Response: Direction finding - the process of locating Radio Frequency signals by other radio equipment - has a tremendous role for Amateur Radio operators, particularly in urban areas. RACES units have been called upon to locate spurious signals from a variety of sources from malfunctioning equipment, such as stuck transmitters, to deliberate jamming of local government or other facilities.
In addition to such uses for direction finding, as in the RACES type operations, there are others as well; the "fox hunt" (direction finding contest) of the local Amateur Radio club being an example. Such activities range from an ongoing "sport" to the real preparation for serious and dedicated direction finding. Both aspects have their place, but those who see "fox hunts" only as a pastime and purposely overlook the serious nature of the work that can be done, are a discredit to the Amateur Radio Service whose primary purpose - as set forth in FCC regulations - is public service.