|
The 50MHz Band Plan, Beacons and the
Synchronous Beacon Project - IARU Region 1
2017:
July 3rd: The deed
is done. This morning Nick G7KFQ and I loaded the new code into GB3MCB
and it is now running as GB3MCB/S on 50.005MHz time slots 1 and 3 plus
50.443MHz timeslots 0,2,4 as GB3MCB. All systems seemed as they were on
commissioning 1 year ago.
April: The RSGB
seems to be moving rapidly (and with little consultation) towards first
implementation of a 50MHz Sychronised Beacon Multiplex on 50.005MHz.
This seems to be driven by the desire to impress at the upcoming IARU
Region 1 General Conference. See RSGB IARU
Consultation forum paper
here:
http://forums.thersgb.org/index.php?threads/draft-paper-50-mhz-beacons.255/
Right now (early April 2017) it looks as if GB3MCB on
50.032.2MHz (running PI-4 + CW since July 2016) will be changed to a 20%
duty cycle 1min on / 4 off on 50.005MHz (with possibly the other 4
minutes on 50.443MHz). IMHO this is for no other reason than to impress
IARU Delegates:-(
As I've repeatedly said, I am only the "technician"
who got involved in GB3MCB/50MHz to construct the PI-4 beacon which
replaced the old one on 50.043MHz.
I strongly opposed the RSGB / IARU plan to move all beacons up to 50.4xx
some years ago (as it reduced their value for DX).
As 10 "multiplex" frequencies were allocated for DX beacons at the
bottom of the band (each suggested for up to 5 beacons) I had assumed
that it would be many years before multiplexing would become necessary
and that multiplexing would then be planned with some geographical
logic. It would seem that this could not have been further to the truth!
These are simply my own views based on 39 years of working 50Mhz from 5
Continents - but I suspect they would be shared by the majority of DXers
in EU and worldwide - if only anyone asked!
The focus seems to have been on the technical aspects of developing a
multiplex rather than on the use / benefits of the existing beacons (vs
any replacement scheme) to those who actually use them as propagation
indicators on 50MHz.
Having let my views be known I have been trying to keep out of the
politics and specifically absented myself from the RSGB / UKSMG
discussions suggesting that they (both) should speak to the beacon
sponsors / keepers for their views. It would seem that this has not
happened - at least with GB3MCB.
But most importantly it is the USERS of the beacons who should be
CONSULTED and LISTENED TO.
I guess this will not be high on the agenda for the RSGB but it should
be TOP of the agenda for UKSMG!
2016:
As it is my nearest 50Mhz Beacon and a well
respected propagation indicator I volunteered to configure and test the
The new GB3MCB “Next Generation” Beacon. The beacon went live on 27th
July 2016 and has been running faultlessly 24/7 since then.
The GB3MCB 50Mhz NextGen Beacon
2014:
RSGB 50 MHz Synchronised Beacons Papers IARU R1
2014 General Conference – Varna-Albena, Bulgaria:
VA14_C5-14_50MHz-synchronised-beacons.pdf
VA14_C5-15_50MHz-Beacons-per-slot.pdf
VA14-C5-6m-Working-Group.pdf
This is all ancient history now:
Welcome to my personal rant page where I
continue to build evidence of why the "new" 50MHz IARU Region 1 Band
Plan is a bad piece of legislation which if fully implemented is
destined to reduce the value and usefulness of the international 50MHz
beacon network, cause general operating confusion, and result in reduced
propagation research data and of course lost QSOs.
