VK2RSY Beacons at Dural
                                            
                                    

 Updated 2009-11-23
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
 
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
 
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.
     Guidelines require VHF and UHF beacons to use horizontal polarization. The VK2RSY beacons are keyed from a common keyer sending the callsign and maidenhead location - VK2RSY QF56MH - at about a 40 second interval. It is the callsign followed by carrier. The rate is the result of getting a suitable sending speed from a function counter creating the callsign.
     Formally beacons (and repeaters) had to have separate callsigns for each service. The NSW Division was able to arrange that all systems operating from the same site could be licensed and identified with a common callsign. Our beacons first used the repeater callsign VK2RWI. Policy then became that a separate callsign was required for repeaters and beacons. Our beacons then took on VK2RSY, the SY indicating Sydney.

Following are the various bands covered and works in progress:

    10 metres is part of the world network between 28.2 and 28.3 MHz. The first assignment was on 28.217 but before the service commenced moved into a "VK" block which is between 28.260 and 28.270 MHz. Refer to the WIA beacon site for details. The transmitter is in the CW mode and runs about 25 watts into a vertical half wave antenna, the most practical method of omni directional coverage at the Dural Site. The vertical is mounted at 19
metres on one of the HF (dipole) poles.
   6 metres originally operated on crossed dipoles on 52.420 MHz in the FSK mode. When the lower 6 metres frequencies became available an assignment on 50.289 MHz was made. The new beacon (and TX) now operates in the CW mode into a half wave wire dipole 7 metres high. In the next upgrade it will get a new transmitter with elevated horizontal omni antennas. See March 2009 Upgrades above
   2 metres is assigned 144.420 MHz. The existing transmitter was constructed in 1972 in the FSK mode. The antenna was a 2 bay stack of crossed dipoles with horizontal polarization.. A new transmitter has been installed using the original antenna but new antennas will most likely a 2 bay array. See March 2009 Upgrades above
   70 cm was established later with FSK add a 2 bay antenna. The old transmitter has been replaced.
   23 cm has had a couple of low powered ( 2 watt ) transmitters providing the service. Mid year 2008 it was upgraded with a very stable frequency from a newly constructed 20 watt transmitter. Its antenna is an Alford Slot, mounted 25 metres above ground. Polarization is horizontal. Since being commissioned it has been heard in VK1.

Information provided by Tim VK2ZTM
 
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.

 
Band Frequency Mode/Power Antenna Notes Status
10m 28.2615 MHz CW / 25W Vertical (1) On Air
6 m 50.289 MHz CW / 20W Half Wave Dipole (2) On Air
2 m 144.420 MHz CW / 20W 2 bay Horizontally Polarized Crossed Dipoles (1) On Air
70 cm 432.420 MHz CW / 20W 2 bay omni directional Crossed Dipole array (1&3B) On Air
23 cm 1296.420 MHz CW / 20W Alford Slot. Horz Polarized (2&3A) On Air

   New antennas are being planned for 6m, 2m and 70cm, which will be omni directional and also horizontally polarized.
    We hold site licenses for other microwave beacons in the 3, 5 and 10 GHz bands. However no equipment on line at present (Oct 2008)

The Morse Practice Transmissions also provide a "band condition indicator"
     Under the call sign VK2WI the practice Morse transmission on 80 metres 3.699 MHz (1 ) also provides a 'band condition' indicator.  35 watts into a half wave dipole,10 metres high.
     Our previous 2 metre Morse Practice Transmissions were on 145.650 MHz. However this is currently not in service. 70 cm could also be considered if there is the demand.

NOTES:-

1. Turned off during the morning and evening Sunday news bulletins to enable call back reception on that band.
2. Remains on air during the news bulletins.
3A. New TX installed 2008, replacing former transmitter.
3B. New TX installed 2009, replacing former transmitter.
4. To be replaced with a new transmitter.
 
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.
 
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