[NLRS] An idea for an NLRS beacon network

[Doug Reed]

I currently have some site access at towers around the area, from
Rochester to Grand Rapids, from Chippewa Falls to Litchfield. If there
was beacon equipment to install, I'd have to see what it is and talk
to the site owner. The usual terms are to help with keeping the site
looking good (i.e. clearing weeds and brush) and pay for the
electricity the equipment uses. Considering the cost of coax, the best
configuration might be an all-weather box mounted on the tower. OTOH,
consider the cost of trained and insured tower climbers....

And I have a reasonable stock of 6GHz bricks, power amps, and assorted
WR-137 waveguide parts. We have material and dimensions for making
5760 waveguide slot antennas but getting them machined would need a
CNC mill and lots of one and two flute 3/32" mill cutters. Or you can
try doing it the old fashioned way with drill bits in a drill press
and needle files.... Ray Johnson milled one antenna for
proof-of-concept but it hasn't been tested yet.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.