1. Amateur Beacons for the 21 st Century Andy Talbot G4JNT / G8IMR September 2010

2. What is a Beacon ?  A Transmitter at a Known Location That transmits a prestored message, That transmits a prestored message, With Limited Information Content, With Limited Information Content, Continuously, or Periodically, Continuously, or Periodically, On a Known Frequency, On a Known Frequency,  For reception by anyone

3. What do we want beacons for ?  Band openings, but there’s nobody on!  Is there anybody out there, is the band dead?  I can’t hear anyone, is it working?  Frequency Calibration  Antenna and Bearing setup

4. What do we have now  HF Beacons IARU Beacon chain IARU Beacon chain 14 - 28MHz, 14 - 28MHz, Five Frequencies Five Frequencies CW and Power Stepped Carrier CW and Power Stepped Carrier – 10 seconds – 10 seconds Time Sequenced Time Sequenced Poor frequency stability / accuracyPoor frequency stability / accuracy

5. IBP Chain  CallLocation 14.10018.11021.15024.93028.200Operator  4U1UNU- Nations 00:0000:1000:2000:3000:40UNRC  VE8ATCanada 00:1000:2000:3000:4000:50RAC/NARC  W6WXUnited States 00:2000:3000:4000:5001:00NCDXF  KH6WOHawaii 00:30OFF00:50OFF01:10NOARG, HARC  ZL6BNew Zealand 00:4000:5001:0001:1001:20NZART  VK6RBPAustralia 00:5001:0001:1001:2001:30WIA  JA2IGYJapan 01:0001:1001:2001:3001:40JARL  RR9ORussia 01:1001:2001:3001:4001:50SRR  VR2BHong Kong 01:2001:3001:4001:5002:00CRSA, HARTS  4S7BSri Lanka 01:3001:4001:5002:0002:10RSSL  ZS6DNSouth Africa 01:4001:5002:0002:1002:20ZS6DN  5Z4BKenya 01:5002:0002:1002:2002:30ARSK  4X6TUIsrael 02:0002:1002:2002:3002:40IARC  OH2BFinland 02:1002:2002:3002:4002:50SRAL  CS3BMadeira 02:2002:3002:4002:5000:00ARRM  LU4AAArgentina 02:3002:4002:5000:0000:10RCA  OA4BPeru 02:4002:5000:0000:1000:20RCP  YV5BVenezuela 02:5000:0000:1000:2000:30RCV

6. What do we have now  Other HF Beacons Majority on 28MHz for Propagation alerts Majority on 28MHz for Propagation alerts 5.29MHz for propagation tests 5.29MHz for propagation tests Generally banned below 7MHz Generally banned below 7MHz Apart from occasional specials Apart from occasional specials  VHF Hundreds around the world Hundreds around the world Simple crystal control, freq +/- tens of ppm. Simple crystal control, freq +/- tens of ppm. Carrier and CW – callsign and locator Carrier and CW – callsign and locator

7. Improvements  Design for Automatic Monitoing using PC / Soundcards Narrow band Narrow band Want good frequency stability Want good frequency stability  Frequency Reuse Time sequenced – helps QRM and regulatory issues Time sequenced – helps QRM and regulatory issues Simplifies auto-monitoring of multiple beacons Simplifies auto-monitoring of multiple beacons No RetuningNo Retuning

8. Next Generation HF  Frequency Stability Aim for better than 10 -7 at HF (+/-1 Hz) Aim for better than 10 -7 at HF (+/-1 Hz) TCXO or Ovened oscillator TCXO or Ovened oscillator  Minimise frequency clutter Time sequence - like the IARU chain Time sequence - like the IARU chain  Change the rules to allow beacons below 7MHz Let technolgy reduce the QRM by Let technolgy reduce the QRM by Precisely timed transmissionsPrecisely timed transmissions Single frequency on each band, worldwide ?Single frequency on each band, worldwide ?

9. WSPR ?? Already Well EstablishedAlready Well Established Reporting Website in placeReporting Website in place Automated reportsAutomated reports How About a Network of WSPR Beacons ? How About a Network of WSPR Beacons ?

