The WCARC operates several beacons which are useful for testing equipment, aiming antennas, and propagation analysis. In the first half of 2008, Doug VE3XK has assembled the lower 4 beacons into a common package, with a common keyer and power supply. Similarly the antennas for these beacons are mounted on a single common mast. The beacons were activated in their permanent configuration on December 5, 2008. The antennas should launch most of the power at an elevation angle of 20-30 degrees above the horizon.

The beacons were relocated from FN15wg to FN15vf in July 2009.
The beacons were relocated from FN15vf to FN25ce in May 2015.
The beacons were relocated from FN25ce to FN25bg in June-July 2015.
The beacons were relocated from FN25bg to FN15xi in August 2022.

In 2017, the Club added a 2m WSPR beacon. It operated from FN25bg before being relocated to FN25bk in 2018.

Following is a list of the WCARC beacons:

6m - VE3WCC - 50.009MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 500mW
  • PAR Electronics OA-50 antenna at about 25 ft AGL

2m - VE3WCC - 144.297MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 2W
  • PAR Electronics OA-144 antenna at about 25 ft AGL

1.25m - VE3WCC - 222.063MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 2W
  • PAR Electronics OA-222 antenna at about 25 ft AGL

70cm VE3WCC - 432.358MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 1W
  • PAR Electronics OA-432 antenna at about 25 ft AGL

33cm - VE3WCC - 903.360MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • beacon module purchased from Bruce (W7BAS)
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 100mW
  • antenna is a horizontal omni (big wheel by WA5VJB)
  • elevation is about 25 ft AGL

23cm - VE3WCC - 1296.060MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • beacon module purchased from Bruce (W7BAS)
  • located in FN15xi
  • power is 100mW
  • antenna is a horizontal omni (big wheel by WA5VJB)
  • elevation is about 25 ft AGL

2m - VE2ZAZ/B - 144.490460 MHz WSPR

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN25bk
  • power is 500mW
  • EggBeater-II antenna at about 30 ft AGL
  • more detail on Bert’s website

Source Code

Source code for the beacons is available on GitHub.

Photos

6m, 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm Beacons

interior of beacon enclosure

mounted beacon enclosure

beacon antenna tower

closeup of beacon antennas on the tower

903MHz and 1296MHz Beacons

900 MHz beacon antenna bottom view

900 MHz beacon antenna top view

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon module bottom

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon module top

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon PVC encapsulation

all beacons on their masts

2m WSPR Beacon

2m WSPR beacon transmitter

2m WSPR beacon antenna

Other Beacons

Band Call Grid Power ASL (feet) Freq (MHz)
6m VE2RCS FN25 5W TBD 50.033
6m VE3DDW EN93vu 5W TBD 50.073
2m VE2FUT FN25up 15W 1000 144.280
2m VE3DDW EN93vu 5W TBD 144.273
2m VE3ZAP EN94vc 15W 1500 144.280
2m W2RTB FN12ar 3W 450 144.276
2m WA1ZMS FM07fm 100W 4200 144.285
2m WA2UMX FN23xc 10W 1000 144.289
1.25m VE2FUT FN25up TBD 1000 222.059
1.25m WA2UMX FN23xc 10W 1000 222.048
1.25m W2RTB FN12ar 3W 450 222.057
70cm VE2FUT FN25up TBD 1000 432.270
33cm WA1ZMS FM07fm 100W 4200 903.055
23cm VE2FUT FN25up TBD 1000 1296.326