10 Meter beacon operators requested

[KP3FT]

There are several states and countries in IARU Region 2 that could use a 10 meter beacon (or beacons) for propagation indicators.  Currently Arkansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, South Dakota, Mississippi, Delaware, and Vermont have no beacons (as far as we know).  Are there any hams interested in setting up a simple 10 meter beacon, or know someone who would?  Many people in the USA and worldwide operate 10 meter beacons and also listen for them, and many send in daily reports. It is very interesting and helpful to see where propagation is open by listening for these beacons. People are hearing beacons every day even at this bottom of the solar cycle.  Most beacons only run from 1 watt to 10 watts and many are simply old 23-channel CB radios that have been converted to 10 meters, with an inexpensive keyer connected. The keyers can be found for around $15.  There are many places in Region 2 which do not have a beacon, and it would be good to see these areas with a 10 meter propagation indicator.  Again, if you would like to operate one, or know someone who would, please contact Bill Hays WJ5O at wj5o "at" troycable.net . Mr. Hays is the IARU Region 2 HF Beacon Coordinator.

For a map of USA and World 10-meter beacons, please see the following site:
http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/YourBCN.htm

Here's a link to general information about 10 meters and simple 10 meter beacon projects:

http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/

The following is a good article called "Exploring the World of Ten Meter Beacons" that recently appeared in The Monitoring Times:

http://monitoringtimes.com/MT-10meters.pdf

These are links to lists of the known 10 meter beacons worldwide:

http://www.mydarc.de/dl8wx/baken_kw.htm
http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm

This is a link to a 10 meter beacon-spotter website and other information:

http://10mbeacons.com/beaconspot/spot90.php

There is also a beacon spotter email reflector with daily logs here:

http://www.explore.force9.co.uk/beacons/hfbeacons.htm

It would be very good to see some beacons in blank areas. There are many places in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America that need beacons: Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Repuclic, Haiti, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia, Uruguay, Suriname, Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Islands.  We have received responses from a few of these countries already.

Thanks and 73!
Jeff KP3FT  (KP3FT/B 28.222.5 Mhz)
Ponce, Puerto Rico

[ONAIR]

   Great post.  10 meters has been opening up a lot lately, with a bunch of new Techs getting on it.  With the millions of old CB radios in attics, closets and basements, the source for new 10m beacons should be plentiful.

[N5OGE]

Hello,

I live in south Mississippi and have been considering setting up a 10 meter beacon, while searching for info found this article. I'm presently looking for a radio to use or convert and researching the options on the cw ider.

Thanks,
N5OGE
Butch

[KG6AOH]

KP3FT wrote: "There is also a beacon spotter email reflector with daily logs here: http://www.explore.force9.co.uk/beacons/hfbeacons.htm "

Be warned!- That email reflector is populated by about 9 or 10 really grouchy, hateful old men who will attack and demean you every chance they get!  A few ops have a 'My way or the highway' attitude on that reflector as well, and will cuss you out in public if you think differently than them.  They  interpret the rules as they see fit, and will turn you in to the FCC for 'illegal operation' even though you are doing nothing illegal!  It is a link to avoid.

Now, except for the handful of turbo-jerks (like those with calls ending in EK or AVY), there are also several really nice, and helpful people on there too.  I have met a couple of beacon ops there that were really nice.  However, they have also since abandoned the beacon email reflector, so contact Bill Hayes for help and he can steer you in the right direction.  He is VERY helpful!