QRP Club

Michel's Lighthouse => Beacons => Topic started by: VE2TH on January 22, 2014, 02:55:56 UTC

Title: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: VE2TH on January 22, 2014, 02:55:56 UTC
Hello all,

Another good tool for those watching propagation, are the "LETTER BEACONS".

All of these beacons are situated around 7.038Mhz: The V beacon is on 7.002Mhz


 Call Letter:   Location: 
 C               Moscow 
 D               Odessa 
 F                Vladivostok 
 K               Khabarovsk 
 L                St. Petersburg 
 M               Magadan 
 O               Moscow 
 P               Kaliningrad 
 R               Ustinov 
 S              Archangel 
 U              Murmansk 
 X              Prague 
 YU            Kholmsk 
 V             Tashkent 

They all provide a good propogation indicator for DX working on the 7Mhz Band.

As soon as the Sunset here, and during the GRAY LINE until all the evening, I can hear
on 7,038.68 MHz, the "D" letter and some night the letter "P", some others nite the letter "C". 

Right now, tonight, I can hear both letters in alternance due to QSB. The signal strenght vary between S-2 up to S-6. with a selectivity between 150/200 Hz with the roofing filters of the KX3. 

Early in the morning, the letter "F" but it is not every morning for me, because some morning I'm early or late  ;D

Now I didn't find how much power those beacons have, but everytime I hear them, conditions  for Europe are very good for me. I have no problems to work stations as far as USSR with my peanut whistle.

The link is: http://www.qsl.net/g3pto/becon.html (http://www.qsl.net/g3pto/becon.html)

Try it and let us know what you can copy at your QTH.

72 Michel VE2TH


Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: PG4I on January 22, 2014, 06:54:40 UTC
Thanks, did not know there are beacons on 7 Mhz. That's great!

Are they commercial or military beacons?
Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: DF5WW on January 22, 2014, 10:19:26 UTC
Hi Joop,

that´s russian military beacons and i call it "Intruders" ....  Some real Hamradio beacons are in that part of the band and the russian intruders kill them while using a lot of Power.

If a Hamradio beacon list is needed:  http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/28.htm (http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/28.htm)

 ;) :D
Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: PG4I on January 22, 2014, 10:58:41 UTC
Thanks Juergen!  ;)
Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: VE2TH on January 22, 2014, 18:38:45 UTC

Thanks Juergen, for the list of beacons on HF, it is another very good tool.

About the letter beacons, I already know it was from Russia, by the information in the list, but didn't know it was for military purpose.

By the way DK2OM Wolfgang it DARC BANDWACHT KOORDINATOR
for the IARU REGION 1, IARU MONITORING SYSTEM.

http://www.iarums-r1.org/ (http://www.iarums-r1.org/)

If you check this link, click "LATEST INTRUDER NEWS" and you will see those one we are talking about.
and yes there are right on top of some european beacons.

72 Michel
Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: HA2PP on February 07, 2014, 21:24:05 UTC
Hi All,

Actual cluster and marker frequencies:
 
Russian Military beacons   

 
Current cluster frequencies:
3594, 4558, 5154, 7039, 8495, 10872, 13528, 16332, 20048 kHz
Other frequencies:
L     6917.5, 8497.8 kHz
V    3658, 4150, 6809, 6928, 7027.5 kHz
R    5466 kHz (seldom reported these days)
W   5835, 8112, 8162 kHz (Air Force)   Cluster beacon slots:
.7 "D", Sevastopol
.8 "P", Kaliningrad
.9 "S", Severomorsk
.0 "C", Moscow
.1 "A", Astrakhan
.2 "F", Vladivostok
.3 "K", Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy
.4 "M", Magadan    

e.g. 7039 .7 Khz "D", Sevastopol

Channel markers
"V" 3335, 3658
"P" 7000,

72!

Zoli - ha2pp
Title: Re: 7 MHz letter beacons
Post by: VE2TH on February 08, 2014, 00:52:19 UTC
Hello again Zoli,

Thanks for the info.

The letters I hear most often during the evening are:

"D", "P", "C",

Rarely "M"

During the morning, I often hear "F" Vladivostok and this is where I can work some Siberian stations.

Have a nice week-end Zoli,

Best 72, Michel