[NLRS] Beacons

[Doug Reed]

If you search around the British sites, you'll find that they have
started using a GPS driven beacon controller that can run multiple
modes. For the microwave bands, they give extreme frequency accuracy
and fancy digital modes on top of the older CW options. They look
great but the cost is around $200 or a bit more the last time I asked.
<http://www.g4jnt.com/beacons.htm>

Personally, I'd like to use that style of controller but I'm too
cheap. So my next best option would be a CW beacon but then I'd like
to have multiple power levels, kind of like the NCDXC IARU HF beacons
do. I've considered this to be an excellent option if you are using a
transverter system and a SSB exciter to drive the transverter. Then
you just change the audio level to adjust the output level.

I've also considered if using FM mode to TX might not work OK. I was
thinking that when the beacon TX is off the air, then the FM receiver
could be active and perhaps operate as a simplex repeater so the user
could get an idea how they sound at the other end. But most of the
people using the beacons probably never use the FM position on their
radio, and there is a significant difference between usable SSB signal
levels and usable FM signal levels.

If you want a dead simple beacon, then CW is the way to go, even if
you are using an FM TX for the beacon. Perhaps the cheapest beacon
controller you can find is the ID-O-Matic kit for $25. It also makes a
simple FM repeater link controller......

Good luck.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.