February 23, 2014

Bristol's Cabot Tower sends out Morse code

February 23, 2014/ Colin Butler

The word “Bristol” is once again being spelt out in morse code from Bristol’s Cabot Tower, marking the full refurbishment of the historic monument

The old Morse code transmitter was switched off in 2001 after developing a fault and removed when Cabot Tower was closed to the public following the discovery of cracks in the structure six years later.

The tower on Brandon Hill was reopened in 2011 and the transmitter was reinstated in February, 2014.

A £420,000 refurbishment programme was undertaken to repair the cracks in the tower, built in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage of discovery to Newfoundland from Bristol in 1497.

On Signal Hill in Newfoundland overlooking St Johns is another Cabot Tower also built to commemorate Cabot’s achievement and to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Read the full story - http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-s-Cabot-Tower-send-Morse-code-message/story-20558003-detail/story.html

Cabot Tower - http://www.bristol-link.co.uk/history/cabot-tower.htm

February 09, 2014

4m VHF Transatlantic Beacon

February 09, 2014/ Colin Butler

Mike Schaffer KA3JAW would like to remind everyone in the British Isles and Europe that the WG2XPN 70.005 MHz beacon is active.

Some operators were mistakenly under the impression that beacon was active only during the summer season.

The beacon is on 70.005 MHz CW mode running 3 kW ERP beamed at 60 degrees towards Europe using a three element Yagi at 15 metres height on top the peak of Apple Orchard Mountain (1280 metres) along the Blue Ridge mountain range of Virginia state in Maidenhead grid square - FM07fm.

Thus far, there have been no reported detection of this beacon since the New Year 2014 from ITU region one.

The last ITU region one reception was last year on July, 7, 2013 at 1719 UTC from DI2MN (JN58wh) via Sporadic-E with a signal report of 559 QSB at a distance of 7092 km.

Also on the same date at 1710 UTC operator IS0AWZ (Sardinia Is.) Italy (JM49ng) detected the transmission at 7387 km with a report of 419 to 429 via 4x Es!