The WCARC operates several beacons which are useful for testing equipment, aiming antennas, and propagation analysis. Most of these beacons can be heard in the Kemptville area.

In the first half of 2008, Doug VE3XK assembled the lower 4 beacons into a common package, with a common keyer and power supply. The antennas for these beacons are mounted on a single common mast. The beacons were activated in their permanent configuration on December 5, 2008. The antennas should launch most of the power at an elevation angle of 20-30 degrees above the horizon.

The lower 4 beacons were relocated several times over the years and as of July 2015 reside in FN25bg. These 4 beacons were maintained by Doug VE3XK until he became a silent key in January of 2020.

The upper 2 beacon circuit boards were custom made. The plated 'big wheel' antennas were prchased from WA5VJB. The encapsulation was designed and installed by Rick VE3CVG in the winter of 2013.

Following is a list of the WCARC beacons:

6m - VE3WCC - 50.009MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN25bg
  • power is 500mW
  • KU4AB Horizontal Omnidirectional Antenna (approx 5 dBi Gain) at about 25 ft AGL

2m - VE3WCC - 144.297MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN25bg
  • power is 2W
  • KU4AB Horizontal Omnidirectional Antenna (approx 5 dBi Gain) at about 25 ft AGL

1.25m - VE3WCC - 222.063MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN25bg
  • power is 2W
  • KU4AB Horizontal Omnidirectional Antenna (approx 5 dBi Gain) at about 25 ft AGL

70cm VE3WCC - 432.358MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • located in FN25bg
  • power is 1W
  • KU4AB Horizontal Omnidirectional Antenna (approx 5 dBi Gain) at about 25 ft AGL

33cm - VE3WCC - 903.360MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • beacon module purchased from Bruce (W7BAS)
  • located in FN25dj
  • power is 100mW
  • antenna is a horizontal omni (big wheel by WA5VJB)
  • elevation is about 180 ft AGL

23cm - VE3WCC - 1296.060MHz CW

  • status: fully operational
  • beacon module purchased from Bruce (W7BAS)
  • located in FN25dj
  • power is 100mW
  • antenna is a horizontal omni (big wheel by WA5VJB)
  • elevation is about 180 ft AGL

Photos

6m, 2m, 1.25m and 70cm Beacons

picture of beacon enclosure picture of beacon enclosure picture of beacon enclosure

903MHz and 1296MHz Beacons

900 MHz beacon antenna bottom view

900 MHz beacon antenna top view

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon module bottom

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon module top

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon PVC encapsulation

900 MHz and 1296 MHz beacon PVC crossarm

Other Beacons

Band Call Grid Power ASL (feet) Freq (MHz)
6m VE2RCS FN25 5W TBD 50.033
6m VE3DDW EN93vu 5W TBD 50.073
2m VE2FUT FN25uk 2W 100 144.280
2m VE3DDW EN93vu 5W TBD 144.273
2m VE3ZAP EN94vc 15W 1500 144.280
2m W2RTB FN12ar 3W 450 144.276
2m WA1ZMS FM07fm 100W 4200 144.285
2m WA2UMX FN23xc 10W 1000 144.289
1.25m VE2FUT FN25uk 1W 100 222.069
1.25m WA2UMX FN23xc 10W 1000 222.048
1.25m W2RTB FN12ar 3W 450 222.057
70cm VE2FUT FN25up TBD 1000 432.270
33cm WA1ZMS FM07fm 100W 4200 903.055
23cm VE2FUT FN25up TBD 1000 1296.326
9cm VE2FUT FN25uk 7.5W 100 3456.280
3cm VE2FUT FN25uk 10W 100 10368.000

© 2004-2020 Kemptville Amateur Radio Group. Last updated on October 16th, 2020.