New HIFER Beacon "RF" is on the air!!

[Finman]

RF just faded in with a really nice signal here at 2210z. The little beacon that could! 

"I think I can! I think I can!" 

[Mateo]

Heard near St. Louis, MO at 1600 UTC on 4/3/2018

Only S-1 to S-2 but still clear.

[tesla]

I suspect that the Black Cat circuit is putting out much more power then the part 15 Fcc rules allow...
Therefore that's why some of these beacons are being heard quite often.  I did not realize that getting a Hifer page up on HFU would
create this situation.

[Finman]

Are you referring to my beacon? RF?

FYI.... I'm not using a "black cat circuit"

I suspect that the Black Cat circuit is putting out much more power then the part 15 Fcc rules allow...
Therefore that's why some of these beacons are being heard quite often.  I did not realize that getting a Hifer page up on HFU would
create this situation.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I suspect that the Black Cat circuit is putting out much more power then the part 15 Fcc rules allow...
Therefore that's why some of these beacons are being heard quite often.  I did not realize that getting a Hifer page up on HFU would
create this situation.

There is a trimmer pot to adjust your output, and remain within Part 15 limits.

[Finman]

Thanks for the report Mateo. Glad it's making it to St Louie!

Heard near St. Louis, MO at 1600 UTC on 4/3/2018

Only S-1 to S-2 but still clear.

[Prairiedog]

It does seem a bit touchy trying to adjust the trimmer pot. It's easy to go from a couple of milliwatts to 30 in no time flat. A lower value in the 220 ohm range might be better, and is well within the drive capabilities of the three paralleled NAND gates.

[tesla]

I'm not referring to any specific beacon...what I meant to say is that I would suspect
that a HIFER beacon that was being heard often could be a Black Cat circuit because the circuit
has the potential to run higher power then Part 15 rules allow. Of course higher power beacons
could come from home brew circuits.

I'm not the police or a guru to anyone...

Chris and RF beacon operator I meant no personal attack to either of you guys.
Often I don't really communicate well via E mail. 73

[ChrisSmolinski]

It does seem a bit touchy trying to adjust the trimmer pot. It's easy to go from a couple of milliwatts to 30 in no time flat. A lower value in the 220 ohm range might be better, and is well within the drive capabilities of the three paralleled NAND gates.

A good idea. Also, I suspect you could solder a fixed resistor across the wiper and ground on the pot, to reduce the maximum output range.