 |
|
|
|
|
|
Last update: |
||||
|
You are visitor |
||||
 |
||||
|
|
since 20.11.2000 |
|
|
 |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
[IARU] [IARU-Region 1] [IARU-Region 2] [IARU-Region 3] [ARDF Committee Region 2] |
||||
|
Ten transmitters in the competition – future for ARDF? Jiří Mareček, OK2BWN, CRC ARDF manager
Basic ideas: If we want to keep the character of ARDF, we have to keep the basic principles of sports discipline:
For the next advancement of a sport, there is necessary that
Following conclusions result from the basic ARDF principles: · every transmitter shall be audible once in every 5 minutes o competitor can run over 0,5 – 1 km at 5 minutes (according to the terrain and his condition). It is a distance, after which some information about the transmitter is already needed. Shortening this period, we come close to the situation with the transmitter operating continuously, therefore we decrease technical aspect importance and limit the competitor activity close to the classical orienteering. Lenghtening the period results in waiting for a signal, increasing the chance effect and hoarding of competitors. In addition, 5 minutes is natural, organisation suitable time period. · the number of transmitters shall be increased, ideally to 10 o Increasing number of categories already made the current system unsuitable. Using 5 transmitters, there is impossible to built appropriate courses for 9 categories – the courses are always built for 2 or 3 categories and the rest are compromises. Some categories search for only 2 – 3 transmitters, which logically make them disgusted (travelling across the continent for 3 transmitters...). Increasing of the number of transmitters much increases the combination possibilities and enables to adjust not only number of transmitters, but also course length and climb exactly to the needs of particular categories. o Increasing number of competitors cause significant increasing of the concentration of competitors over the terrain, especially in the vicinity of transmitters. There is often possible to find the transmitter only from the crowding around it, which again increases the chance affect. More transmitters enable more uniform distribution of competitors over various transmitters. o Currently the part of ideal route of several categories frequently leads in parallel, even over several transmitters, More transmitters enable to distribute the ideal routes of particular categories over the competiton area and limit the chance of „following“. · 10 transmitters is a logical number to a 5-minutes cycle. The transmitting can be organized in two ways: o two sets of transmitters operate normally on two frequencies, the beacon is on the third one, preferably between those of transmitters. The two sets of transmitters are told apart by different keying speeds („slow“ and „fast“). Using other codes would be also possible (not allowed in some countries). – There is no problem at 3,5 MHz band, at 144 MHz there might be some problems with receivers selectivity. Nevertheless, using the beacon with lower power might help to solve this problem. o all transmitter operate one after the other, transmitting period is 30 seconds, therefore 10 transmitters will fit in 5 minutes. No problems with additional frequencies. At 144 MHz, the quick direction finding may be a bit more difficult. The first and the second set of transmitters are again told apart by different keying speeds.
Example of the course features (World ARDF Championships): category No.of transmitters course length total climb M21 8 8 km 400m M40 7 7 km 300m M50 5 5 km 250m M60 5 4 km 200m M16 6 7 km 350m W21 6 6 km 200m W35 5 5 km 150m W50 4 4 km 150m W16 5 5 km 200m
Consequences of the transmitter number increased to 10o Siting referee will have much more transmitter combinations available and he will be able to build courses technically and physically appropriate to particular categories o This will significantly decrease the concentration of competitors around transmitters o This will significantly decrease number of parallel course sections of particular categories, which will result in more uniform distribution od competitors over the competition area and will minimize the chance of „following“. o Even „weaker“ categories will search for at least 4 –5 transmitters. o There is no special training necessary for this competition system – even normal 5-transmitter training will do. As the maximum number of transmitters for „strongest“ category will be 7-8, the tactical difficulty growth will be acceptable. On the other hand, the importance of technical skills will increase (which is our goal any time). o The competitors will have to get used that they generally search for different transmitters at every event – which is perfectly normal situation in orienteering. Besides this, the youngster categories make this without any problems, do not they? o The event organisation will be more demanding, from either technical or organisational point of view, but this sacrifice will be worthwile. o Ten transmitters bring such combination possibilities, that the additional increasing of number of transmitters for classical ARDF competitions will probably never be necessary.
Note of OK2BWN: The principles mentioned above were already used at some long-distance ARDF competitions and will be tested at several competitions of national level in Czech Republic in 2003. My new transmitters CONTEST 2002 and TRAINER PLL perform all technical demands noted above (more frequencies, various codes and keying speeds, time plan 1 of 10).
I offer free of charge lending of the complete set of ARDF transmitters for an ARDF events organizers – I would like to contribute in this way to promotion the ideas above and ARDF in general. |
||||
