Seldom heard
With a few hours available, I decided that today would be a good opportunity to investigate something I’ve only heard in rumour: propagation beacons.
This is an amateur radio thing, so you can bow out now if it doesn’t twig your interest. Part of the fun of running your own radio station is actually talking to other people. Which, I guess, means finding like souls in the aether. Some frequencies are easy. Others; well… I had my first contact on 6 meters back at the end of June. During Field Day, which is the busiest weekend of the ham calendar. Haven’t heard anything since. I know my radio and antenna work, so I’ll lay the blame at the base of another’s tower.
Next up, 10 meters. Just above the CB gang. Doable. There’s even a worldwide network of beacons, so you can listen to see what other parts of the world are within reach. Still haven’t heard one. I know what I’m supposed to receive (thanks to websites that provide noisy MP3 files). Just… nothing heard, yet. I remain optimistic.
I have great intentions of making a contact or three via satellite. Have tested tracking software, which is much more scientific than standing outside with binoculars, warding off accusations that my name is Tom. But there’s a pattern here: I’m not hearing much of anything. Maybe I do need to purchase a coil of coax before winter sets in.
It’s fun to have a hobby that keeps one challenged. Just, I’d be even more enthralled if the challenges were rewarded from time to time.
