asking one of us they chose to alert the farmer of all the strange goings on. Luckily I know him, explained I had ran it past him previously and he was fine. He accepted we were doing no damage to crops (well done everyone, I did observe people ran from “K” to “I” via the footpath and the lane).

Thanks to all that retrieved the TXs after the event. I certainly felt it had all worked ok but trust me if you don’t know already, planning is everything, have a plan of the site so the TXs are placed where intended, do not waste a minute, carry an accurate timepiece when placing minis, pray the night before and get an early night, don’t go out dancing!

Colchester League results are here
Ian likes to prove he has found a Tx - only 13, we believe you!

Well done to Phil, hard luck Tim, well done to Andrew and also to Rosie. I noticed the fish to be popular this time and Roy was kept waiting again (have you upset them Roy?) The event certainly gave everyone an appetite, some even had a sweet.

Larby

Over to Philip - how did he do it?

'The Headless Chicken approach.
After a fair cross country drive heading to the north of Halstead, the big clue I had arrived was the Ford Fiesta and Peter standing in the middle of the road direct the parking. Colin & Rosie arrived right behind me.
My plan was to go for my joker, which was H, but first picked up Micro Y which I had labelled as 'Swampy' due to its ability to overwhelm it's partner micro. Clearly it was straight down the lane on the left and I picked this off as Colin ran through. I then saw him playing in the bushes further down the lane on the right so joined him there searching for L, which took us a good while and 2 - 3 transmissions. Then off to H and as I ran across the field it lined up on an Oak tree, thought it was odd as this was exactly where Peter had camped out last year. Searched round the tree and brambles and when it came on it took me away towards the road, but I decided this had to be wrong and searched again and found the aerial and transmitted but no triffid. Eventually found this hidden under some grass, which I though best to put back just it case the others wanted to have fun searching the brambles as well. Scanned the frequencies for a partner micro to no avail and missed W close by.

Yes that looks very nice - where's mine?!!

Rosie 2nd, Colin 7th, this needs a good story .... how did he forget Mini I?

Having heard 'I' earlier, made off back over the lane and into the field looking for this, missing the easy rout along the lane and got distracted by K in the process but found this not far behind Roy who was bobbing about complaining of all sorts. Then up the road to 'I' with still not many micros heard nor J. Had heard a bit of X near J so went back there and bumped into Richard who reported that J had a low battery. Always tend to forget about A so made my way back the cars and onto the other side of the road. Found again the rough sleeper i had seen last time and posted my tickets. Picked up one of the other micros using my sense aerial for direction and found Z beside the northern road. Assumed there must be a Mini with this and went further up the road to a triangular plot which looked good and found an aerial, transmitter and triffid J without too much difficulty.
That just left micro W which Peter said was somewhere near H, so backtracked for the final time and found this by crawling under a fence by a small pond, finishing up back at A for the fourth time at around 3.45pm. it could have all been easier, but that's multi TX.'
Colin brought along an experimental Micro which can be programmed to send a Morse character without using a PIC. Great to have another constructor joining in. Mini J failure was caused by a faulty NiCd cell so easily repaired for next Multi-Tx event, which is on Sunday May 22nd hosted by Timbo - other dates.
Colchester League results are here