Radio propagation beacon
Encyclopedia
A radio propagation beacon is a radio beacon
, whose purpose is the investigation of the propagation
of radio signals. Most radio propagation beacons use amateur radio
frequencies. They can be found on HF
, VHF
, UHF
, and microwave
frequencies. Microwave beacons are also used as signal sources to test and calibrate antennas and receivers.
(A1A) and transmit their identification (call sign
and location). Some of them send long dashes to facilitate signal strength measurement. A small number of beacons transmit Morse code
by frequency shift keying (F1A). A few beacons transmit signals in digital modulation modes, like radioteletype
(F1B) and PSK31
(G1B).
Region 2 (North
and South America
) bandplan for 160 meters
reserves the range 1999 kHz to 2000 kHz for propagation beacons.
radio propagation beacons are found in the 10 meters
(28 MHz) frequency band, where they are good indicators of Sporadic E ionospheric propagation. According to IARU bandplans, the following 28 MHz frequencies are allocated to radio propagation beacons:
(50 MHz) band, beacons operate in the lower part of the band, in the range 50000 kHz to 50080 kHz. In the United States
, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) only permits unattended 6 meter beacon stations to operate between 50060 and 50080 kHz. Due to unpredictable and intermittent long distance propagation, usually achieved by a combination of ionospheric conditions, beacons are very important in providing early warning for 50 MHz openings.
The beacon sub-bands in the United Kingdom
, also reflect IARU Region 1 recommendations.
beacons are not as common as beacons on the lower bands, and beacons above the 3 centimeters band (10 GHz) are unusual.
, Norway
(callsign LN2A) and at Darwin
, Australia
(callsign VL8IPS). The beacons operated on frequencies 5471.5 kHz, 7871.5 kHz, 10408.5 kHz, 14396.5 kHz, and 20948.5 kHz. Since 2002, there have been no reception reports for these beacons and the relevant ITU web pages have been removed.
sponsors two beacons which transmit from Scheggerott
, near Kiel
. These beacons are DRA5 on 5195 kHz and DK0WCY on 10144 kHz. In addition to identification and location, every 10 minutes these
beacons transmit solar and geomagnetic bulletins. Transmissions are in Morse code for aural reception, RTTY and PSK31. DK0WCY operates also a limited service beacon on 3579 kHz
at 0720-0900 and 1600-1900 local time.
operates three radio propagation beacons on 5290 kHz, which transmit in sequence, for one minute each, every 15 minutes. The project includes GB3RAL near Didcot
, GB3WES in Cumbria
and GB3ORK in the Orkney Islands
. GB3RAL, which is located at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, also transmits continuously on 28215 kHz and on a number of low VHF frequencies (40050, 50053, 60053 and 70053 kHz).
Electric beacon
Electric beacons are a kind of beacon used with direction finding equipment to find ones relative bearing to a known location .The term electric beacon includes radio, infrared and sonar beacons.- Radio beacons :...
, whose purpose is the investigation of the propagation
Radio propagation
Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves when they are transmitted, or propagated from one point on the Earth to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere...
of radio signals. Most radio propagation beacons use amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
frequencies. They can be found on HF
High frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
, VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
, UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
, and microwave
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
frequencies. Microwave beacons are also used as signal sources to test and calibrate antennas and receivers.
Transmission characteristics
Most beacons operate in continuous waveContinuous wave
A continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...
(A1A) and transmit their identification (call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
and location). Some of them send long dashes to facilitate signal strength measurement. A small number of beacons transmit Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
by frequency shift keying (F1A). A few beacons transmit signals in digital modulation modes, like radioteletype
Radioteletype
Radioteletype is a telecommunications system consisting originally of two or more electromechanical teleprinters in different locations, later superseded by personal computers running software to emulate teleprinters, connected by radio rather than a wired link.The term radioteletype is used to...
(F1B) and PSK31
PSK31
PSK31 or "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud" is a digital radio modulation mode, used primarily in the amateur radio field to conduct real-time keyboard-to-keyboard informal text chat between amateur radio operators.- History :...
