Recently we have heard that operators in VK4 would really appreciate it if there was a beacon on 2 metres somewhere in our area, to aid propagation. This made me think and gather some information about beacons in general. As well as the information below, Amateur Radio NSW offer Morse training: the automated Morse practice transmission operates using the call sign VK2WI in the 80 metre band on 3699kHz. This also serves as a band condition indicator. The well known WWV time clocks have been used for many years to check band conditions. The station transmits on 5 MHz, 10 MHz, and 15 MHz; also on 2.5 MHz and 20 MHz. Propagation testing can also be carried out using WSPR, a part of the WSJT-X Weak Signal suite of programs. WSPR signals can be received and decoded over thousands of kilometres, often only using milliwatts of TX power. There are various websites that offer a “spotting service”. The best known one is PSK Reporter, mainly used to show digital FT8 signals. Another one is the Reverse Beacon Network website. Instead of beacons actively transmitting signals, the Reverse Beacon Network is a network of stations listening to the bands and reporting what stations they hear, when and how well. These are then plotted on a world map.
The WIA’s list of Beacons:
https://www.wia.org.au/members/beacons/data/documents/Aust%20Beacon%20Listing%20101112.pdf
This list is very handy and I recommend printing it out and keeping it close by.
The ACMA’s list of Beacon Licences:
https://web.acma.gov.au/rrl/browse_licences.licence_list?pSV_ID=6&pSS_ID=601
There is a list of HF Beacons under the International Beacon Project:
The International Beacon Project (IBP) is a worldwide network of radio propagation beacons. It consists of 18 continuous wave (CW) beacons operating on five designated frequencies in the high frequency (HF) band.
Beacon Approval Process:
https://www.wia.org.au/members/tac/repeaterlicence
Beacons and repeaters can be licensed through an application process through the ACMA who can supply a callsign. If anyone wants to operate an amateur beacon or repeater station, it must have an apparatus licence and the person operating the station must hold a recognised Standard or Advanced qualification.
An examination of the Band Plan supplied by the WIA:
https://www.wia.org.au/members/bandplans/data/documents/Australian%20Band%20Plans%20200901.pdf
This shows that there are small segments allocated for Beacons in various bands.
A basic beacon can be activated by utilising the Beacon feature in Yaesu’s FT857 and FT897 radios. This allows you to store a message in one of three storage areas. The message can be repeated with an interval that can be varied. The message is transmitted in CW. The speed of the CW transmission can be changed. A number of local SARC operators have tested this successfully on 2 metres, 70 cm and 6 metres. Frequencies used were: 144.230, 144.430, 432.425 and 50.285, CW mode. It is strictly experimental and short term. The transmissions are only likely to be received locally. An interesting experiment if you have one of those Yaesu rigs in the shack. I must admit that Beacons can be regarded as a grey area, licence wise. The frequencies we used were unassigned, which means that they have to be shared. Can a repeated transmission in CW be transmitted on any of our open frequencies? Do we need a Beacon Licence to do this? The feeling is that we can run in automatic mode, including “Repeater like” and “Beacon like” modes, provided that the signal contains station ID information and the transmission process is controlled. It may be possible for a Beacon on 2 metres to be established at one of our repeater sites, should the club approve such a project. Obviously, it would require a good deal of thought and the approval process started. Food for thought.
Cheers, Paul VK2AMT.