23-07-2018, 05:21 PM
Ive been interested in WSPR beacons for a while now and as Im currently upgrading ZL3SIX and ZL3TEN is has come up again over here too.
Living close to a strong WSPR beacon could be problematic but with a random TX period this may not be as big a problem as we think.
I think the ability to listen to one freq. and hear all the beacons that you have propagation to is a greater benefit. Even if you get RX blocking for a random 2 min period.
My approach to this was to have the best of both worlds, sort of, in that you only TX WSPR for 2 mins so what do you do with the rest of the time? Go back to the designated beacon freq. and run a carrier with CW ID or what ever you want. Those that don't have digital capability or what to listen as they have for years to a CW beacon on its own freq. you can do so except it will QSY for a random 2 mins.
Such a beacon is easily realised using the cheap and small QRP-Labs TX module, ZL3TEN uses one of these as an exciter and it makes for and very compact and versatile beacon. This unit has the ability to move Freq and mode via a very easy two button programming operation and its output could be used to replace the current freq. determining circuit.
I can't think of anything more useful than a network of WSPR beacons here in ZL and VK. Well I can a network of small cheap WSPR RX stations all reporting back to WSPRnet.org. And this cheap WSPR RX may be just around the corner. Have a look at https://www.zachtek.com/product-page/2pcs-wspr-receiver I believe Harry has a 6m version in testing so one of these and a Rasberry Pi running WSPR could well be the answer.
As a beacon operator you quickly realise how much cost there is in running these dam things and here again running WSPR for 2 mins every 10 mins or so would be a huge power saving.
Just my thoughts...
Roger ZL3RC
RE66
Living close to a strong WSPR beacon could be problematic but with a random TX period this may not be as big a problem as we think.
I think the ability to listen to one freq. and hear all the beacons that you have propagation to is a greater benefit. Even if you get RX blocking for a random 2 min period.
My approach to this was to have the best of both worlds, sort of, in that you only TX WSPR for 2 mins so what do you do with the rest of the time? Go back to the designated beacon freq. and run a carrier with CW ID or what ever you want. Those that don't have digital capability or what to listen as they have for years to a CW beacon on its own freq. you can do so except it will QSY for a random 2 mins.
Such a beacon is easily realised using the cheap and small QRP-Labs TX module, ZL3TEN uses one of these as an exciter and it makes for and very compact and versatile beacon. This unit has the ability to move Freq and mode via a very easy two button programming operation and its output could be used to replace the current freq. determining circuit.
I can't think of anything more useful than a network of WSPR beacons here in ZL and VK. Well I can a network of small cheap WSPR RX stations all reporting back to WSPRnet.org. And this cheap WSPR RX may be just around the corner. Have a look at https://www.zachtek.com/product-page/2pcs-wspr-receiver I believe Harry has a 6m version in testing so one of these and a Rasberry Pi running WSPR could well be the answer.
As a beacon operator you quickly realise how much cost there is in running these dam things and here again running WSPR for 2 mins every 10 mins or so would be a huge power saving.
Just my thoughts...
Roger ZL3RC
RE66