[50mhz] Beacon

Tue, 4 May 2004 19:10:01 -0600

Jason,

The following applies to any automatic beacon (i.e., the transmitter runs when
you're not there to control it) in the United States:

You can run up to 100W RF output on CW. Most beacon stations run less.

You must operate it between 50.060 and 50.080 MHz. Your frequency control should
be extremely stable. If you are going to use the FT-897, I would highly
recommend that you get the TXCO-9 high-accuracy oscillator module for it (unless
it is an FT-897D, in which case it already has this oscillator).

Most beacon messages give callsign, grid square, and general QTH. Sometihing
like: "V V V DE W5WVO/B DM65 ABQ NM". Then the message repeats.

Your frequency should be carefully chosen and remain constant. People need to
know that your beacon will be where the beacon listing says it is going to be.
For a listing of currently known 6M beacons in Region 2 (western hemisphere), go
to http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm. This page is maintained by Martin
Harrison, G3USF. This guy is the de facto beacon coordinator for Region 2. Once
you determine where your beacon is going to be, send him an email at
[email protected] and let him know the details.

Bill / W5WVO

Jason Vierik - KC8SZU wrote:
> I want to setup a beacon to run maybe a few hours here and there a
> night from Michigan.  My FT-897 will beacon in CW.  I guess my
> question is, how much power can I run?  What exactly should the
> beacon say?  I am going to be using a PAR omni OA-50 at about 25 feet
> off the ground.  I live in a pretty high elevation for michigan
> though.
>
>
>
>
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