70cm Test Beacon

Update: Nov 13, 2006

Many thanks to all that provided signal reports for this 432 beacon test. I learned a lot from this project. First of all I learned that my becon keyer is working fine! I also learned that a low power beacon at 432 can be easily heard throughout the Ottawa area, but not much further. In planning for a permanent beacon I will be hoping to find a transmitter that puts out 1 or 2 watts. Assuming a good location can be found then a omni antenna can be used. The ideal cw beacon would be loud enough to be heard in the Ottawa area with a minimal station, but could also be be heard by very good Dx stations (e.g. big-gun in Rochester) when atmospheric conditions are favorable. Another option would be to use a small yagi antenna pointed South West. This would still have ok coverage in the Ottawa area, but would increase the ability of the beacon to be heard in Toronto, Rochester, and possibly Montreal via the back of the antenna.

Thanks again for the signal reports! Hopefully there will be more testing in the near future!

Tom
VA3NFA


To test out my cw beacon keyer I have setup a QRP beacon on 432.350. It went on the air at 8:45pm Eastern Time today and will be up for 24 hours. The purpose of this temporary beacon is to not only test the cw keyer, but to see how well a low-power 432 beacon will work with a omni-directional and horizontally polarized antenna.

Details of the beacon setup:

Keyer: ID-O-Matic
Transmitter: Yaesu FT-817
Frequency: 432.350 Mhz
Mode: CW
Power: 500mw
Antenna: KU4AB E-Factor horizontal loop at 40' fed by ~70' of LMR400
Beacon Location: FN25bh (APRS Object: 432beacon)

Signal Reports Received:

• VA3KA, ~10 miles West, 549, 28 element yagi @25', FT-736R wth pre-amp
• VE3CVG, ~30 miles North East, 519
  
• VE2SHF, ~15 miles North East,519, Diamond X-50a verticle @16', FT-857
• VE3BSM, ~26 miles, South, 519, X500 Verticle at 65', D700 FM radio
  
• VE3XK, ~10 miles West, 589, 11 element yagi @65', TS-2000
• Ve3MY, ~0.5 miles North, 599 (He's my neighbor ;-)
  
• VE3BBM, ~7 miles South East, 519, 50-1200 Log Periodic, FT-897
• VE3TUK, ~16miles North East, 519, Icom R10 HT with rubby-ducky, 8th floor apartment
• VE3AKV, ~25miles South West, 519, FT847, 12 element K1FO beam at 8'
  

Please email reports to tomzinck@rogers.com and include your location, signal report, antenna and receiver used.

Many thanks!



More info on the WCARC member beacon project can be found by clicking here.

Tom
VA3NFA