++++++++++++++++++++ See also Beacons ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 19:43:09 -0600 From: "James R. Duffey" To: Subject: [127232] NCDXF Beacons The NCDXF beacons are very useful. In addition to repeating every 3 minutes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, they also are staggered by band. So when one beacon gets done transmitting on one band, it goes to the next higher band. Thus if you program these in memoiry, you can switch to the next higher band to see if there is also propagation on that band. A nifty way to get the MUF to a specific location. The beacons use modest vertical antennas, Cushcraft R-5s, so they are pretty good indications of what typical ham signals sound like. The locations tend to be prety good, though, the one in New YOrk CIty is on top of the UN. building! An evening spent listening to these beacons is a good introduction to propagation on the higher bands. The beacons can be found at 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930 and 28.200 MHz. Dr. Megacycle KK6MC/5 ______ James R. Duffey KK6MC/5 Cedar Crest, NM DM65 +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 09:36:47 -0600 (MDT) From: "Karl F. Larsen" To: "Lee, Jimmy" Cc: k5di at zianet.com, Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [127269] RE: Radio Conditions Go to this web page and look around: http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/beaconSchedule.htm Some of my stuff from memory is wrong. I have a serious memory leak...:-) On Fri, 24 May 2002, Lee, Jimmy wrote: > Karl, > Where can I find a list of these beacons? Seems like a great way to > check the bands. > Jim, AE4DT ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 16:21:28 -0700 From: "bob baxter" To: "QRP-L" Subject: [127292] Beacons For anyone interested in checking beacons, look at Beacon Clock freeware at http://www.huntting.com/beaconclock/ Bob Baxter AA7EQ Bisbee, Az. +++++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Frank LaFranco W6NEK" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 12:13:31 -0800 Hello all, The statement that beacon station 4U1UN is operating on 28.200 MHz is an over simplification because the NCDXF beacon station referred to is only one of 18 beacon stations, spread through the world, which rotate transmitting on this assigned frequency. On 28.200 MHZ, the New York beacon station 4U1UN transmits 40 seconds past the hour for a period of 10 seconds. It then repeats the 10 second interval every 3 minutes. During that 3 minute period, 17 other NCDXF world wide stations are transmitting on this frequency. Each of them also transmit for 10 seconds. Therefore, in one 3 minute period, you have 18 worldwide beacons each transmitting ,one at a time, for 10 seconds. This is very useful for determining propagation openings to various parts of the world in real time. Each beacon will send its call sign (at 22WPM) followed by 4 one second carriers at 100W, 10W, 1W and 0.1Watt. In addition, the same 18 world wide beacons transmit on other HF bands. These include 20 meters (14.100 MHz), 17 Meters (18.110 MHz), 15 Meters (21.150 MHz), 12 Meters (24.930 MHz) and 10 Meters (28.200 MHz). If you tune to these frequencies, be sure to place your rig in CW mode to ensure you are listening to the displayed frequency. The NCDXF HF Beacon Network is a very valuable operating aid. For more info on this network go to: http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon.htm 73... Frank - W6NEK ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 8:08 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts > This is a critique of the Elecraft K2/100 > > Here are approximate changes on the NCDXF beacon > going from 100 watts to .1 watts. The station is 4U1UN > New York City on 28.200. Antenna is a 4 element beam. > > S9 100 watts > S8 10 watts > S5 1 watt > S3 .1 watt > > You are invited to listen to the NCDXF/ IARU beacon > network and listen for yourself the actual change in > signal level as the beacon goes fm 100 watts to 10 watts, 1 > watt and 100 mW, ++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 16:07:51 -0800 Frank, W6NEK, added some very useful facts about the propagation beacons. It's worthwhile checking those beacons across the 20-10 meter bands to see how conditions are. The beacons all use identical vertical antennas too, so their signals are omni directional and have the same effective radiated power. If you missed Frank's post, go to: http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon.htm for all the dope! Software is available that will run on your computer and show you a world map with the daylight and night areas indicated and which will identify the location of the beacon transmitting at any moment. You can sit back on one band, listen and watch the beacons come on and off around the world on the map. At least one version is shareware that you can try for free at http://www.taborsoft.com/abw/. -- snip -- Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 +++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 19:01:14 -0600 (CST) From: Juerg Tschirren To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Cc: "Ron D'Eau Claire" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts Regarding the beacon software: there is a nice Linux program, freely available under http://wwwhome.cs.utwente.nl/~ptdeboer/ham/ibp.html that shows the currently transmitting beacons, both as text and on a map. If you only have Microsoft Windows available, you should be able to get this software to work under Cygwin (also freely available, see http://www.cygwin.com). Juerg --... ...-- -.. . -. ----- .--. .--. ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Mike McCoy" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 20:41:38 -0600 Beacons are an excellent tool to determine it it's worth the bother... I use a nice lil simple/effective ($10) program called 'Beacon Tracker' from W6NEK: http://www.w6nek.com/hfbt804_001.htm CommCat (a $50 integrated rig control/DXspot manager/logger for K2's) also has a nice beacon utility in the tuner window. Just click on a beacon marker on the Commcat 'bandspread dial' to tune the rig to the proper freq and observe the call ID/location of the beacon in the tuner window. It also automatically displays the current beacon location on the great circle map. http://www.commcat.com/ However if you use such software it is vital that your computer is sync'd to the correct time. I use 'Dimension 4 (formerly 'Timetick'), a freebee by Thinkman to sync my 'puter to the US Naval Observatory. http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/index.html No affiliation with the above mentioned companies... I just use em and like em ;) 73 Mike K5PU ++++++++++++++++