The 2011 IARU Region-1 General Conference in Sun City agreed to a new
Synchronised Beacon Project (SBP) as part of its revisions to the 50MHz
band plan. This required the existing beacons to migrate by August 2014
to 50.4-50.5 MHz in order to leave space for the new system at the
bottom of the 50MHz band. As agreed at the Vienna Interim meeting in
2013, the basic parameters for beacons in the SBP are 1kHz frequency
spacing, 1 minute CW/MGM and a 4 minute repeat period. At the 2014 IARU
Region-1 General Conference in Varna 2014, the migration of Region-1 50
MHz beacons was reviewed and noted as progressing (with good propagation
reports), but not yet achieved completely. The deadline for migration
of the remainder was extended to 31 December 2015, noting that the
default for QSY is usually +400 kHz unless a specific request is sent to
the IARU Region 1 beacon coordinator. Furthermore it was also agreed
that:
• The coordination of new beacons below 50,4 MHz shall no longer be
possible, except for the members of the Synchronised Beacon Project
(SBP)
• The Synchronised beacons will now use – ‘once every 5 minute’ slots, instead of ‘once every 4 minutes’
Member Societies are invited to participate in the pilot programme for the SBP.
The paper VA14_C5_14 will be used as an implementation guide and an
initial pilot scheme demonstration. The societies are invited to
consider the best locations for SBP (e.g. an existing site or new
strategic site). Region 2 and Region 3 will be informed of progress should they wish to start implementing their own beacon multiplexes.
The 2011 IARU Region-1 General Conference in Sun City agreed to a new
Synchronised Beacon Project (SBP) as part of its revisions to the 50MHz
band plan. This required the existing beacons to migrate by August 2014
to 50.4-50.5 MHz in order to leave space for the new system at the
bottom of the 50MHz band. As agreed at the Vienna Interim meeting in
2013, the basic parameters for beacons in the SBP are 1kHz frequency
spacing, 1 minute CW/MGM and a 4 minute repeat period. At the 2014 IARU
Region-1 General Conference in Varna 2014, the migration of Region-1 50
MHz beacons was reviewed and noted as progressing (with good propagation
reports), but not yet achieved completely. The deadline for migration
of the remainder was extended to 31 December 2015, noting that the
default for QSY is usually +400 kHz unless a specific request is sent to
the IARU Region 1 beacon coordinator. Furthermore it was also agreed
that:
