HF beacon plans?

[syfr]

Hi,
Does anyone have pointers to a low power (250mW) HF beacon transmitter?
I'd like to build a solar/battery version to plant out in the middle of nowhere

[weaksigs]

Do you have any idea of what frequency you might want to operate on?
Would you need a complete transmitter in a chassis complete with a controller etc
or could you complete a set up with basic instructions?
 
Not to be nosy- How would you define your general electronics experience or background?
Your response will be helpful.

weaksigs
Dave

[charlie]

Not to be nosy- How would you define your general electronics experience or background?

I can't answer for syfr, but I'll give my answer because I'm interested in making a beacon, too:

I'm a novice in the realm of electronics.  I've built a couple of sw receivers and a qrp transciever and a few other things, but that not much more.  I'm strictly a cookbook kind of guy: give me the schematic and I can order the parts and solder 'em together. Basic troubleshooting with a DMM is as far as I get. I have no idea how to use rf probes and oscilloscopes and I don't have any of that kind of stuff anyway. If it doesn't smoke and there are no backwards parts and the thing still doesn't work, I'm stuck.

Would you need a complete transmitter in a chassis complete with a controller etc
or could you complete a set up with basic instructions?

For me, it doesn't need to be complete. I could probably get by with some basic instructions, schematics, and someone or somewhere (here?) to ask some novice-type questions. For instance, I think I could probably get the "universal qrp transmitter" circuit that's in nearly every ARRL handbook on the air, but I'm not so sure about the keyer, nor about the solar charger and charge controller.

So what kind of beacon is right for me?


Charlie

[weaksigs]

I'll be glad to help you to an extent.

Your beacon will need some planning; 

(1) Select a frequency- This takes some realistic listening and perhaps advice from some senior members
(2) After selecting a frequency I'll share transmitter design parameters for the frequency of your choice
(3) Will you run a battery- if so perhaps a sealed lead acid type or another in mind??
(4) Will this be an unattended location or close to home
(5) Are you familiar with antennas? Will you have sufficient room for an antenna at the frequency of your choice.
(6) What kind of antenna will you run? Sometimes the location dictates the type and overall size
(7) Do you have a solar panel if this will be an unattended location?
( How much site room do you have?  How "safe" is it?
(9) Have you selected a site? Do you have an alternative?

There are numerous other questions that deserve your thinking as this is the first step in designing a system that will work and then be reliable.
We should communicate via email or phone some time after you have thought seriously about these questions and then be prepared to ask more
as additional thoughts will occur. I don't mean to be "in charge" but have been there and done it- suffering all the things that were from my own lack of planning! 

Be realistic, stay within your abilities and means of building, so you won't be disappointed or disillusioned.
Enthusiasm and a big dose of reality will be factors on your side.

I will help from a distance where I can!!!

Glad too-- 

weaksigs
Dave