[600MRG] The VK3FI Mildura beacon on 630 metres creates interest

[Ralph Wallio, W0RPK]

  http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/march/vk3fi_mildura_beacon_on_630_metres_creates_interest.htm#.UxhzpYUf6no


  The VK3FI Mildura beacon on 630 metres creates interest

The CW beacon that is on 473 kHz nightly has now been heard in VK1, VK2, 
VK3, VK5 and VK7. These reports are very welcome, including from those 
who have heard it more than once.

In Canberra, Dale Hughes VK1DSH reports having received the beacon and 
suggests trying it on the weak signal digital modes for a two-way QSO.

Matt Hetherington VK2DAG, at Ourimbah on the Central Coast of New South 
Wales north of Sydney, heard the beacon on his IC706 transceiver and a 
Beverage Antenna with a varying S2 to S7 signal. Paul Hadlow VK2PNH at 
Balranald in the Riverina found it detectable.

In Victoria the latest is Dale Barrow VK3DB in Moe noise-free on his 
Spectrum Lab screen grab, Mark Campbell VK3UA, Donvale, with an 80-metre 
dipole at RST 409, and Craig Meddings VK3CRG, Lara, a G5RV and IC7600 
who has also supplied a MP3 recording.

 From South Australia it has been received by Les Virgo VK5KLV in Port 
Augusta, using a 40-metre off-centre dipole into an IC725 transceiver. 
He was been joined by Andrew Russell VK5CV near Adelaide at S8, above a 
local noise of 1 to 2 S-points.

In Tasmania Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW, South of Hobart, reports detecting 
the beacon on a High Performance Software Defined Radio with an Earth 
dipole, at minus-91 dBm.

The Mildura beacon on 473 kHz has been running daily 1100 to 2200 UTC 
when Noel Ferguson VK3FI is at home. He welcomes reception reports on 
vk3fi<at>wia.org.au

Jim Linton VK3PC/*

*/