[NLRS] W9HQ feedback (Beacons)

Wed Jun 16 13:45:37 EDT 2010

Per Todd's (and others') enthusiasm, probably my "whole enchilada" of
trenching over to the silo from the shack, running hardline for IF,
installing transverters, etc. is way overkill, at least for starters.

Technically this seems very straightforward.  I'm poised to get AC power to
the top of the silo, so that's pretty simple.  I have the software skills to
do a little embedded controller, but even that would take more time than is
really needed.  It would seem that a laptop running some CW freeware like
CWType, which has a beacon mode, a rig interface, a radio, and an antenna
would get started.  I have the laptop, power supply, and a halo antenna
ready to go.  A keying circuit between laptop and rig would be one lunch
break.  The hitch would be the rig itself.

If it could be just an FM rig then I could do it with what I have now, but
I'm concerned that keying an FM rig for CW might create a "chirpy" or
otherwise unsuitable signal (?).  What are other guys using for their beacon
transmitters?

Are the beacon coordinators for WI the same guys as for repeaters?

Thanks and 73,

David  W9HQ

On 6/16/10, Todd Sprinkmann <sprinkies at excel.net> wrote:
>
>
>   You should definitely go forward with the beacon.   Guys
> don't talk about them much, but when they are not on the air,
> they are sorely missed.   I've gotten all sorts of email from guys
> way SW and S of here who relied heavily on the 144.297
> WD9BGA/B, near Blue Mounds, just WSW of Madison.
> That beacon really got out, *AND* it definitely drew
> RF toward our part of the world.    With your QTH, your
> beacon would be a very effective one.   If I had tech skills,
> I'd personally come over and fast track this project for
> completion in time for good summer/early fall propagation.
> I can't believe it's that time consuming to finish, assuming
> you have all the necessary components.
>
>   Hardly anyone will care that your beacon goes off for
> contests.   Many others do that with their beacons, too.
> 99-98% up-time would be excellent.
>
>   I would be checking your proposed beacons every time I
> go out to the shed.   I enjoy comparing signal strengths over
> time.   A 432 beacon would be great, too.   I am not sure if
> N0EDV's 432 beacon up on Timm's Hill (?) was temporary
> or permanent.   I do know the only "local" 432 beacon for
> me is on 432.300 out of Grand Haven, far W MI.
>
>   I hope others here and/or on the BC list (or the LSE/Winona
> lists) will help you make this happen.
>
>   I'll also be curious to see what the recommended power
> levels are.   My sense would be to make it a respectable
> figure (5-10w) so it can be a true DX beacon.
>
>   73,
>   Todd  KC9BQA
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Palm" <thepalmhq at gmail.com>
> To: "NLRS Reflector" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 9:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [NLRS] Status of 2m beacons?
>
>
>
>>
>> I'm glad this issue of beacons came up.
>>
>> I'll preface this by saying that I have a lot more ambition than I have
>> time.  So too often my ideas don't see the light of day.  That being said,
>> I
>> have a really nice QTH for VHF-UHF beacons here in EN43.  Our farm sits at
>> about 1250 ft asl and I have a silo on the property with the dome at 70
>> ft.
>> above ground.  It's a commanding view from up there.  I intend eventually
>> to
>> plant an antenna farm up there and it seems like a pretty great place for
>> beacons.  If I knew that it would serve a real purpose, that they would
>> really be used, I would have additional motivation to get something done.
>>
>> I've had it in mind to place at least 144 and 432 transverters up there
>> just
>> under the dome and run IF cables back to the house (have the hardline
>> already.)  If those transverters were used, say, 99% of the time as
>> beacons
>> and the other 1% of the time to operate in nets, contests, etc. is that
>> acceptable to most?  Is 99% of a loaf better than none?  Or is it too
>> frustrating not to be able to count on a beacon 24-7?
>>
>> I'm wondering in general how many people on this list actually utilize
>> beacons on a regular basis?  What would you like to see band-wise,
>> power-wise, etc.?  And if a guy was going to do this on a budget, what
>> would
>> be the recommended equipment set-up?
>>
>> As always, I've learned a lot by the expertise on this group.
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>>
>> David  W9HQ
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/15/10, Bill Davis Jr <cqbilld at msn.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  Does anyone know anything about the current status of the EN43 and the
>>> EN53 beacons? Bruce was asking me at Aurora and I didn't know anything
>>> about
>>> them. I know after Jerry HCZ passed away that his son was going to
>>> continue
>>> with the EN43 beacon. I in the past heard both of these beacons in the
>>> summer reliably. Not strong all the time, but I would hear them if I set
>>> on
>>> the freq for a few min. Often the EN53 beacon was heard as well as the
>>> EN43
>>> beacon. Now for many months I have heard very little from either of them.
>>> With "summer" close at hand, I would think prop would be "back".
>>>
>>> I think it was W9GM that said that he thought the EN53 beacon had been on
>>> and off quite a bit recently. Anyone know anything more?
>>>
>>> As near as I can tell, things are "ok" here, but we all know slow changes
>>> in equipment performance is difficult to detect. The rotator loop has
>>> been
>>> on the tower MANY years.
>>>
>>> TNX and 73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed
>>>
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