22/10/2014 22nd 18:03 FY7THF/B 419 for 10 mins
then gone. 18:10 - 19:00 PY3KN ssb - LU9DO ssb - CX5CR ssb - LU5FF cw
also heard CE3SX All sigs had slow deep QSB. At 19:44 I found ED1YCE/B
IN83 50.445MHz and ED3YCA/B IN73 50.4455MHz both Northern Spain and both
599+ on TROPO. I think this confirms that my TEP QSOs were Tropo
assisted at this end. I guess these beacons had been there all night
but on these stupid freqs they are next to useless:-(
15/6/2014 OY and
JW7 beacons lost in space
Late in the evening we finally noticed that the OY and
JW7 beacons were booming in on there new "might as well be closed down"
frequencies! Didn't attract many spots - but did stir up some
interesting chat on ON4KST and a reminder from Kerry:
http://www.uksmg.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1343
|
2014-06-15 21:49:12Z |
G8VR Kerry
(G0LCS) |
http_link |
|
2014-06-15 21:17:55Z |
G8VR Kerry
(G0LCS) |
allegedly... |
|
2014-06-15 21:17:20Z |
G8VR Kerry
(G0LCS) |
(G8BCG) I just
read back through the chat. I think it's ironic that people who
decided the barmy band plan change are logged onto the chat! |
| |
|
2014-06-15 20:34:23Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
RR Peter 73 -
not criticism of beacon keepers - but of rulemakers;-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:31:52Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
OK, I'll QSY.
But plese continue to lsn for - and spot - JW7SIX. I need these
spots for my JW operations. TNX. |
|
2014-06-15 20:29:40Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
but they made
it :-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:29:08Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
RR Peter I'll
just ask all my friends in R2 and R3 to comply |
|
2014-06-15 20:29:08Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
it was hard to
do worse than that |
|
2014-06-15 20:28:53Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
yes it was at
least more or less universal |
|
2014-06-15 20:28:23Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
but it was a
universal mess - now we have our own:-) anyway JW7SIX still 599 |
|
2014-06-15 20:28:19Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG But
untill we get another new BP, it's better if everyone follows
the one in use. Just my five cents. |
|
2014-06-15 20:28:02Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
again I don't
want to defend the new bandplan, but the old was already as bad
as it could be |
|
2014-06-15 20:27:33Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
the band plan
was a mess even before anyway.... |
|
2014-06-15 20:26:42Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
Region 1
Amateurs BY CHOICE messed up the band plan and made it
incompatible with propagation, equipment and operations practice |
|
2014-06-15 20:26:34Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
Ok Peter, I
might as well agree with you, but that a decision taken for us |
|
2014-06-15 20:25:55Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
in facts we
missed who knows how many VK opening in the past years :-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:25:32Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
RR Frank - but
not by CHOICE |
|
2014-06-15 20:25:25Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG And
thank you for doing it. I totally agree with you: These beacons
need to be found (and spottet) to be useful |
|
2014-06-15 20:25:10Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
another thing
not known by the committee |
|
2014-06-15 20:25:09Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
VK beacons are
already over 300 since ages |
|
2014-06-15 20:24:26Z |
GI0OTC Alan |
My antenna
don't do so well at those dizzy heights ! |
|
2014-06-15 20:23:28Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
RR Peter - but
I had to go look for it;-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:22:53Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
of course neil
so do I - but it's the random finding of beacons that (used to )
bring QSOs |
|
2014-06-15 20:22:40Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG But you
found it up there today :-) Well done. |
|
2014-06-15 20:22:01Z |
G0JHC Neil (no data) |
Just put the
beacons in memory. no need to tune. that's what I do |
|
2014-06-15 20:19:15Z |
IZ8DWF Frank |
blame the ones
that were sent to that committee |
|
2014-06-15 20:18:52Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
and I've got
the hump:-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:18:30Z |
GW4MBN John |
(G8BCG) Was
