2021-01-19

 Synchronized Beacon Project

The global 6 m beacon network

UTC:

The Synchronized Beacon Project (SBP)

From the IARU Region 1 VHF Managers Handbook:

"11.3 Synchronised 50 MHz Beacon Project (Varna 2014)

The 2011 IARU Region-1 General Conference in Sun City agreed to a new Synchronised Beacon Project (SBP) as part of its revisions to the 50 MHz band plan. This required the existing beacons to migrate by August 2014 to 50.4-50.5 MHz in order to leave space for the new system at the bottom of the 50MHz band. As agreed at the Vienna Interim meeting in 2013, the basic parameters for beacons in the SBP are 1 kHz frequency spacing, 1 minute CW/MGM and a 4 minute repeat period.

At the 2014 IARU Region-1 General Conference in Varna 2014, the migration of Region-1 50 MHz beacons was reviewed and noted as progressing (with good propagation reports), but not yet achieved completely. The deadline for migration of the remainder was extended to 31 December 2015, noting that the default for QSY is usually +400 kHz unless a specific request is sent to the IARU Region 1 beacon coordinator. Furthermore it was also agreed that:-

Member Societies are invited to participate in the pilot programme for the SBP. The paper VA14_C5_14 will be used as an implementation guide and an initial pilot scheme demonstration. The societies are invited to consider the best locations for SBP (e.g. an existing site or new strategic site). Region 2 and Region 3 will be informed of progress should they wish to start implementing their own beacon multiplexes.

In addition, opportunities for a 50 MHz space-borne receiver should also be sought for monitoring both standard beacons and the SBP. This will enable assessments of propagation, band usage; support for further research; and support potential future frequency allocation requests."

Frequency plan

Each IARU region is allocated a 10 kHz segment that is divided into ten 1 kHz segments for the SBP.

Region Frequencies [MHz]
1 50,000 50,001 50,002 50,003 50,004 50,005 50,006 50,007 50,008 50,009
2 50,010 50,011 50,012 50,013 50,014 50,015 50,016 50,017 50,018 50,019
3 50,020 50,021 50,022 50,023 50,024 50,025 50,026 50,027 50,028 50,029

Transmission schedule

There are five timeslots named 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the SBP.

Interval Minutes
0 00 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
1 01 06 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56
2 02 07 12 17 22 27 32 37 42 47 52 57
3 03 08 13 18 23 28 33 38 43 48 53 58
4 04 09 14 19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59

Each timeslot is one minute long.

Transmission modes and sequence

The transmission mode and sequence for the SBP is PI4 + CW + carrier lasting exactly one minute.

Tuning into a SBP PI4 + CW + carrier signal is just like tuning into a classic CW beacon. The receiver must be set to CW in the upper side band or set to USB. Then tune 800 Hz below the nominal frequency to receive the carrier with an 800 Hz beat tone in the loudspeaker, e.g. nominal frequency is 50,005 MHz then tune to 50.004.2 USB on most radios. Then all the tones of the PI4 + CW + carrier sequence will be spot on. Please NEVER mix the term frequency and USB as it only leads to confusion. Frequency is the number of cycles per second of a generated signal. "USB" or "dial" is just something on a box.

Network planning and allocation

Network plan

The network planning is currently rather loose but Mathias, DH4FAJ, alternatively Murray, G6JYB, should be consulted prior to putting a SBP beacon on the air.

A SBP beacon typically transmits 25 W to an omni directional antenna.

Allocation

The legal issues of a beacon is purely a national issue that has to be addressed with local telecoms regulator. However, a SBP beacon shall be coordinated and part of the overall network plan both to maximize the outcome of the network but also to avoid rouge and unreliable beacons from disturbing and diluting the value of network.

Call sign

A beacon that takes part in the SBP but in the remainder of the time transmits on its normally allocated frequency should sign CALL/S when transmitting on the SBP frequency. This is to have unique entries in databases vs frequency.

Nomenclature

The short form for a specific SBP beacon frequency and timeslot is SBP kHz part of the frequency/timeslot, e.g. SBP 5/4 or SBP 005/4.

SBP clusters

For the actual status of each beacon please visit its homepage or contact the relevant beacon manager.

Click here for a complete list of beacons participating in the SBP.

Region 1

Frequency
[MHz]		 Color Timeslot
0 1 2 3 4
50,000 Black          
50,001 Brown          
50,002 Red          
50,003 Orange          
50,004 Yellow          
50,005 Green          
50,006 Blue          
50,007 Violet          
50,008 Gray          
50,009 White          

Region 2

Frequency
[MHz]		 Color Timeslot
0 1 2 3 4
50,010 Black          
50,011 Brown          
50,012 Red          
50,013 Orange          
50,014 Yellow          
50,015 Green          
50,016 Blue          
50,017 Violet          
50,018 Gray          
50,019 White          

Region 3

Frequency
[MHz]		 Color Timeslot
0 1 2 3 4
50,020 Black          
50,021 Brown          
50,022 Red          
50,023 Orange          
50,024 Yellow          
50,025 Green          
50,026 Blue          
50,027 Violet          
50,028 Gray          
50,029 White          

Technology

The Next Generation Beacons platform can be used for a SBP beacon. When not transmitting on the SBP frequency it can transmit on any other frequency from the 137 kHz to 1,3 GHz.

Bo, OZ2M, www.rudius.net/oz2m