Swan Automatic Direction Finder Radio

Vintage 1970's Swan ADF-100 automatic direction finder. Radios such as this were used for marine navigation before the advent of GPS made them obsolete. The radio finds the direction to a radio tower by rotating it's antenna. By finding the bearing to two or more such towers, one's position could be plotted on a chart. For more information: http://www.angelfire.com/space/proto57/rdf.html

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• radio
• direction
• finder
• rdf
• adf
• vintage
• marine
• collectible
• navigation

[sokaykid]

I work in a facilty where there are about 50security employees each using hand held motorolas and these are stationary postions spread out over an approx 2 square mile area. There is one disgruntled guy somewhere who keeps keying his radio to disrupt any comms that go on. I want to find and catch this guy. Any suggestions anyone?

[proto57]

Yes there is a way... write to me privately, and we can discuss it... Rich.

[TexasSteven]

Nice! Could someone still buy one? (Guess one may find one on eBay)

[proto57]

You are right, you can find them on eBay. A good search term is simply "direction finder". The automatic ones are less common, but show up once in awhile. Check out my link in the description, which shows my whole collection.

[TexasSteven]

I would like to use one for not only the AM band but also the FM broadcast band and 2 meter band (HamM Radio) 145 to 148 Mhz. Any suggestions as to make and model what would do that? Yes I did a Ebay search the other day for DF's but no luck that time. Will check from time to time. Thank you Proto57

[proto57]

I'm sorry I don't know of any FM radio direction finders. There are higher frequency ones than this.... they are used in RDF hobbies called "Fox Hunts". But I don't think they are FM... and I am sure they are not FM broadcast band. But sorry I am not to familiar with the fox hunting hobby. Rich.

[doedeedum]

that's pretty neat.