(G1B).
160 meters beacons
The International Amateur Radio UnionInternational Amateur Radio Union
The International Amateur Radio Union is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union...
Region 2 (North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
) bandplan for 160 meters
160 meters
Just above the mediumwave broadcast band, 160 meters is the lowest radio frequency band allocation available to amateur radio operators in most countries. Seasoned operators often refer to 160 meters as the Top Band...
reserves the range 1999 kHz to 2000 kHz for propagation beacons.
10 meters beacons
Most high frequencyHigh frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
radio propagation beacons are found in the 10 meters
10 meters
The 10-metre band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a primary basis. The band consists of frequencies stretching from 28000 to 29700 kHz.-History:...
(28 MHz) frequency band, where they are good indicators of Sporadic E ionospheric propagation. According to IARU bandplans, the following 28 MHz frequencies are allocated to radio propagation beacons:
| IARU Region | Beacon Sub-bands |
|---|---|
| R1 |
|
| R2 |
|
| R3 |
|
6 meters beacons
In the 6 meters6 meters
The 6-meter band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. Although located in the lower portion of the VHF band, it nonetheless occasionally displays propagation mechanisms characteristic of the HF bands. This normally occurs close to sunspot maximum, when solar...
(50 MHz) band, beacons operate in the lower part of the band, in the range 50000 kHz to 50080 kHz. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) only permits unattended 6 meter beacon stations to operate between 50060 and 50080 kHz. Due to unpredictable and intermittent long distance propagation, usually achieved by a combination of ionospheric conditions, beacons are very important in providing early warning for 50 MHz openings.
4 meters beacons
Several countries in ITU Region 1 have access to frequencies in the 70 MHz region, called the 4 meters band. The band shares many propagation characteristics with 6 meters. The preferred location for beacons is 70,000 to 70,030 kHz; however, in countries where this segment is not allocated to Amateur Radio, beacons may operate elsewhere in the band.VHF/UHF beacons
Beacons on 144 MHz and higher frequencies are mainly used to identify tropospheric radio propagation openings. It is not uncommon for VHF and UHF beacons to use directional antennas. Frequencies set aside for beacons on VHF and UHF bands vary widely in different ITU regions and countries.| Band | Beacon Sub-band (MHz) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ITU Region 1 | ITU Region 2 | ITU Region 3 | |
| 2 m 2 meters The 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144.000 MHz to 148.000 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region Regions 2 and 3 and from 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz in ITU Region 1... |
144.400-144.490 | 144.275–144.300 | Unknown |
| 1.25 m 1.25 meters The 1.25 meter, 220 MHz or 222 MHz band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum internationally allocated for amateur radio use on a primary basis in ITU Region 2, and it comprises frequencies from 220 MHz to 225 MHz... |
N/A | 222.050–222.060 | N/A |
| 70 cm 70 centimeters The 70-centimeter amateur radio band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum. This band is used by amateurs engaged in emergency communications where portable and mobile radios are frequently used. Many such radios have dual-band capabilities, operating on both the 70-centimeter and 2-meter bands.-... |
432.800-432.990 | 432.300–432.400 | Unknown |
| 33 cm 33 centimeters The 33-centimeter or 900 MHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio on a secondary basis. It ranges from 902 to 928 MHz and is unique to ITU Region 2. It is primarily used for very local communications as opposed to bands lower in frequency... |
N/A | Varies Locally | N/A |
| 23 cm 23 centimeters The 23 centimeter, 1200 MHz or 1.2 GHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. The amateur radio band is between 1240 MHz and 1300 MHz... |
1,296.800-1,296.990 | 1,296.070-1,296.080 | Unknown |
| 13 cm 13 centimeters The 13 centimeter or 2.4 GHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. The amateur radio band is between 2300 MHz and 2450 MHz... |
2,320.800-2,320.990 | 2,304.300-2,304.400 | Unknown |
The beacon sub-bands in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, also reflect IARU Region 1 recommendations.
