Beacon

Related wiki page : Propagation, Time Beacons

International Beacon Network

The International Beacon Network. This network is a co-operative project, jointly owned and managed by the International Amateur radio Union(IARU) and the 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 each continent.

Beacon Transmission Schedule. The beacons transmit every three minutes, continuously. This page has details of transmission schedules.

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.

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 Yaesu FT-897 is an example of a rig with this functionality built in.

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 here. (correct on May 14th 2008)

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	NW 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	NW 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
1,296.510	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

Operating procedures
Operation	Callsigns and ITU prefixes * Codes and Alphabets * Modes * Morse code * Nets * UK licensing * Terminology
DX and Contesting	Awards and Certificates * DXCC * DX cluster * Field day * Gridsquares * Logging * QSL and QSL Bureaus * Records - Distance
Emergencies	Emergency Frequencies * ARES * IRESC * SATERN * Weather spotting
QRP	Trail-Friendly Radio
Utilities	Beacons (/B) and Time Beacons