NCDXF/IARU Beacons

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NCDXF/IARU Beacons

Philippe Trottet
Dear Elecrafters,
How to decode almost correctly the NCDXF/IARU beacons with a different pitch than 700~800Hz
I'm using a pitch of 450Hz in order to use less bandwidth and it is more softer to my ears, especially on long runs.
I can hear clearly the beacons with the 450Hz but even I'm shifting up the VFO to listen a 600~700Hz tone, the decoder is not working even the pitch (so the FC) has been moved to those values. CWT is off. Width is used between 50 ~200Hz.  Filter: 400Hz
AGC on or off do not change anything.
On the other hand he decoder seems not really "sensitive" on weak signals.
Any trick ?
Bst 73's
Philippe A65BI
K3#3616
 
 
 
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Re: NCDXF/IARU Beacons

Julian, G4ILO
I think the problem is, as you say, the decoder isn't sensitive on weak signals. But what's the point, anyway? There are a number of programs which will tell you what beacon you will hear at any given time, so you don't need to decode it, just know that you heard something.

If you want a record of what's heard use the program Faros. This is much more sensitive than any ordinary CW decoder for this specific task as I suspect that it digs into the noise looking for exactly what it expects the beacon to send.

Philippe Trottet wrote
Dear Elecrafters,
How to decode almost correctly the NCDXF/IARU beacons with a different pitch than 700~800Hz
I'm using a pitch of 450Hz in order to use less bandwidth and it is more softer to my ears, especially on long runs.
I can hear clearly the beacons with the 450Hz but even I'm shifting up the VFO to listen a 600~700Hz tone, the decoder is not working even the pitch (so the FC) has been moved to those values. CWT is off. Width is used between 50 ~200Hz.  Filter: 400Hz
AGC on or off do not change anything.
On the other hand he decoder seems not really "sensitive" on weak signals.
Any trick ?
Bst 73's
Philippe A65BI
K3#3616
 
 
 
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Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222 KX3 #110
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html
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Re: NCDXF/IARU Beacons

W6NEK
I wrote a simple Windows program that identifies the NCDXF/IARU Beacons.
It's a software simulation of the MFJ 890 DX Beacon Monitor.
A description and download are available at:
http://www.w6nek.com/

Scroll to bottom of the web page to download the free HF Beacon Tracker
program.

73...
Frank - W6NEK

----- Original Message -----
From: "Julian, G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 7:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NCDXF/IARU Beacons


>
> I think the problem is, as you say, the decoder isn't sensitive on weak
> signals. But what's the point, anyway? There are a number of programs
> which
> will tell you what beacon you will hear at any given time, so you don't
> need
> to decode it, just know that you heard something.
>
> If you want a record of what's heard use the program Faros. This is much
> more sensitive than any ordinary CW decoder for this specific task as I
> suspect that it digs into the noise looking for exactly what it expects
> the
> beacon to send.
>
>
> Philippe Trottet wrote:
>>
>> Dear Elecrafters,
>> How to decode almost correctly the NCDXF/IARU beacons with a different
>> pitch than 700~800Hz
>> I'm using a pitch of 450Hz in order to use less bandwidth and it is more
>> softer to my ears, especially on long runs.
>> I can hear clearly the beacons with the 450Hz but even I'm shifting up
>> the
>> VFO to listen a 600~700Hz tone, the decoder is not working even the pitch
>> (so the FC) has been moved to those values. CWT is off. Width is used
>> between 50 ~200Hz.  Filter: 400Hz
>> AGC on or off do not change anything.
>> On the other hand he decoder seems not really "sensitive" on weak
>> signals.
>> Any trick ?
>> Bst 73's
>> Philippe A65BI
>> K3#3616
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>
>
> -----
> Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222.
> * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
> * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
> * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/NCDXF-IARU-Beacons-tp5510562p5510773.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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Re: NCDXF/IARU Beacons

hb9brj
Take a look at Faros by VE3NEA: http://www.dxatlas.com/Faros/

Faros decodes even very weak signals.
Some beacons are off target, so use sufficient RX bandwidth.

73, Markus HB9BRJ