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Loggings => HF Beacons => Topic started by: Exo on December 04, 2018, 2023 UTC

Title: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 04, 2018, 2023 UTC
A thread about 7 MHz beacons around Western USA.
If you find these detailed reports useful or interesting, please feel free to reply with any comments.


Highlight of this report: "HI" CW Morse beacon at 7998 kHz

Report

2018DEC04 1945UTC

7998.12 kHz CW, Morse beacon, "HI", good readable, 9.64 seconds repetition, dit duration 128 milliseconds, -117 dBm.

2018DEC04 2002UTC
7998.12 kHz CW, Morse beacon, "HI", stopped abruptly.

PLAY AUDIO 7998.12 kHz CW Morse beacon HI 2018DEC04 1945UTC (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/7998_12_kHz_CW_Morse_beacon_HI_2018DEC04_1945UTC.mp3)

Image below of waterfall shows CW beacon HI morse at 7998.12 kHz on 2018DEC04 1945UTC

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/7998_12_kHz_CW_Morse_beacon_HI_2018DEC04_1945UTC.jpg)
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 27, 2018, 2059 UTC
Highlight of this report: "HI" "Hiker?" CW Morse beacon at 7998 kHz

Report

2018DEC27 2058UTC

7998.08 kHz CW, Morse beacon, "HI", "Hiker?", weak readable, -122 dBm.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Boriken on December 27, 2018, 2331 UTC
Haven't heard HI in several days. Hearing a short dasher, about every 4-5 sec, ~7998 kc at 2315 UTC.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 27, 2018, 2354 UTC
Haven't heard HI in several days. Hearing a short dasher, about every 4-5 sec, ~7998 kc at 2315 UTC.

Here's the big question: "Is the HI beacon the new incarnation of Hiker (https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,27043.msg146374.html#msg146374)?"

And yes, that 7998 kHz dasher or ditter is also logged here, weak readable.
But the timing seems somewhat irregular.
Makes one wonder if it is a beacon or not.
It could be one of the other mystery signals, because is very very much like many of the similar slow communication signals logged just like it in western USA, but on various other frequencies.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Boriken on December 28, 2018, 0039 UTC
Ask and ye shall receive. HI with a nice 569 signal at 0035 UTC.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on January 03, 2019, 1059 UTC
I have not had much any luck with these beacons lately. The problem is I don't know when the short window of propagation to my QTH currently is. I'll need to leave the SDR running today and see if I can figure out when they turn up here (if at all).
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: mark-n-nut on January 06, 2019, 1750 UTC
Am hearing HI this morning at 1745 utc.  Good signal.

73, Mark
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on January 24, 2019, 0422 UTC
Am hearing HI this morning at 1745 utc.  Good signal.

73, Mark

Is the HI beacon the new incarnation of Hiker?
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: DYGradio on January 26, 2019, 2319 UTC
Hearing HI here in Pinal County AZ fairly strong with some fading. 1/26/2019 23:15z 7998.120  KHz

Airspy HF+ on a temporary 8 ft whip on outpost tripod in the back lot.

73, Ron
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: DYGradio on March 03, 2019, 2244 UTC
HI was not around earlier today but is very strong now with minimal fading. 22:35 UTC 03MAR2019. 7998.07 KHz.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Boriken on March 04, 2019, 0107 UTC
HI fading up to 559 around 0015 UTC Mar 04. Lots of QRM from OTHR. Faded out completely around 0030.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on March 04, 2019, 2239 UTC
HI fading up to 559 around 0015 UTC Mar 04. Lots of QRM from OTHR. Faded out completely around 0030.

Good catch!
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on March 04, 2019, 2240 UTC
HI was not around earlier today but is very strong now with minimal fading. 22:35 UTC 03MAR2019. 7998.07 KHz.

Great catch!
"HI" beacon sometimes seems to be elusive.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on March 05, 2019, 1043 UTC
"HI" beacon sometimes seems to be elusive.

Extremely! I have yet to catch it here, I need to figure out when the (probably brief) window of propagation is, if there is one. I've tried mornings without success, I need to try evenings next.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: mark-n-nut on March 05, 2019, 1636 UTC
Hearing HI off and on this morning here in UT.  1630 utc

73, Mark
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: DYGradio on March 09, 2019, 1958 UTC
HI has appeared for the first time today here in central AZ. 19:56z 09MAR2019.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on March 09, 2019, 2008 UTC
HI has appeared for the first time today here in central AZ. 19:56z 09MAR2019.

Logged it here also.
Then it distinctively went off the air while monitoring it.
 
It seems to transmit on an irregular basis.
When checked 2 hours ago, negative copy. 

Report
2019MAR09 2006UTC
7998.09 kHz CW, "HI", Morse beacon, readable, -122 dBm.

Report
2010MAR09 2010UTC Transmission ceased.
7998.09 kHz CW, "HI", Morse beacon

Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: DYGradio on March 09, 2019, 2311 UTC
I agree, I do not think it is on the air continually. I as well have seen it just appear all of a sudden as well as disappear. Does not always seem to coincide with changes in propagation.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: DYGradio on March 09, 2019, 2340 UTC
Just bounced back over to 7998 and HI has now returned.

09MAR2019 23:36z 7998.07 KHz,  fairly strong then fades out for a transmission or two.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on June 16, 2019, 2207 UTC
Just bounced back over to 7998 and HI has now returned.

09MAR2019 23:36z 7998.07 KHz,  fairly strong then fades out for a transmission or two.

Has anyone copied HI recently?
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on June 17, 2019, 0958 UTC
I've tried off and on a few times and not heard any of the 7-8 MHz beacons. Nothing but A and Windy here.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Teotwaki on June 21, 2019, 1257 UTC
I've tried off and on a few times and not heard any of the 7-8 MHz beacons. Nothing but A and Windy here.

I've yet to catch any of the 6 MHz beacons here in SoCal and am wondering if they are even maintained any more. It takes time and effort to drive/hike to remote locations, diagnose problems and effect repairs in austere conditions.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on June 21, 2019, 1319 UTC
I've tried off and on a few times and not heard any of the 7-8 MHz beacons. Nothing but A and Windy here.

I've yet to catch any of the 6 MHz beacons here in SoCal and am wondering if they are even maintained any more. It takes time and effort to drive/hike to remote locations, diagnose problems and effect repairs in austere conditions.

I can imagine it does. I did hear some of the circa 8 MHz beacons a few years ago, but nothing recently. I don't think the circa 6600/6700 kHz ones ever made it here.  I expect that solar powered beacons are mostly a southwest desert phenomena where you have lots of sunshine, they probably would not do well in our cloudy/rainy/snowy weather here in the northeast.
Title: Re: 7 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Teotwaki on June 22, 2019, 1410 UTC
I can imagine it does. I did hear some of the circa 8 MHz beacons a few years ago, but nothing recently. I don't think the circa 6600/6700 kHz ones ever made it here.  I expect that solar powered beacons are mostly a southwest desert phenomena where you have lots of sunshine, they probably would not do well in our cloudy/rainy/snowy weather here in the northeast.

From what I have gathered some of the beacons in California started out operation equipped with batteries but once the batteries went bad the system was left in place to operate as daytime only