Appalachian Apocalypse #3 2026. October 8-11! You aren’t ready. Thousands in giveaways. (Page 5 of 5)
| Looks interesting. No firearms shooting this year. Did that change? Might have to go and hang out with "fellow firearms enthusiasts". Says to bring night vision and thermal. Check. |
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. - Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Originally Posted By aztrooper: Looks interesting. No firearms shooting this year. Did that change? Might have to go and hang out with "fellow firearms enthusiasts". Says to bring night vision and thermal. Check. It's always been no shooting, except for indirect. It's a great event I probably wouldn't be interested in shooting much anyway I'd rather hang out with everyone. |
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Finally, I can share an update on progress. Work has been kicking my butt these last few weeks, so I'm a bit behind schedule and definitely feeling the time crunch. Fortunately, a major milestone was passed today- the near completion of the fox hunt antennas. I'm waiting on a few components to complete the final soldering work, but the hard part is over. It's far from a professional job, so I'm anxious to see if they actually perform... I also deviated a bit from the standard build profile. Here's hoping they work out. Below are some photos of the build process, and the current status with one folded for travel and the other in operational arrangement. Attached File Attached File Attached File After the antenna soldering, it's on to making the transmitters. More updates to follow- hopefully in a week or so. |
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Originally Posted By KommanderK: Finally, I can share an update on progress. Work has been kicking my butt these last few weeks, so I'm a bit behind schedule and definitely feeling the time crunch. Fortunately, a major milestone was passed today- the near completion of the fox hunt antennas. I'm waiting on a few components to complete the final soldering work, but the hard part is over. It's far from a professional job, so I'm anxious to see if they actually perform... I also deviated a bit from the standard build profile. Here's hoping they work out. Below are some photos of the build process, and the current status with one folded for travel and the other in operational arrangement. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-24_jpg-3826910.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-30_jpg-3826911.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-32_jpg-3826912.JPG After the antenna soldering, it's on to making the transmitters. More updates to follow- hopefully in a week or so. This is amazing and I personally can’t wait to see them in action! |
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Originally Posted By KommanderK: Finally, I can share an update on progress. Work has been kicking my butt these last few weeks, so I'm a bit behind schedule and definitely feeling the time crunch. Fortunately, a major milestone was passed today- the near completion of the fox hunt antennas. I'm waiting on a few components to complete the final soldering work, but the hard part is over. It's far from a professional job, so I'm anxious to see if they actually perform... I also deviated a bit from the standard build profile. Here's hoping they work out. Below are some photos of the build process, and the current status with one folded for travel and the other in operational arrangement. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-24_jpg-3826910.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-30_jpg-3826911.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/294244/photo_2026-09-13_18-02-32_jpg-3826912.JPG After the antenna soldering, it's on to making the transmitters. More updates to follow- hopefully in a week or so. Hmmm...Five elements - those are some high gain beams!! The two fox hunts I have seen, folks used 3 element beams. This will make it interesting, especially if we put one down over the cliff on the exit road...  We can see how far away we can contact repeaters with them after the fox hunt! |
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Originally Posted By 917-30: Just picked up a couple more attendees. Mentioned the event to my brother in KY and he's in as well as is his ex-wife's youngest son. That’s awesome! We need to pump the numbers up. What’s not to like? Food, music, whiskey, indirect fire and hanging out! |
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Originally Posted By Canoeguy: That’s awesome! We need to pump the numbers up. What’s not to like? Food, music, whiskey, indirect fire and hanging out! Originally Posted By Canoeguy: Originally Posted By 917-30: Just picked up a couple more attendees. Mentioned the event to my brother in KY and he's in as well as is his ex-wife's youngest son. That’s awesome! We need to pump the numbers up. What’s not to like? Food, music, whiskey, indirect fire and hanging out! I know, right?! Casually mentioned it to my brother the other day when he called to say he had an extra ticket for the Buffalo Trace tour. Didn't think he'd be interested, but when I called him today to say I'd take the tour with them, he said he and the (sort of) stepson were in. I think they'll both enjoy it. The stepson likes guns so he'll have a blast checking out NVR and thermal. And, who doesn't like mortar demonstrations? |
PFG #39
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Originally Posted By 917-30: I know, right?! Casually mentioned it to my brother the other day when he called to say he had an extra ticket for the Buffalo Trace tour. Didn't think he'd be interested, but when I called him today to say I'd take the tour with them, he said he and the (sort of) stepson were in. I think they'll both enjoy it. The stepson likes guns so he'll have a blast checking out NVR and thermal. And, who doesn't like mortar demonstrations? @917-30 if you buffalo trace tour is on a weekday, hit me up and I'll give you guys the extra special golf cart tour to the smellier parts of the distillery
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: @917-30 if you buffalo trace tour is on a weekday, hit me up and I'll give you guys the extra special golf cart tour to the smellier parts of the distillery I think we are scheduled for 1:00-2:30pm on Friday. Waiting on my brother to confirm the time. They and I would both love that. |
PFG #39
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: Wife has informed me we have birthdays that weekend, including our own child, so I'm SOL... I asked if we could move the parties to our camper at Norris lake even so i could sneak over and no dice. You mean to tell me that your own child doesn't want a mortar/thermal/whiskey birthday party? We'll miss you. @canoeguy, any chance you have a dilapidated, worthless barrel laying around for a target? 55gal drum or kiddie pool would also work. |
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Originally Posted By MHIDPA: You mean to tell me that your own child doesn't want a mortar/thermal/whiskey birthday party? We'll miss you. @canoeguy, any chance you have a dilapidated, worthless barrel laying around for a target? 55gal drum or kiddie pool would also work. 