decided by a committee - a camel is a horse designed by a
committee :-) |
|
2014-06-15 20:18:17Z |
DL8YHR Frank |
more than
stupit peter to set /b up so high in the band |
|
2014-06-15 20:17:06Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
http_link |
|
2014-06-15 20:16:27Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
and in F2
season how long after 50.000 does muf hit 50.400? |
|
2014-06-15 20:16:04Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
serious - how
many DX stations do you think tune above 400 |
|
2014-06-15 20:15:12Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG Serious? |
|
2014-06-15 20:14:41Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
exactly -
might as well turn it off:-( |
|
2014-06-15 20:14:16Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
it is the new
BP that is stupid not the beacon keepers of course |
|
2014-06-15 20:14:13Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG It's in
the new beacon band! |
|
2014-06-15 20:13:57Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
(LA7QIA)
because nobody will ever find it by chance:-( |
|
2014-06-15 20:12:43Z |
LA7QIA Peter |
G8BCG Why is
that a stupid QRG? |
|
2014-06-15 20:11:36Z |
G8BCG Peter IO70 |
Duncan
JW7six/B in loud 447 |
16/4/2014: Posted on
UKSMG forum
Hi All, Not sure if anyone will read this but... I have said elsewhere
that I think the "new" 50MHz Region 1 Band Plan is 99% nonsense. In
particular, moving all of the Region 1 Beacons up the band beyond the
known universe is about as useful as closing them down! Moving the
beacons up the band has rendered them almost useless as i) they will not
be stumbled upon and ii) they will be the last thing to propagate as the
F2 MUF creeps up. I recall that at the time of the rule-making a
prominent RSGB Committee Member commented that 6m beacons were less
important internationally these days as they were always pipped to the
post by QRO stations anyway. How wrong can you be!
Last night 15/4/14 ZL1RS spotted ED7YAD/B and within minutes, alerted by
this, he had worked EA9 (!) and EA7. Search for EA7YAD on
http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx (or see a
SPOTS list here) if you want to see how
beacons in the bottom of the band perform. What is done is done - but it
doesn't make it any less crazy:-( But a public discussion and support
from interest groups such as UKSMG might save something of this valuable
resource.
[also posted to
band plans forum]
3/4/2014 Extract from my March 2014 Report to
UKSMG what's on Six Columnist Chris W3CMP
In Region 1 National Societies incl the RSGB seem to be
pushing hard for users of 50MHz to stick to the new Band Plan. It seems
to me that development of this band plan was mainly driven by a desire
to “tidy up” and make 50MHz like the higher VHF Bands in R1. I
understand that another key driver was the need for more space for CW –
this was pushed hard by DL as at the time they were QRP only and WERE
NOT PERMITTED TO USE ANY DATA MODES / EME on 50MHz – so pushing these
out of the way was not an issue!
Like many DXers and major users of 50MHz I have issues with the new
Region 1 (local!) band plan:
1 When open, 50MHz is like a HF band – and as such a band plan is only
workable if it is global.
2 Moving the beacons up the band has made them less useful as i) the
will not be stumbled upon and ii) they will be the last thing to
propagate as the F2 MUF creeps up
3 Moving EME way up the band (because it is not impacted by MUF) may
seem reasonable. BUT, EME folks have high gain antenna systems (and a
big investment in this hardware). These antennas will be optimised for
the bottom of the band and can have a high SWR and lower performance at
the proposed frequencies. ALSO Point 1 above is particularly pertinent
to EME – which is why most 50MHz EME is and will continue to be around
50.190 UNTIL there is a globally agreed long term plan to move it!
I know that UKSMG worked hard to retain a small future beacon frequency
down the bottom end but it’s about time someone spoke up and said that
the R1 Band Plan is unworkable and worse still, has a negative impact on
the potential for random and scheduled intercontinental communications
on the band. Silence of individuals and User Groups such as UKSMG is
seen as approval.
22/3/2014 Extract from my March 2014 Report
to RSGB VHF Columnist Richard G4HGI: [Was NOT
printed:-(]
Re your para on 50MHz band plans last month. Like many DXers and major
users of 50MHz I have some issues with the new (local) band plan:
1 When open, 50MHz is like a HF band – and as such a band plan is only
workable if it is global.