10. Data Modes  PSK31 or RTTY could carry information Propagation state, band openings Propagation state, band openings Site telemetry Site telemetry Unique time signature confirms reception Unique time signature confirms reception Time / Temperature / Pressure / ??? Time / Temperature / Pressure / ??? Status of other beacons Status of other beacons QSL / Report Checking QSL / Report Checking

11. Next Generation VHF  Decent Frequency accuracy Ovened crystal or GPS locked Ovened crystal or GPS locked Look for 10 -9 accuracy (sub Hz) for auto search Look for 10 -9 accuracy (sub Hz) for auto search  Add weak signal data modes JT65 JT65 Extended period of coherent carrier for very narrow band integration Extended period of coherent carrier for very narrow band integration PSK reversals for time-of-flight mewasurement PSK reversals for time-of-flight mewasurement

12. Microwave Beacons  Often Used when / Portable for : Frequency calibration Frequency calibration Dish and Bearing setup Dish and Bearing setup  Propagation Monitoring

13. Microwave Beacons  Frequency accuracy even more important as They are often used for calibration They are often used for calibration  We need a lot more μWave beacons to ensure everyone can hear at least one on each band Personal beacons Personal beacons Attended or unattended Attended or unattended Licensing easier at microwaves Licensing easier at microwaves

14.  What is needed – where shall we go?  Some Examples of next-generation beacons are already out there….

15. The 5MHz beacon chain  GB3RAL GB3WES GB3ORK transmit in sequence. 1 minute every 15 GPS timed1 minute every 15 GPS timed  Power steps over 54dB for audible S/N estimation  TCXO frequency control (few Hz)  The system was designed for automatic logging (G3PLX software)  Cover a complete sunspot cycle

16. 5MHz Automatic Propagation Monitor

17. GB3SSS 1.96MHz / 3.6MHz  Temporary beacon for winter transatlantic propagation tests from Poldhu  1 Nov to end Jan 2007  Year later on 3.6MHz  Sequence similar to the 5MHz beacons 1 / 15 minutes, power steps, carrier 1 / 15 minutes, power steps, carrier  PSK31 message – decoded in Canada  All waveforms generated in DDS chip

18. GB3VHF 144.43MHz Wrotham, Kent  GPS Controlled frequency and time  JT65, CW, 1pps PSK  Two minute repeat cycle  Generic beacon driver concept Up to 16 thirty second time slots can each be allocated to different modes Up to 16 thirty second time slots can each be allocated to different modes

19.  GB3VHF GPS Module DDS Source PIC Controller GPS Disciplined Reference (12.8MHz)

20. GB3RAL VHF Chain  40.05 50.05 60.05, 70.05MHz  Phase coherent from GPS Locked master reference  JT65, CW, 1pps PSK  Two minute repeat cycle

21. Bell Hill Microwave Beacons  Single site cluster of seven beacons for 2.3 to 47GHz and telemetry Tx on 70MHz  Evolutionary upgrades in capability GB3SCS 2320.90503MHzJT4g GPS Locked GB3SCS 2320.90503MHzJT4g GPS Locked GB3SCF 3400.905000 MHz RTTY GPS Locked GB3SCF 3400.905000 MHz RTTY GPS Locked GB3SCF 5760.905006MHz QRSS GPS Locked GB3SCF 5760.905006MHz QRSS GPS Locked GB3SCX 10368.9050068 MHz JT4g GPS Locked GB3SCX 10368.9050068 MHz JT4g GPS Locked GB3SCK 24048.905 MHz (CW only)OCXO GB3SCK 24048.905 MHz (CW only)OCXO G8BKE/P 47.088905 GHz (CW only)OCXO G8BKE/P 47.088905 GHz (CW only)OCXO G4JNT/P 70.031MHz PSK31 Telemetry TCXO G4JNT/P 70.031MHz PSK31 Telemetry TCXO

22. Bell Hill Microwave Beacons

23. Beacon Hardware

24.  Several parts already exist in current designs Driver / oscillator (but freq may need stabilising) Driver / oscillator (but freq may need stabilising) Power Amplifier (+ filters) Power Amplifier (+ filters) Antenna Antenna  But several new modules will be needed Agile Frequency Source Agile Frequency Source Controller / keyer Controller / keyer Timing – eg GPS Timing – eg GPS

