Topband: 160 Beacons

[Tom Rauch]

It would have to be an attended beacon.

I didn't (and still don't) like the idea of unattended QRP beacons, because
they are generally useless to anyone interested in propagation. The higher
power is why stations like DHJ were so useful. I remember leaving my
receivers on DHJ for hours, watching for band openings.

Higher power unattended or attended beacons could be quite useful, if
regulated and coordinated with known power and antennas.

I have the antenna spacing to run maybe 250-1000 watts and not bother my own
receivers. I've been thinking about something on 1999, but I wonder if
propagation is better up there and it might not reflect on what is happening
on the 1800 end??

> interested in low band beacons and they basically said
> "forget about it".  What is an "attended" beacon anyway?
> Sounds like you might just as well call CQ if you have
> to be there.

The problem with CQ's is they are usually in the prime activity area of the
band, taking up room when the CQ'er might not have propagation. They also
are on random frequencies, no one knows where to look. Searching from 1815
to 1840 for weak signals is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

What I was thinking of is this. Some of us could buy MFJ Beacon clocks
(assuming they work OK) that are synchronized to WWVL. By stealing voltage
of the red LED's, we could have accurately timed signals to trigger a memory
keyer, and that could key the radio.

We could put several beacons on one frequency doing this.

We also need to establish some sort of International calling frequencies,
like six meters has, where calls are made but people vacate. That would help
a great deal.

73 Tom