Beacons for DX on the Amateur Bands

18-International Amateur Radio Network

Maintained By

Northern California  DX Beacon Foundation (NCDXF) and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)

This page was last updated on: 19 August 2008 .  Beacon schedules change - sometimes often. If the displayed date is older than three months, please send the Webmaster an email to advise him that the posted schedule needs confirmation.

Stan Huntting, KW7KW, wrote, "There are at least two possible explanations for an apparently dead band: 1) propagation is poor, or 2) no one is transmitting. Listening for beacon activity is not a 100%  correct solution to determine which case is true - but it beats just about anything else, Dick Zseltvay, KC4COP.

The Northern California DX foundation, Inc. (NCDXF), and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) maintain 18 beacons worldwide on the amateur radio DX bands. The beacons can be a major aid in propagation nowcasting (also spelled now-casting). If one can hear a beacon on one or more bands that is a good indication that propagation to that area of the world is open. Listening to beacons transmit at varying power levels helps one establishes a signal-to-noise ratio.

The data reproduced on this page may come from from more than one source. It is published after careful checking by the Webmaster - but it may still contain errors. Individuals responsible for maintaining the original sources of the data as asked to contact the Webmaster to report further changes or errors. KC4COP

Call		Location	14.100	18.110	21.150	24.930	28.200	Operator	Status
19 Aug 2008
4U1UN		United Nations	00:00	00:10	00:20	00:30	00:40	UNRC	OK
VE8AT		Canada	00:10	00:20	00:30	00:40	00:50	RAC/NARC	OK1
W6WX		United States	00:20	00:30	00:40	00:50	01:00	NCDXF	OK
KH6WO		Hawaii	00:30	00:40	00:50	01:00	01:10	KH6BYU	OK
ZL6B		New Zealand	00:40	00:50	01:00	01:10	01:20	NZART	OFF5
VK6RBP		Australia	00:50	01:00	01:10	01:20	01:30	WIA	OFF5
JA2IGY		Japan	01:00	01:10	01:20	01:30	01:40	JARL	OK
RR9O		Russia	01:10	01:20	01:30	01:40	01:50	SRR	OK
VR2B		Hong Kong	01:20	01:30	01:40	01:50	02:00	HARTS	OK
4S7B		Sri Lanka	01:30	01:40	01:50	02:00	02:10	RSSL	OK
ZS6DN		South Africa	01:40	01:50	02:00	02:10	02:20	ZS6DN	OK
5Z4B		Kenya	01:50	02:00	02:10	02:20	02:30	ARSK	OK
4X6TU		Israel	02:00	02:10	02:20	02:30	02:40	IARC	OK3
OH2B		Finland	02:10	02:20	02:30	02:40	02:50	SRAL	OK
CS3B		Madeira	02:20	02:30	02:40	02:50	00:00	ARRM	OK
LU4AA		Argentina	02:30	02:40	02:50	00:00	00:10	RCA	OFF2
OA4B		Peru	02:40	02:50	00:00	00:10	00:20	RCP	OK
YV5B		Venezuela	02:50	00:00	00:10	00:20	00:30	RCV	OK

The above table and its associated data is published by NCDXF and IARU. It is reproduced on this Website by permission of these organizations

The schedule reproduced above and the notes published immediately below are updated frequently. KC4COP is immediately notified by email when either are changed. Changes will be updated by the Webmaster as soon as it is reasonably possible. The schedule and notes were confirmed as being current on 19 Aug 2008

1 - Operation may be intermittent due to local conditions.

2 - Moving to a new location.

3 - Building renovations are causing prolonged power outages.

4 - Off for unknown reasons. We are attempting to contact the operators.

5 - Off due to hardware problems. Repairs are underway.

6 - Operation will be intermittent due to civil unrest in Kenya.

7 - Off due to direct lightning strike. New antenna on order.

The Identification and Use of Beacons at the KC4COP Radio Station.

In the KC4COP ham shack we monitor an assortment of propagation beacons. In addition to the DX beacons mentioned above, we monitor Clear Channel AM broadcast stations, and known shortwave broadcast stations located around the world.

Identification of some of the beacons is relatively easy. We know the exact frequencies of all of the broadcast stations monitored. On numerous occasions we have matched the frequency set with the station's broadcasted identification. At the present time, we are monitoring approximately 30 different broadcast stations. These stations are continually scanned using a Yaesu VX-5 and a Yaesu VX-6 radio. In times of heavy QRN, we will further check some of these stations using a FT-1000. The antennas used for this monitoring is usually an exterior random length wire antenna.

Identification of the DX beacons on the amateur bands is accomplished using a highly accurate UTC clock and a known transmission schedule published by the NCDXF and the IARU. Approximately 3 months ago, the mechanics of this identification changed. Now instead of all the steps being done manually we now use a single software program interfaced with the stations personal computer. The program is Faros v. 1.3. This elegant program monitors and logs beacon activity. Using the word logs is a gross understatement. We will give a more complete description of the Faros program at a later date.

Faros v.1.3, was written by, Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA. Ales is also the author of many other excellent amateur radio programs such as DX Atlas, Ionoprobe, Ham Cap, and the free ware program Omni-rig.

Webmaster's note: The Webmaster is not connected to the sale of the Faros amateur radio program, to the free ware Omni-Rig program, or any other program or product. The names of software and hardware products may be published on the Website from time-to-time in the interest of making amateur radio operators aware of  products that the Webmaster feels would be of high interest to the readership. Only the names of products that have been tested and are in regular use at the station are published.

The Omni-Rig amateur radio program written and distributed by Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, deserves special mention. A note on this software will be published at the bottom of the page. Omni-Rig is freeware.