As part of the SARC Brickworks scheme in 2025, Colin G3YHV built a beacon which is now permissible without an licence NoV for the club. This can be heard on 28.243Mhz and transmits CW, RTTY and WSPR (on 28.1246MHz) data. The beacon is connected to the clubs 200 ft Long Wire antenna except during club meetings when it may be used for other purposes.
The SARC 28 MHz beacon is based on our club WSPR project and uses the same pcb. The board uses an AD9850 direct digital synthesis module to produce the signal and a NE06M GPS module for accurate timing. The original WSPR project only produced about 50 Milliwatts on 28 MHZ, so a
Class D PA stage was added using a pair of BS170 fets to produce one watt output.
The CW Beacon can be heard on 28.242 MHz (USB mode). The beacon sends a CW message, a RTTY message and also a WSPR transmission at 30 minutes past the hour. The frequency is changed for WSPR and a single transmission takes place.
The gaps between the messages are a serial of “pips”.
All reports gratefully received ! via the email address (which is in the RTTY message) or via this website link.