[RTTY] I just have to ask

[J. Edward (Ed) Muns]

> With thousands of stations on the air during a contest, exactly what
> purpose does a beacon serve?

The beacon system allows one to quickly check for openings on the high bands
in a predictable manner because you know precisely the location and power
levels of the signals.  Having lots of stations on the air can provide
broader conclusions although it will take longer and have more uncertainty.
This is perhaps more useful in DX contests but still valuable in checking
10-15 meter openings in NAQP.

Ed - W0YK