SARL change beacon frequency

The South African Radio League (SARL) has requested ICASA to change the beacon frequency of 5250 to 5290 kHz to line up with the same allocation in Europe and other countries. This will greatly enhance the coverage of beacons.

ICASA has agreed and this week we will change the 5250 kHz frequency for 5290 kHz.

To receive WSPR beacons set your radio to SSB and tune 1, 5 kHz lower to 5288,5 kHz.

To learn more about the WSPR software, download a tutorial by Stewart Moss, ZS6SGM from the SARL web. Click on Propagation Research on the left hand side of the home page and follow the link.

WSPR stations operating on 5250 kHz are requested to move frequency on 4 October to 5290 kHz

DB0IH beacon upgraded

The DB0IH beacon on 70 cm has been heavily upgraded and is now frequency and time locked to GPS. It can be used for both frequency calibration and conditions monitoring.

Amateur / Ham Radio beacon DB0IH has been upgraded

Beacon data is now:
Frequency: 432.447 MHz
Locator: JN39HJ
Location: Rehlingen-Siersburg, Germany
Power: 15 W ERP
Antenna: HoLoop, 340 m asl
Sequence: PI4 (call), CW (call and locator) and carrier in a 1 min cycle
Keeper: Georg, DF1V

New mode trial for VK medium wave beacon

The popular CW beacon at VK3FI beacon at Mildura in north-western Victoria, Australia, on the 630 Metre band just below the AM broadcast allocation heard throughout VK and in ZL, has now changed to try the QRSS-3 a very slow weak signal mode.

It is using the new mode in the 472-479 kHz band on a frequency of 473 kHz for a few weeks and may be detected a lot further afield.

The beacon is on air during local night darkness with switch-on by 0900 UTC most nights.The beacon is only air-on when Noel Fergusson VK3FI is present.

Some antenna improvements are planned later and the VK3FI beacon will resume then with 12-words-per-minute CW transmissions. 

All reception reports to vk3fi@wia.org.au