How to use the new UK Beacon?

[gavinjames]

What an excellent project, congratulations!

I currently use a 4 element, 2m Yagi aerial and a Funcube Pro+ SDR dongle, pointed southeast to pick up reflections of the GRAVES signal. What do I need to do to pick up the new UK Beacon signal? I am based in north Wiltshire.

Many thanks,

Gavin.

[johnberman]

Hi

So the Beacon is currently located at 51d 14m 51.1s N 1d 34m 15.6s W

On the 9th May it will be dismantled prior to its move to Sherwood



Kind Regards
John B

[gavinjames]

Thanks John. Please post the new coordinates when it moves. Also, which antenna would be most suitable for detection? Is my Yagi any good?

[briang4nns]

From N Wiltshire a simple half wave dipole should be effective both with the beacon on test from NW Hampshire and when it's installed at Sherwood.
A refinement might be a 2 element Yagi or a Moxon pointed towards the beacon and elevated. Elevation as well as improving the strength of echoes will reduce the man made noise and the Moxon antenna which has a very good front to back ratio is particularly suited. UKRAA have some for sale or the design is available on line at several places including https://g1ybb.uk/easy-building-of-a-mox ... ith-4nec2/ Brian G4NNS

[briang4nns]

The beacon is currently ON despite the ukmeteorbeacon.org/status page being blank. The reason for this will be investigated but in the mean time please listen for it and pings and send any spectrograms to me if you can.

[briang4nns]

The meteor beacon status page is back on line. Brian