VK0IR radio beacon bursts back to life.
Inviato: 1 aprile 2012, 13:55FLASHBACK
Two years has passed since we decided to create an April Fools’ message. Here’s a reminder of what we produced, with comments adding to the comedy factor :>>
April 10, 2010 — Incredibly, after thirteen quiet years, readers of DX World.net have emailed to say the VK0IR (Heard Island) beacon is - at certain times – audible on 21150. You may recall that back in 1997, the NCDXF beacon (an R5 vertical) would transmit for ten seconds on 10, 12, 15, 17 & 20M every three minutes. The beacon would send “VK0IR†in CW before moving to the next band.
Interestingly, it appears only 15M (21150) is where the beacon is now transmitting. In an exercise involving many operators placed in ideal locations around the world, they report no signals are being heard on 10, 12, 17 & 20M.
Here is a short recording of the VK0IR beacon taken yesterday at 13:13z on 21150Mhz.
We urge all readers to turn their beams in the direction of Heard Island when on 15M. Please report any SWL reports to us and try to record and send mp3 samples.
The only clue/reason it started to transmit again is that possibly one of the Australian Government research teams which visit Heard Island for scientific matters, found the beacon and turned it on. Or, mysteriously, it seems to have re-activated itself without any known reason.
Hopefully more to follow..
Two years has passed since we decided to create an April Fools’ message. Here’s a reminder of what we produced, with comments adding to the comedy factor :>>
April 10, 2010 — Incredibly, after thirteen quiet years, readers of DX World.net have emailed to say the VK0IR (Heard Island) beacon is - at certain times – audible on 21150. You may recall that back in 1997, the NCDXF beacon (an R5 vertical) would transmit for ten seconds on 10, 12, 15, 17 & 20M every three minutes. The beacon would send “VK0IR†in CW before moving to the next band.
Interestingly, it appears only 15M (21150) is where the beacon is now transmitting. In an exercise involving many operators placed in ideal locations around the world, they report no signals are being heard on 10, 12, 17 & 20M.
Here is a short recording of the VK0IR beacon taken yesterday at 13:13z on 21150Mhz.
We urge all readers to turn their beams in the direction of Heard Island when on 15M. Please report any SWL reports to us and try to record and send mp3 samples.
The only clue/reason it started to transmit again is that possibly one of the Australian Government research teams which visit Heard Island for scientific matters, found the beacon and turned it on. Or, mysteriously, it seems to have re-activated itself without any known reason.
Hopefully more to follow..