If you _want_ to be found, presumably you use completely different
technology than if you're making a hide-and-seek game of it.

When you get really close to a hidden 146MHz transmitter, you can do a
lot of good simply with signal strength. You need a receiver (or
signal strength meter) which does not overload even for large signals,
however. If you insist on getting wavefront direction information,
and you have plenty of signal, it's possible to do it switching
rapidly between two antennas. They can be small and not spaced very
far apart and still work. I think there's a larger version known as a
"handyfinder." That close in, I never felt a need for directional
info. Note that you can also search on the third harmonic when close;
the hidden transmitter has to go to extremes to filter the third to a
low enough value you wouldn't be able to use it close in.

Cheers,
Tom

"George" wrote in message thlink.net...
I posted an inquiry (below) regarding my search for a very small DFing
antenna. I received some much appreciated replies, but not quite what I was
looking for.

Here's a link to a commercial product:
http://store.yahoo.com/fulfillmentad...es/baavtr.html

This product displays bearing and distance to a transmitter over a very
short range, operating below 500 kHz. This is the physical size I had in
mind.

I'd like to be able to build a similar unit in the 144 MHz band for
direction finding over short distances. In other words, for use on the
final leg of a DF contest where the transmitter is buried in brush in a
remote area. A parasitic array or even a single loop wouldn't be as rugged
or hand-holdable as I'd like.

Does anyone know what antenna technology is used in this product to be able
to develop directionality at such a low frequency with such a small size?

I suppose I could ask the manufacturer, but they might not want to disclose
their design info. Or, I could buy one for big $$$ and try to figure it
out, but that's not a sure thing either ... )

Thanks for any help.

George, K6GW