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Update April 2009 -
VK2RSY beacon again operational on 70 cm. On Thursday afternoon last Mark VK2XOF installed a - new purpose - built transmitter at Dural to provide the beacon service on 432.420 MHz. Like the other beacons in the lineup - it is keyed in CW from the common keyer with about 20 watts into a two bay omni directional crossed dipole array mounted above the recently resumed two metre service. The antenna is about 7 metres above ground. This now restores the line of beacons from the VK2WI site operating from 10 metres through to 23 CM. Reports on this latest beacon - on 432.420 MHz - may be sent by email via the ARNEWS address - arnews@tpg.com.au and they will be passed on to Mark. You can also submit a report to us in the callbacks or leave a message on the office phone - 02 9651 1490. Advised by Tim VK2ZTM |
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Update March 2009 -
VK2RSY Transmitters updated and services restored On Saturday the 28th of February, Station Engineer Mark VK2XOF installed a transmitter at Dural to restore the VK2RSY Sydney based beacon on 2 metres. It is to be found on 144.420 MHz. Mark constructed the transmitter which has replaced the former beacon based on equipment constructed in the early 1970's. The frequency has been out of service for a while. The new transmitter - in the CW mode - puts 20 watts into the existing 2 bay horizontally polarized crossed dipoles mounted on the roof of the VK2WI building. This is not the final antenna or position but will provide the service for the present. It is keyed by the common keyer to all the VK2RSY beacons - sending VK2RSY and the maidenhead locator - QF 56 MH - The former beacon operated in an FSK mode. The new national beacon band plan has changed over to the CW mode which enables more services to be fitted into the beacon allocation in each band. The frequency also serves to assist in identifying remote signals when heard. The first figure after the decimal - in this case 4 - indicates it is a signal in the primary beacon allocation on that band and the next figure - 2 - indicates it is in the VK2 call area. The final figure - 0 - indicates it is the first service in that call area. Other frequencies - ending on a number from 1 to 9 are also used in that call area. An example is the proposed Blue Mountains beacon on 2 metres which will have a frequency of 144.424 MHz. For a beacon in VK3 this number block would be from 430 to 439 for example. On bands - 2 metres - 70 and 23 cm - this plan is also in place with the four hundred block in the narrow mode region. A secondary beacon allocation is in the five hundred block for overflow of allocations or to provide seperation in similar service areas. For those requiring additional information on band planning should consult the WIA callbook or 'Beacons' on their web site. Band planning on these various VHF and UHF frequencies conform to the national Australian band planning guidelines. For frequencies on 10 and 6 metres international planning has to be taken into consideration. Since the beacon was restored reports have been received from as far as Port Macquarie in the north and Wagga in the south. We still welcome reports. For operational reasons the 2 metre and 10 metre beacons are off air during broadcast periods. At the time the 2 metre beacon was restored, Mark also installed a new transmitter on the 6 metre VK2RSY beacon. This freed up a transceiver which was being used. This new transmitter is putting 20 watts into the existing dipole at 7 metres with lobes north and south. This transmitter is on 50.289 MHz in the CW mode. A replacement transmitter is being constructed for 70 cm. This service has not been on for a while. It is expected to be re-established on 432.420 MHz in the CW mode later this year. Other beacons currently on air under the VK2RSY call are on 10 metres - 28.262 MHz - into a vertical antenna. The other unit is on 23 cm. A new transmitter commissioned last year. It increased the former beacon from 2 watts to 20 and it operates on 1296.420 MHz in the CW mode into an Alford Slot antenna at 25 metres with horizontal polarization. There are no beacons at Dural on frequencies higher than 23 cm. We do have the licenses and we would be interested in hearing from anybody who would like to work on a project for one or more of these microwave bands. If there is an interest please contact us. Beacons serve a couple of major functions. One is the propagation coverage to see if there is a path between an observer and the location or region of the transmitter. The other major function is in the local service area where the constant signal of a beacon can be used as a reference for antenna or equipment performance and comparison. Above is an exerpt from 8th March 2009 VK2WI broadcast |
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Update October 2008 -
Introduction to the beacons at Dural NSW
ARNSW - previously the WIA (NSW
Division) - has provided from the Sydney region since the early 1970's
"Beacons" on various frequencies. The first were on 6 and 2 metres. 10
metres, 70 and 23 cm were added later. The early frequencies were random
selections. They were later moved to assignments in the national band plan.
In the first plan spacing was at 5 kHz but has been upgraded to 2 kHz
spacing which requires transmissions to be in the CW mode.
Information provided by Tim VK2ZTM |
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Current configuration of the beacons
operated from the VK2WI site at Dural - October 2008 BEACONS operating from the VK2WI Dural site (9) under the callsign VK2RSY with the transmission of "VK2RSY QF56MH" sent in CW, at approximately 40 seconds intervals.
New antennas are being planned for 6m, 2m
and 70cm, which will be omni directional and also horizontally polarized. |
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Beacon Reports If you would like to send us a reception report (on your QSL Card or in writing) to our postal address at : ARNSW, P.O. Box 6044, Dural Delivery Centre, NSW, 2158. Please endorse the envelope with "BEACON REPORT". Email reports can be submitted via news@arnsw.org.au with "Beacon Report" in the address header. A QSL card is available to exchange for written reports [cards] received for VK2RSY/VK2WI beacons. Mail to our Dural PO Box address. |
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Volunteers, Equipment and Antennas Needed
The operation of and
improvement of the Dural based facilities is carried out by the volunteer
engineering personal. They would welcome assistance from those who would
like to construct / provide equipment for the beacon network. Dural is a
busy RF site and equipment and construction has to conform with commercial
practice. Offers of assistance to the "Technical Committee" via any of the
ARNSW contact methods. HERE |