SHF/Microwave beacons
In addition to identifying propagation, microwave beacons are also used as signal sources to test and calibrate antennas and receivers. SHFSuper high frequency
Super high frequency refers to radio frequencies in the range of 3 GHz and 30 GHz. This band of frequencies is also known as the centimetre band or centimetre wave as the wavelengths range from ten to one centimetres....
beacons are not as common as beacons on the lower bands, and beacons above the 3 centimeters band (10 GHz) are unusual.
| Band | Beacon Sub-band (MHz) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ITU Region 1 | ITU Region 2 | ITU Region 3 | |
| 9 cm | 3,400.800-3,400.995 | 3,456.300-3,456.400 | Unknown |
| 5 cm 5 centimeters The 5 centimeter or 5 GHz band is a portion of the SHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. In ITU regions 1 and 3, the amateur radio band is between 5,650 MHz and 5,850 MHz. In ITU region 2, the amateur radio band is between... |
5,760.800-5,760.995 | 5,760.300-5,760.400 | Unknown |
| 3 cm | 10,368.800-10,368.995 | 10,368.300-10,368.400 | Unknown |
| 1.2 cm | Beacons are rare | ||
Beacon projects
Most radio propagation beacons are operated by individual radio amateurs or amateur radio societies and clubs. As a result, there are frequent additions and deletions to the lists of beacons. There are, however a few major projects coordinated by organizations like the International Telecommunications Union and the International Amateur Radio Union.IARU Beacon Project
The International Beacon Project (IBP), which is coordinated by the Northern California DX Foundation and the International Amateur Radio Union, consists of 18 HF propagation beacons worldwide, which transmit in turns on 14100 kHz, 18110 kHz, 21150 kHz, 24930 kHz, and 28200 kHz.ITU sponsored beacons
As part of an International Telecommunications Union-funded project, radio propagation beacons were installed by national authorities at SveioSveio
Sveio is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Sveio is located in the traditional district of Haugaland-Location:Geographically, Sveio is situated on the Haugaland peninsula. The administrative centre is the village of Sveio. Sveio was separated from Finnås in 1861. Vikebygd was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(callsign LN2A) and at Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(callsign VL8IPS). The beacons operated on frequencies 5471.5 kHz, 7871.5 kHz, 10408.5 kHz, 14396.5 kHz, and 20948.5 kHz. Since 2002, there have been no reception reports for these beacons and the relevant ITU web pages have been removed.
DARC beacon project
The Deutscher Amateur-Radio-ClubDeutscher Amateur-Radio-Club
The Deutsche Amateur-Radio-Club e.V. is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Germany. As of 1 January 2008, the organization had 44,246 members, approximately 60% of all licensed amateur radio operators in Germany...
sponsors two beacons which transmit from Scheggerott
Scheggerott
Scheggerott is a municipality in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, near Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
. These beacons are DRA5 on 5195 kHz and DK0WCY on 10144 kHz. In addition to identification and location, every 10 minutes these
beacons transmit solar and geomagnetic bulletins. Transmissions are in Morse code for aural reception, RTTY and PSK31. DK0WCY operates also a limited service beacon on 3579 kHz
at 0720-0900 and 1600-1900 local time.
RSGB 5 MHz beacon project
The Radio Society of Great BritainRadio Society of Great Britain
First founded in 1913 as the London Wireless Club, the Radio Society of Great Britain is the United Kingdom's recognised national society for amateur radio operators. The society's patron is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and it represents the interests of the UK’s 60,000 licensed radio amateurs...
operates three radio propagation beacons on 5290 kHz, which transmit in sequence, for one minute each, every 15 minutes. The project includes GB3RAL near Didcot
Didcot
Didcot is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire about south of Oxford. Until 1974 it was in Berkshire, but was transferred to Oxfordshire in that year, and from Wallingford Rural District to the district of South Oxfordshire...
, GB3WES in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and GB3ORK in the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
. GB3RAL, which is located at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, also transmits continuously on 28215 kHz and on a number of low VHF frequencies (40050, 50053, 60053 and 70053 kHz).