[VHFcontesting] 2GHz beacon off the air... (1296.268 MHz WA3TTS/B re-located)

[Michael Sapp]

Mike  (mikflathead at aol.com)  & All:  On Friday Sept 23 I moved my 1296.268~ 
+/- WA3TTS/B to FN00ke on Laurel Mountain. Elevation at ground level is 
2705' and the Alford slot antenna is mounted on top of the building roof 
access ladder rail up about 35~40  feet. I'm estimating 1W ERP.  The CW ID 
is at 5 WPM to make it easier to see on a waterfall display.

 So far K1RZ and W3IP have not heard it, but I got a second hand report 
(from W3IP) that K8TQK heard it well (S4). There is a chance that tree cover 
or scattering off the nearby tower is disrupting the signal to the SE 
direction to FM19.  Also a chance the Alford slot is not entirely omni 
(possible null, etc.) as I did not have a chance to antenna range test it. 
The Alford slot is well matched with 20dB return loss.

Anyway, the location is much better than my 1200' ASL yagi-on-chimney 
situation. I do hear the 1296 MHz  TTS/B in FN00ke from my EN90xn QTH about 
10dB out of the noise with some occasional fading to just above the noise 
from my home location.  I expect better signal reception locally at higher 
hilltop locations, but I have not had time to investigate.  Any reception 
reports would be appreciated (wa3tts at verizon.net).

For the moment I would say the frequency is within 5  or  6 kHz of 1296.268 
MHz.  It seems to stay within 1 kHz over 12 hours or so once my LT-23S and 
FT-817 are warmed up, but that receiving setup is not reference locked---so 
take this frequency measurement limitation into consideration.

Yes, it would be nice to have the beacon 100ft up the tower, but that is not 
really possible (business politics, liability, etc.).   I'm just very 
grateful for the site access to provide a modest 1296 beacon signal for 
western PA and the surrounding area from such a great hilltop.

73 Mike, wa3tts

> Not to change the subject but, there was a 1296 beacon in VE3 land that 
> was on 1296.320 or near there. I have not heard it in a while. Is it still 
> operational? Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve (K1IIG) <stephen.tripp at snet.net>
> To: VHFcontesting <VHFcontesting at contesting.com>
> Sent: Fri, Sep 23, 2016 11:10 am
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] 2ghz beacon off the air
>
> The K1IIG beacon in FN-31NL on 2304.324 is off the air during repairs. 
> AT&T has launched a 2ghz band and is receiving on 2305-2314mhz and 
> transmitting somewhere on 1700mhz. Apparently I have a spur on 2314.xxx 
> 10mhz up from my freq, tbd. So 2ghz beacon folks beware if you are on an 
> AT&T tower or close to one.
>
> 73's
> Steve
> K1IIG