Beacons

Automated beacons in the higher amateur bands can also be useful adjuncts to propagation watching. Beacons are ideal for this purpose because most are designed to transmit 24 hours a day. Among the best organized beacon system is one designed by the Northern California DX Foundation. Sixteen beacons on five continents transmit in successive one-minute intervals, with the tenth minute silent. More on this system, along with a longer list of HF, VHF and

UHF beacons, can be found in The ARRL Operat- ing Manual. Other interested groups publish up- dated lists of beacons with call sign, frequency, location, transmitter mode, power, and antenna. Beacons often include location as part of their au- tomated message, and many can be located from their call sign. Thus, even casual scanning of bea-

con subbands can be useful. Table 21.6 provides

Table 21.6

Popular Beacon Frequencies

Frequencies

(MHz) Comments

14.100 Northern California DX Foundation

beacons

28.2-28.3 Several dozen beacons worldwide 50.0-50.1 Most US beacons are within

the frequencies where beacons useful to HF propa- gation are most commonly placed.

70.03-70.13

50.06-50.08 MHz

Beacons in England, Ireland, Gibraltar and Cyprus