Hello my old friend... (common and precious)

[Zazzle]

Hey

(Feel free to move this to a different section if it doesn't fit here.)

Time flies. Life happens. Things change. And living in a big city makes it hard to find good spots. Too much attention to what's on a roof.  Abandoned places beyond the city limits are an option. But places close by are prone to vandalism. Leaves one to travel at least 1,5h+ (one way) to reach locations that fulfill all sorts of dependencies . And the joy when something was forgotten at home. Or doesn't work out like intended. I usually invest quite some effort into my projects. And the risk of having to moving a setup frequently, having it discovered or vandalised took a toll on my motivation. By now I ponder locations farther away that come with such a low risk that it's worth the resources spent on traveling.

Common and Precious 5 was a lot of fun to install. It happened during the end of the year. It was cold and *quite* windy ontop of that 13 story highriser. Yet, installing it in the late evening hours with everyone else down on the busy street oblivious to what happens above their heads was pretty enjoyable. But months later it had to be removed. Demolition was suddenly announced for the object. It didn't went any better with the second location. So...

... how to go from here?

Common and Precious 1 (30m band): will likely stay in its project box for many, many years to come.
Common and Precious 2 (40m band): has chances to be on air again until the end of the year.
Common and Precious 3 (10m band): will eventually go back on air. Maybe with some more unf. Haven't decided on that yet.
Common and Precious 4 (40m band): it'd dead I think. No need for operating two beacons on the same band.
Common and Precious 5: (80m) a new location was found. It requires a lot of preparation (2-3 day trips) but has also great chances for staying on-air for many years. I hope. I wish I could share what structure will be (ab-)used as the antenna. It's just hillarious and I'm already kinda looking forward to the moment it can be revealed. But I hope that'll be in the far, far future.

What about the data format? I think I'll abandon RTTY. Static CW will likely stay as means to transport a throughout description. A unique accoustic identifier will be added. Telemetry data will be added in a very simple and easy to read format. Telemetry might not be available when a location lacks the option to install an outdoor sensor. Might happen that the TX unit says inside an object.

In short, only the 80m, 40m and 11m beacons will be on air again in (some near) future.  The 30m one might be an option for an solar-only beacon.

I'd love to do one for 2200m. Because there's an option for a location that can support a ~200m long wire antenna. But let's be honest. The load coil is huge. The voltages at it's end nasty (even for 20W) and even the slightest change in the antenna (capacitance towards the surroundings change with the season, it's length changes with temperature) causes it to go out of tune badly and fast.

~Zazzle