Beacons are specially constructed amateur radio stations whole sole purpose is to transmit a predefined signal at a specific time on a specific frequency. A special type of beacon called a [[Time Beacons|time beacon]] broadcasts the time.

== International Beacon Network ==

This network is a co-operative project, jointly owned and managed by the [http://www.iaru.org/index.html International Amateur radio Union](IARU) and the [http://www.ncdxf.org/index.html Northern Californian DX Foundation] (NCDXF). Operating frequencies are : 14.100MHz, 18.110MHz, 21.150MHz, 24.930MHz and 28.200MHz. The purpose of the beacons is two-fold; to provide reliable, frequency stable reference points, and to assist commercial and amateur operators in assessing propagation conditions. The system was designed and built by volunteers, and continues to be operated by a group of volunteers. Idents for these beacons are sent in CW at 22 WPM.

=== Beacon Locations ===

Eighteen beacons are in operation around the world in [http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/BeaconLocations.html each continent.]

=== Beacon Transmission Schedule ===

The beacons transmit every three minutes, continuously. [http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/BeaconSchedule.html This page] has details of transmission schedules. [http://wwwhome.ewi.utwente.nl/~ptdeboer/ham/ibp.html ibp] is a piece of software that allows you to track which beacon is active at what time.

=== Brief History ===

The first beacon was turned on in 1970. The complete 18 station system was started in 1995, with 12 of the 18 beacons being operational by the end of 1996. As of october 2010, 15 out of 18 were marked operational.

== Local Beacons ==

Many amateur radio clubs operate beacons in the VHF and UHF bands. Amateurs can themselves, with the aid of built in functionality, use modern rigs to operate beacons. The [http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=0372FA803B7BBADBF3076C94ACA7A8C5&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0 Yaesu FT-897] is an example of a rig with this functionality built in.

== National beacons ==

=== Australian Beacons===
Most of the beacons in this list are owned or sponsored by Radio Clubs. The most up-to-date list Australian beacons in PDF can be found [http://www.wia.org.au/members/beacons/about/ here.]

