Martyn Vincent, G3UKV emails the following news...

As planned, we got the 3400.910 MHz beacon operational at the weekend, albeit on QRP at present to a single antenna, with 120 degree beamwidth,,,

Callsign: GB3ZME
Frequency: 3400.910 MHz
Locator: IO82SQ40
QTH: Telford, Shropshire. 198m ASL.
Power: 200 mW output (pending increase to about 15 watts in the new year.)
Antenna: Ionica 3.4GHz slots  14 dB gain. Single unit (120 degree beamwidth, centred eastwards) to be increased to 3 units to give omni directional output in the near future, if no problems encountered. Height approx. 10metres AGL. 
The beacon became operational at 11:30 hrs on Sunday 15 December 2002

Information from John, G3XDY
We now have the licence for GB3MHS on 3400.830MHz from the Martlesham site (JO02PB). The transmitter is complete and on soak test, and thanks to Mark GM4ISM we have two slotted line antennas ready to go up on the tower in the next few weeks. The beacon transmitter produces about 12W after the output filter, taking feeder losses and antenna gain into account it should give about 75W EIRP. The antennas have 120 degree horizontal beamwidth and will beam 090 and 270 degrees. I expect that it will be operational before the end of September, with the upgraded GB3MHX beacon back in service at the same time.

S.E. ENGLAND BEACONS FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN: 
September 2002

From a recent RSGB News Broadcast:

"Kent Microwave Beacons Closed Down Permanently

We reported two weeks ago that the GB3NWK microwave beacons, located near Orpington in Kent, were off the air. We have now been informed that the two beacons, which operated on 1296.81 and 2320.85MHz, will not be returning to service. Changes to the status of the site where the beacons are located has meant that it is no longer suitable for this purpose. Therefore, after 20 years of operation on 23-centimetres and 16 years on 13-centimetres, these beacons are now closed down permanently."

GB3SC SERIES BEACONS -- PROGRESS REPORT: 
March 2002

The South Coast 2.3 to 24 GHz microwave beacon project, which is now well underway.Last year the possibility arose to take over an old disused PMR mast in Dorset. After an initial site visit last August, we decided to take up the offer and agreed rental terms with the landowner. As well as the mast, the site comes with a concrete  enclosed building and metered mains power.The beacons are on a communal mast, 15 m above ground level and 275m asl on top of Bell Hill in Dorset, IO80UU59 /NGR ST79908

This complex of beacons is the largest single site concentration in the UK at this time and GB3SCC is the first operational 6cm beacon.It is hoped that this new source of microwave band signals will encourage ongoing multi-frequency propagation studies and stimulate operation and construction throughout the upper parts of the  Amateur bands.

Callsigns and frequencies used are :

GB3SCS -  2320.905MHZ
GB3SCF -  3400.905MHz
GB3SCC -  5760.905MHz
GB3SCX - 10368.905MHz
GB3SCK - 24192.905MHz

The Beacon Complex for 2.3 to 24 GHz is now undergoing on air tests with all beacons currently at a reduced height of 6m AGL.  GB3SCS, GB3SCF and GB3SCX on 2.3, 3.4 and 10 GHz respectively are fully operational,and GB3SCC on 5.6 is going but I suspect from listening tests may be down on power by a few dB.  GB3SCK on 24 GHz is not yet operational due to a suspected high loss in the feeder connections at 12 GHz - although local listeners have reported hearing it at a few km distance suggesting some very low power signal is being radiated.

All beacons apart from 3.4 GHz are on-off keyed.This mode has been used to permit an eventual upgrade to high stability frequency sources. GB3SCF will be converted to on-off keying 'before too long'.

GB3SCC operates on a time cycled sequence, with the callsign+locator details followed by 15 seconds of carrier, total transmission duration 45 seconds, followed by 45 seconds of no signal giving a total repeat time of approximately 1.5 minutes. This cycled operation giving 50% duty cycle is to prevent overheating of the masthead mounted PA which dissipates over 10 watts in an enclosed plastic cylinder.

This project has been undertaken by the South Coast Repeater and Beacon Group and supported by local Amateur Societies and individual members of the local vhf and microwave fraternity. Construction  was undertaken by G8BKE, G0JMI, G4LDR, G0API, G4JNT and G3YGF. 

Reception reports would be welcomed via e-mail by the beacon keeper at g0api@tesco.net or g4jnt@thersgb.net

Andy  G4JNT

24GHZ BEACON NOW OPERATIONAL FROM IO82

June 2001

GB3ZME beacon became operational at 20:20 UTC on 20/06/01..

Frequency: Licensed for 24192.910 MHz (currently approx. 8 KHz high - but
this is likely to change as crystal ages, and our old friend Dr Ift)

Location: Telford, Shropshire. IO82SQ40

Power: 1 watt O/P to 20 + 20 slotted waveguides, offset 90 deg. to each
other. You work out the ERP ! Antenna 16m AGL.

PA Device module: TQA 9070

REPORTS PLEASE to Martyn G3UKV (tel: 01952 255416) or e-mail
ukv@globalnet.co.uk, or QTHR.
 

WEBMASTER NOTES:  This new beacon was received by me on Sunday 24 June 2001 from a /P location at Merryton Low, IO93AD51.  It was extremely strong! However it was on  a frequency of 24192.960MHz and during the next four hours it drifted even further HF to 24192.993MHz, almost outside my tuning range!  It was a very hot day and I suspect the DB6NT local oscillator could not cope with the high temperature.