2 Moving the beacons up the band has made them less useful as i) the
will not be stumbled upon and ii) they will be the last thing to
propagate as the F2 MUF creeps up
3 Moving EME way up the band (because it is not impacted by MUF) may
seem reasonable. BUT, EME folks have high gain antenna systems (and a
big investment in this hardware). These antennas will be optimised for
the bottom of the band and can have a high SWR and lower performance at
the proposed frequencies. ALSO Point 1 above is particularly pertinent
to EME – which is why most 50MHz EME is and will continue to be around
50.190 UNTIL there is a globally agreed long term plan to move it.
It seems to me that the 50MHz band plan was mainly driven by a desire to
“tidy up” and make it like the higher VHF Bands. I understand that
another key driver was the need for more space for CW – this was pushed
hard by DL as at the time they were QRP only and WERE NOT PERMITTED TO
USE ANY DATA MODES / EME on 50MHz – so pushing these out of the way was
not an issue!
More stuff here that I seem to have lost track of;-)
23/3/2010: Posted on
UKSMG forum
This seems like a remarkable piece of arrogance -
regulation by our own national societies "for our own good" with little
or no consultation! Please, if it ain't broke - DON'T fix it.
Those with any experience of solar peaks, F2, TEP and the like know that
the global network of beacons generally below 50.080 are the single most
useful aid to propagation study.
I'm in EA8 right now and over the last few days I've heard and reported
many beacons BEFORE the band was know to be open.
Examples -
heard LU5EGY/B spotted, called cq worked PT7ZAP
heard PR8ZIX/B spotted, called cq worked PY2ZXU
heard ZD8CHF/B spotted daily
heard OA4/B for 35 mins spotted, called cq worked.... nothing ah well.
I can't imaging these and other beacons useful to us in EU and Region 1
will move any time soon regardless of the IARU Region 1 decision.
However, OUR beacons serve as great indicators to others - if we move
them above 50.400 closer or above the F2 muf, where antennas don't work
so well and where there is nothing else to warrant random tuning then
there use will be seriously reduced.
To contemplate moving them at or around cycle peak is sheer madness -
not emotion - FACT!
Sadly, to me the RSGB has always been an Aligator organisation - big
mouth small ears - let's hope I'm wrong on this one.
73 EA8/G8BCG
ED7YAD SPOTS @ 15/4/2014
ZL1RS 50074.6 ED7YAD bcn 539 2022 15 Apr Spain
IS0GQX 50074.6 ED7YAD bcn 559bs QTF:200 1651 15 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 1610 15 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 1931 14 Apr Spain
TZ6BB-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 569 1902 14 Apr Spain
EA6SA 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 im76qo jm19lo 1739 14 Apr Spain
3B8MM-@ 50074.0 ED7YAD bcn hrd 579 1418 14 Apr Spain
FR5DN 50074.5 ED7YAD s6 building. CS5 also 1405 14 Apr Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 599 1636 13 Apr Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 529 2209 11 Apr Spain
F5BZB 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 in jn03 1947 10 Apr Spain
LW3EX 50074.5 ED7YAD/B IM76>GF05 1802 10 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 2019 09 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 1819 09 Apr Spain
ZB2EO 50075.0 ED7YAD beacon 1418 09 Apr Spain
TJ3SN 50074.5 ED7YAD 1902 08 Apr Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 559 1857 08 Apr Spain
G8BCG 50074.5 ED7YAD pinging BS 220 1801 07 Apr Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD bcn s4 1710 07 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 1617 05 Apr Spain
3B8MM-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 599+ 1247 05 Apr Spain
EA8DBM 50074.5 ED7YAD IL18PB<UNKNOWN>IM76QO 599 2249 04 Apr Spain
LU1WI-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD BCB 539 en FE77 2027 03 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 1820 03 Apr Spain
LW3EX 50074.5 ED7YAD/B IM76>GF05 1739 03 Apr Spain
EA8/G8BCG- 50074.5 ED7YAD 539 BS qtf 240 1516 02 Apr Spain
ZP5SNA-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 579 1943 01 Apr Spain