25. Power Amplifier  Power Steps, PSK31 etc need a linear PA For low duty cycle time sequenced, simple class A or A/B MOSFET design is ideal For low duty cycle time sequenced, simple class A or A/B MOSFET design is ideal Broadband – so useable over multiple bands (beware filtering needs) Broadband – so useable over multiple bands (beware filtering needs)  High duty cycle with no linear modes Class C design is better suited. Class C design is better suited. Particularly at VHF / UHF Particularly at VHF / UHF Frequency Multiplication Frequency Multiplication

26. Frequency Source  Crystal oscillator Single frequency, no data modes Single frequency, no data modes Poor Frequency Stability Poor Frequency Stability Use oven or clip-on heater Use oven or clip-on heater  DDS Directly useable at HF and low VHF Spurii need cleaning up for higher frequenciesSpurii need cleaning up for higher frequencies GB3VHF - additional crystal filterGB3VHF - additional crystal filter μWave beacons, lock crystal oscillator to DDS O/PμWave beacons, lock crystal oscillator to DDS O/P Direct generation of most data modes Direct generation of most data modes Clock from standard frequency reference (10MHz) Clock from standard frequency reference (10MHz)

27. DDS Sources  Older AD9850 / 9851 Up to 30MHz directly. Up to 30MHz directly. FM / Phase modulation, FM / Phase modulation, But no AM capability But no AM capability Small and simple to use Small and simple to use 32 bit frequency register 32 bit frequency register ~ 10 -9 freq setting ~ 10 -9 freq setting Internal x6 PLL for clock Internal x6 PLL for clock  AD9852 / 9854 Up to 90MHz directly Up to 90MHz directly Amplitude / phase / frequency changed in μs Amplitude / phase / frequency changed in μs 48 Bit - 10 -14 Frequency setting 48 Bit - 10 -14 Frequency setting X4 – X20 Internal clock PLL X4 – X20 Internal clock PLL  Even Faster devices eg. AD9950

28. Controller  Simple CW Keyer Tiny PIC Tiny PIC

29. More Advanced Controller  Microcontroller eg. PIC ‘Workhorse’ 16F628 has enough power for most controller tasks ‘Workhorse’ 16F628 has enough power for most controller tasks  Reprogramme a Direct Digital Synthesizer in real time to generate data modes AD9852 100μs to reprogramme (serial) AD9852 100μs to reprogramme (serial) PSK31, JT65, FSK441 and RTTY demonstrated already. PSK31, JT65, FSK441 and RTTY demonstrated already. Accept external data / telemetry inputs Accept external data / telemetry inputs

30. Timestamp the transmission with a unique code  Verifies correct reception at any given date / time.  Only the keeper knows the hashing key.  Simple to do in a PIC from the GPS data stream  Verifiable QSL – could this count as a one-way QSO !!!!  Alphanumeric code with pronounceable triads :- 1800 JYC 1801 PUF 1802 KIC 1803 FOF 1804 WAC 1800 JYC 1801 PUF 1802 KIC 1803 FOF 1804 WAC 1805 PEF 1806 HAR 1807 CEG 1808 LUD 1809 RYG 1805 PEF 1806 HAR 1807 CEG 1808 LUD 1809 RYG 1810 MEB 1811 TAD 1812 CAB 1813 HED 1814 MIB 1810 MEB 1811 TAD 1812 CAB 1813 HED 1814 MIB 1815 TOD 1816 ZUC 1817 FYF 1818 NAC 1819 WEF 1815 TOD 1816 ZUC 1817 FYF 1818 NAC 1819 WEF  May also have to send the minutes digit for correct time logging.

31. Repeater Beacons  Add a receiver and data decoding  Decode your callsign sent to it  Reply with acknowledgement and report  Who will be the first ?

32. Reverse Beacon  Instead of a Transmitter  Just a receiver with Internet Connection You transmit to it You transmit to it It reports to the web site, shows spectrum It reports to the web site, shows spectrum  There are a number of these at LF, Ideal for antenna / transmitter tests Ideal for antenna / transmitter tests  OR, phone up, transmit and listen (Modest) premium rate phone number could finance it (Modest) premium rate phone number could finance it

33. And talking of Finance.....  Beacons Cost Money  Site Rental (Bell Hill £500 per year)  Electricity (Bell Hill 200 Watts 24/7)  Operators travelling Costs for maintenance  And, of course, the hardware itself  http://www.scrbg.org/donate/ http://www.scrbg.org/donate/  Hamfest Stand

34. Questions ?