Topband: Beacons

[Dave Bowker]

Barrie,

Chances are that you are hearing the harmonic of a LF  becaon an some
airport.  This should not happen, and if you can correctly identify the
beacon call, call the FCC field office nearest you and inform them of the
problem.  The ones nearest  to you are:

DENVER OFFICE (DV)
Federal Communications Commission
215 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 303
Lakewood CO 80226-1544

SEATTLE OFFICE (ST)
Federal Communications Commission
11410 NE 122nd Way, Room 312
Kirkland, WA 98034-6927

Inform them of the call letters and that you believe you are receiving a
harmonic (probably the 5th) of their LF beacons on the amateur band, and
specify the frequency at which you are hearing them.

The LF locator beacons have filters installed to prevent this from happening
and when they get hit by lightning, the filters fail to suppress the
harmonics.  The FCC is aware of these problems and has taken swift action
(Kansas City office) for me many times when I lived in the midwest.

73, Dave, K1FK
Fort Kent, ME