LU5FF 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 1941 01 Apr Spain
IZ8DWF 50074.7 ED7YAD bcn 529 BS 150 1644 01 Apr Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 1458 01 Apr Spain
FR5DN 50074.5 ED7YAD 599 1204 01 Apr Spain
CE3SX 50074.0 ED7YAD/B 529 1834 31 Mar Spain
PY4AQA 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 2300 30 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 529 1821 28 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 1627 28 Mar Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD BCN 539 KG46<>IM76 1447 27 Mar Spain
FR5CU 50073.0 ED7YAD 555 \"DE ED7YAD - QTH IM76QO - 1444 27 Mar Spain
TJ3SN 50074.5 ED7YAD 539 1933 26 Mar Spain
CE3SX 50074.0 ED7YAD/B still here 2019 25 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 1700 24 Mar Spain
FR5DN 50074.5 ED7YAD 599 1454 24 Mar Spain
FR4NT 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 1428 24 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 1709 23 Mar Spain
FR5DN-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 599 AND OTHER CS 1126 22 Mar Spain
TJ3SN 50074.6 ED7YAD 579 2352 21 Mar Spain
ZS6NK 50074.0 ED7YAD 579 1454 21 Mar Spain
FR5DN-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 599+ 1219 21 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 1715 20 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 2039 19 Mar Spain
FR5DN-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 599 1307 17 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 559 0049 17 Mar Spain
TJ3SN 50074.6 ED7YAD 529 1949 16 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 539 2334 14 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 2029 13 Mar Spain
CE3SX 50074.0 ED7YAD/B 2039 12 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 2009 12 Mar Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD 529 1748 12 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 519 1903 11 Mar Spain
FR5DN-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 599 also cs bcn 1141 11 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 2055 10 Mar Spain
TJ3SN 50074.5 ED7YAD 539 2046 10 Mar Spain
TJ3SN 50075.6 ED7YAD 539 0030 08 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 559 1937 07 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 529 1722 07 Mar Spain
FR5DN-@ 50074.5 ED7YAD 569 1409 07 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.5 ED7YAD/B bcn 569 2025 05 Mar Spain
CE3SX 50075.0 ED7YAD/B FF46PR<TEP>IM76QO 2008 04 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B 2318 03 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 539 2051 03 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 529 2131 01 Mar Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 539 0159 01 Mar Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 539 1801 27 Feb Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD 519 1754 27 Feb Spain
ZS6WN 50074.6 ED7YAD bcn 529 1340 27 Feb Spain
CE6RC 50074.5 ED7YAD/B FF30KE<>IM76QO correct call 1358 26 Feb Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD competing with JY6ZZ 1930 25 Feb Spain
LW3EX 50074.5 ED7YAD/B IM76>GF05 QRV .105 CW 1727 25 Feb Spain
EA7HG 50074.5 ED7YAD/B 559 2103 24 Feb Spain
ZS6WN 50074.5 ED7YAD 529 stable signal 1725 23 Feb Spain
ZS6WN 50074.6 ED7YAD beacon 529 1227 23 Feb Spain
CE3SX 50075.0 ED7YAD/B 529 2255 21 Feb Spain
PY2OC 50074.8 ED7YAD/B 539 into GG66 2255 21 Feb Spain
PY1VOY 50074.5 ED7YAD/B still 579 in gg87ic 2005 21 Feb Spain
PY2REK 50074.0 ED7YAD/B 559 1844 21 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 559 1740 21 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 579 1847 20 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.5 ED7YAD/B bcn 549 2300 07 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 539 2300 05 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 559 2222 04 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.2 ED7YAD/B bcn 539 2231 03 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.4 ED7YAD/B bcn 529 2245 02 Feb Spain
LU5FF 50074.5 ED7YAD/B bcn 529 2314 27 Jan Spain
TJ3SN 50074.6 ED7YAD 559 2017 23 Jan Spain
TJ3SN 50074.6 ED7YAD 519 2024 22 Jan Spain
|
