[NLRS] Beacon Question and a Modest Proposal

Fri Sep 23 15:34:26 EDT 2011

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the comments, I agree phase modulation based protocols are going 
to suffer greatly in some of the
prop modes on 6m.  However there are FSK based modulation schemes that are 
part of WSJT that while
probably not suitable for aurora would be suitable for tropo and weak Es 
openings while offering a several dB
advantage over CW.   I am thinking of FSK441 as part of the mix as it would 
allow a rock check for those
who play around with meteor scatter.

Rather than specific protocols at this point I am just trying to get a feel 
for if this is worth persuing.

I am familiar with CW skimmer as I got curious what some of the reports 
showing up on DXSherlock were and
eventually figured it out.   As a Flex 5K owner I am at least passingly 
familiar with SDR.

Thanks again for your comments.

73 de Bill ND0B

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <aflowers at frontiernet.net>
To: <n0nas at amsat.org>
Cc: "NLRS List" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Beacon Question and a Modest Proposal

>
>
> Bill,
>
> I'm just going to chip in my two cents to what Doug said.
>
> The modulation methods in PSK31 and WSPR won't be of much use for aurora 
> propagation on VHF.  From EN07 that might matter quite a bit.
>
> PSK31 is often destroyed on VHF scatter paths do to the phase modulation 
> that often accompanies it (the buzzsaw sound we sometimes hear).  Longer 
> propagation (e.g., ducting, Es) that might be of more interest to us has 
> less of an issue with phase distortion.
>
> CW Skimmer does a pretty good job of copying a CW beacon, and if you want 
> automated reporting, have a look at the reverse beacon network filtered 
> for 6m.  It probably does pretty well, but I haven't paid that much 
> attention to it.  It looks like the Europeans have several reporting 
> stations, or at least they are the ones with propagation lately.  Right 
> now you can see all that great TE propagation from exciting places like 
> D44 and V51 to southern europe--most of which is beacon spots.
>
> http://reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=13
>
> K0AWU can tell you all about SDRs if you want to set up your own 
> receiver...
>
> Cheers,
> Andy K0SM/2
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Doug Reed" <n0nas at amsat.org>
> To: "NLRS List" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 2:47:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [NLRS] Beacon Question and a Modest Proposal
>
>
>
> Hi Bill.
>
> Interesting issue about the beacon frequency restriction.... Maybe that
> is only for CW beacons? I know that <http://propnet.org/> has been doing
> automated PSK31 propagation beacons on most bands. On 6M they are up at
> 50.291MHz. I had a PropNET 6M packet beacon station on the air before 
> that.
>
> As for the beacon mode, I'd say stay with CW if you want something that
> anyone sitting at the radio can tune in and use. But if you want
> something that will be an automated propagation beacon, then choose
> either WSPRnet or PropNET. Both systems are digital beacons that listen
> for other stations as well as transmit your beacon several times an
> hour. Both systems report back to a central Internet site saying what
> they heard and anyone can access the results on a real-time map from
> their web site. So far both systems are independent and don't share
> their info.
>
> Personally, I like the glitz and eye candy of the WSPRnet web page but I
> prefer the PSK31 mode used by PropNET. The main reason for my choice of
> PropNET over WSPRnet is that WPRSnet can decode signals about 24dB below
> the noise floor while PSK31 can dig down about 17dB below the noise.
> Since I want my propagation beacon to be useful to people running 50-100
> watts of SSB, I need to limit the beacon power according to those
> figures. That means my PSK31 beacon should be 1 watt or less, a WSPRnet
> beacon should be UNDER 100mw......
>
> In similar fashion, I'd suggest a 6M CW beacon should be under 25 watts.
> If it is heard reasonably well, that would indicate that a SSB QSO could
> probably be made with 25-50 watts or more.
>
> Back when I had the PropNET FM packet beacon station on the air, I think
> I was running 25 watts from the radio. My reasoning is that FM needs a
> fairly strong signal in the .5 to 1uv range to decode a packet message.
> So if my 25W packet beacon was received, I know that a SSB QSO should be
> possible with a similar power level. But PropNET doesn't use FM packet
> beacons any more....
>
> So if you want a beacon that anyone can tune around a radio and hear,
> stay with CW. But if you want a beacon that anyone can check on the
> Internet, choose PropNET or WSPRnet. So far there are not a lot of
> people using 6M with either system. Most PropNET and WSPRnet activity is
> on 10M or 30M. WSPRnet has a better international following,
> particularly on 30M. They may be about equal on 10M.
>
> Those are my opinions regarding beacons. Probably the biggest thing I
> have against either system is the need to dedicate a fairly fast
> computer and a decent sound card to either mode. And the need to use a
> SSB radio. A CW beacon transmitter can be a lot simpler and could be
> built from an old commercial FM radio if you wanted to.... Although
> you'd probably want use a crystal oven or replace the crystal with a
> more stable oscillator.
>
> Good luck with the project!
>
> 73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.
>
> Bill Ockert wrote:
>> I have been considering a 6m beacon for EN07 for some time but rather 
>> than
>> sticking with the
>> traditional CW beacon I was thinking of an updated one.  With the 
>> technology
>> that the WSJT
>> protocols made available and the  margin that those protocols provides 
>> there
>> are likely potential
>>   openings that are being missed.
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