[Meteor-Scatter] GB3VHF Beacon now in JT65 mode

[DF2ZC Bernd]

Hello All,

Though it is a little off topic it might still be interesting to many...

As some of us have already learned the well-known 144 MHz beacon GB3VHF
(JO01DH) is now the first - at least to my knowledge - beacon which also
transmits in JT65B mode. Every even minute (corresponding to having ticked
"tx First" in the WSJT JT65B subroutine window) the beacon transmits
"GB3VHF JO01DH". In the odd minutes it transmits the same message in plain
old A1A.

This gives a wonderful opportunity to monitor the beacon signal even if one
is not in shack: By tuning in on 144.42860 MHz in SSB mode (CW carrier is on
144.430 MHz in CW mode), untick the "tx First" in the WSJT program, press
"F3" for Mute and then let the software run and decode the beacon signal.

Since the message text "GB3VHF JO01DH" does not match the message
conventions for the deep search mode in JT65B the additional dBs sensitivity
are wasted. This is particularly unfortunate for hams wanting to do some
long distance beacon monitoring, not just 500 km like from here.

However, there is a way out to force the software to use the deep search
decoder, because one could also regard JO01DH also as a callsign:

(1) Set your own callsign to GB3VHF in WSJT options
(2) Set "JO01DH" as TO-Callsign (you can even use JO01DH als as JO01DH's
locator)
(3) Store this unusual callsign JO01DH from JO01DH in calls3.txt

The turn your antenna to the beacon location and start running muted tx 2nd.
It will work.

Good luck in beacon monitoring. And have fun with the statistic work and
graphic display later.

Thank you to the team at GB3VHF! Details of the beacon are at
www.g0afh.com/gb3vhf

vy 73 Bernd DF2ZC (JO30RN)
--------------------------
Website: www.df2zc.de
ICQ    : 273214349
--------------------------
144 MHz WAC

Kenwood TS 2000
2 x GU74b by LZ2US
4 x 2M18XXX 21 dBd full elevation