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Originally Posted By MHIDPA: You mean to tell me that your own child doesn't want a mortar/thermal/whiskey birthday party? We'll miss you. @canoeguy, any chance you have a dilapidated, worthless barrel laying around for a target? 55gal drum or kiddie pool would also work. Originally Posted By TVille: I have an extra kiddie pool that the dog outgrew. I can't afford the gas to fill it right now. I can possibly get a 55 gallon plastic barrel from work. Let me know. |
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: I can give a bourbon Barrel to Dklic6 at MOA next week to bring, I'm sure Brian won't mind ya'll killing a buffalo trace barrel. Lol, I am 100% positive that Buffalo Trace doesn’t even know that we exist. I’m wondering if I can get in on this extra special tour business? |
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Originally Posted By TVille: Hmmm...Five elements - those are some high gain beams!! The two fox hunts I have seen, folks used 3 element beams. This will make it interesting, especially if we put one down over the cliff on the exit road... We can see how far away we can contact repeaters with them after the fox hunt! High gain or not, I'm just hoping they work. The extra elements was a byproduct of laziness more than anything- I intended to the typical three-element design that you see on most tape measure yagis, but the online calculators I found kept giving me measurements for the five-element design. Despite a second parts run and the added build effort, that was still easier in my book than learning antenna theory and doing math. I still need to complete the soldering work to get them functional, but I did just complete a different major milestone. Update soon to follow... |
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Originally Posted By Canoeguy: Lol, I am 100% positive that Buffalo Trace doesn’t even know that we exist. I’m wondering if I can get in on this extra special tour business? Have golf cart, will find sweet jumps and hidden corners. You’re always welcome man, I’m sure you would nerd out here. |
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Finally, here's the update. The fox hunt transmitters and antennas are done! A little testing and tweaking will need to be done before the event, but here are a few build pictures. First, the components in each box: Attached File A hole is drilled in the lid and some extra trimming is completed to fit the bulkhead connector for the antenna. The rough assembly of each nob looks like this: Attached File An open box, a box in travel mode, and a box with the antenna mounted ready for hunting: Attached File All packed up and ready for AA'26: Attached File Some testing and tweaking will need to be completed before the event, but at least the hard part is done. Now my question is- how much interest do we have in the fox hunt? With 6-12 participants, we can do two teams sharing a split course racing toward a common end goal. With more than that, we could do 3 or more teams working through a linear course, competing for the best time. I'd like to throw a little light land nav in there as well, for one or more of the waypoints. |
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The fox hunt boxes are amazing and over the top. I am genuinely excited about this. As always let me talk about October weather here. It will likely be cold at night. Maybe into the forties. It will most likely be warm to hot during the day. That’s what I expect. We might get anything between the that. However be prepared with some warm gear for the night. |
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Originally Posted By Canoeguy: The fox hunt boxes are amazing and over the top. I am genuinely excited about this. As always let me talk about October weather here. It will likely be cold at night. Maybe into the forties. It will most likely be warm to hot during the day. That’s what I expect. We might get anything between the that. However be prepared with some warm gear for the night. Sgt. Homeyclaus says: Bring snivel gear. No whining. |
In case you're wondering about the avatar pic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ARGjbA14g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ARGjbA14g