{|border="1" style="wikitable"
|'''10m Band''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|28.200 ||VK6RBP ||Perth ||OF78
|----
|28.213 ||VK3RSX ||Western Vic ||QF13
|----
|28.2535 ||VK3RMV ||SW Victoria ||QF12
|----
|28.2565 ||VK3RMH ||Melbourne ||QF22
|----
|28.260 ||VK5RLZ ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|28.262 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|28.264 ||VK6RWA ||Perth ||OF78
|----
|28.268 ||VK8VF ||Darwin ||PH57
|----
|28.270 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
| || || ||
|----
|'''6m Band''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|50.046 ||VK8RAS ||Alice Springs ||PG66
|----
|50.057 ||VK7RAE ||Devonport Tasmania ||QE38
|----
|50.058 ||VK4RGG ||Gold Coast ||QG62
|----
|50.066 ||VK6RPH ||Perth ||OF88
|----
|50.087 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|50.288 ||VK2RHV ||Hunter Valley ||QF57
|----
|50.289 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|50.293 ||VK3RMV ||SW Victoria ||QF12
|----
|50.295 ||VK3RMH ||Melbourne ||QF22
|----
|50.297 ||VK7RST ||Hobart ||QE37
|----
|50.304 ||VK6RSX ||North west WA ||OG89
|----
|50.306 ||VK6RBU ||South west WA ||OF76
|----
|50.310 ||VK8VF ||Darwin ||PH57
|----
|50.315 ||VK5RBV ||Barossa Valley ||PF95
|----
|52.315 ||VK3RSX ||Western Vic ||QF13
|----
|52.345 ||VK4ABP ||Western Qld ||QG26
|----
|52.425 ||VK2RBH ||Western NSW ||QF08
|----
|52.445 ||VK4RIK ||Cairns ||QH23
|----
|52.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
| || || ||
|----
|'''2m Band''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|144.410 ||VK1R-- ||ACT ||QF44
|----
|144.414 ||VK2R-- ||Snowy Mtns ||QF43
|----
|144.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|144.424 ||VK2R-- ||Blue Mountains ||
|----
|144.430 ||VK3RTG ||Melbourne ||QF22
|----
|144.434 ||VK3RGI ||Gippsland ||QF31
|----
|144.438 ||VK3RRU ||Mildura area ||QF15
|----
|144.440 ||VK4RTT ||SE Queensland ||QG62
|----
|144.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|144.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|144.460 ||VK6RPH ||Perth ||OF88
|----
|144.474 ||VK7RAE ||Devonport Tasmania ||QE38
|----
|144.480 ||VK8VF ||Darwin ||PH57
|----
|144.485 ||VK8RAS ||Alice Springs ||PG66
|----
|144.510 ||VK2RBD ||Cooma - Monaro ||QF43
|----
|144.525 ||VK2RBH ||Western NSW ||QF08
|----
|144.530 ||VK3RGL ||Geelong ||QF22
|----
|144.534 ||VK3RTC ||North Central Vic ||QF24
|----
|144.550 ||VK5RSE ||South east ||QF02
|----
|144.560 ||VK6RBU ||South west WA ||OF76
|----
|144.564 ||VK6RST ||Southern WA ||OF85
|----
|144.568 ||VK6REP ||South east WA ||PF06
|----
|144.576 ||VK6RSX ||North west WA ||OG89
|----
| || || ||
|----
|'''70cm Band''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|432.410 ||VK1R-- ||ACT ||QF44
|----
|432.414 ||VK2R-- ||Snowy Mtns ||QF43
|----
|432.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|432.424 ||VK2R-- ||Blue Mountains ||- P
|----
|432.434 ||VK3RGI ||Gippsland ||QF31
|----
|432.440 ||VK4RBB ||Brisbane ||QG62
|----
|432.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|432.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|432.460 ||VK6RPH ||Perth ||OF88
|----
|432.474 ||VK7RAE ||NW Tasmania ||QE38
|----
|432.480 ||VK8VF ||Darwin ||PH57
|----
|432.510 ||VK2RBD ||Cooma - Monaro ||QF43
|----
|432.525 ||VK2RBH ||Western NSW ||QF08
|----
|432.530 ||VK3RGL ||Geelong ||QF22
|----
|432.534 ||VK3RTC ||North Central Vic ||QF24
|----
|432.536 ||VK3RMB ||Ballarat ||QF12
|----
|432.550 ||VK5RSE ||South east SA ||QF02
|----
|432.564 ||VK6RST||Southern WA ||OF85
|----
| || || ||
|----
|'''23cm Band''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|1,296.410 ||VK1R-- ||ACT ||QF44
|----
|1,296.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|1,296.424 ||VK2R-- ||Blue Mountains ||- P
|----
|1,296.434 ||VK3RGI ||Gippsland ||QF31
|----
|1,296.435 ||VK3RRU ||Mildura area ||QF15
|----
|1,296.440 ||VK4RBB ||Brisbane ||QG62
|----
|1,296.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|1,296.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|1,296.460 ||VK6RPH ||Perth ||OF88
|----
|1,296.474 ||VK7RAE ||Devonport Tasmania ||QE38
|----
|1,296.510 ||VK2RBD ||Cooma - Monaro ||QF43
|----
|1,296.530 ||VK3RXX ||Melbourne ||QF22
|----
|1,296.532 ||VK3RLP ||Mornington Pen. ||QF21
|----
|1,296.534 ||VK3RTC ||North Central Vic. ||QF24
|----
|1,296.550 ||VK5RLZ ||Adelaide North ||PF95
|----
|1,296.550 ||VK5RSE ||South east SA ||QF02
|----
|1,296.560 ||VK6RBS ||W. Coast WA ||OF76
|----
| || || ||
|----
|'''Other Bands''' ||'''Call''' ||'''Location''' ||'''Grid'''
|----
|2,403.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|2,403.424 ||VK2R-- ||Blue Mountains ||
|----
|2,403.440 ||VK4RBB ||Brisbane ||QG62
|----
|2,403.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|2,403.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|2,403.460 ||VK6RSP ||Perth ||OF77
|----
|2,403.530 ||VK3RXX ||Melbourne ||QF22
|----
|2,403.532 ||VK3RLP ||Mornington Pen. ||QF21
|----
|2,403.534 ||VK3RTC ||North Central Vic ||QF24
|----
|2,403.550 ||VK5RLZ ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|3,400.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|3,400.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|3,400.550 ||VK5RLZ ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|5,670.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|5,760.420 ||VK2RSY ||Sydney ||QF56
|----
|5,760.444 ||VK4RTL ||Townsville ||QH30
|----
|5,760.450 ||VK5VF ||Adelaide ||PF95
|----
|5,760.460 ||VK6RSP ||Perth ||OF77
|----
|5,760.550 ||VK5RLZ ||Adelaide ||PF95
|---- |}

Correct on May 14th 2008.

== Related pages ==

* [[Propagation]]
* [[Time Beacons]]

== External links ==

* [[Wikipedia:Radio propagation beacon]]
* [http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/BeaconSchedule.html IARU Beacon schedules]

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