A new beacon checks Marconi’s claim

A new beacon, GB3SSS, is operating on 3597kHz from Poldhu in Cornwall during the winter months.

The purpose is to investigate propagation between Poldhu and St Johns, Newfoundland, during a sunspot minimum. This will help determine how Marconi’s signals were able to cross the Atlantic on that famous afternoon in 1901.

The transmission format is the same as the 5MHz beacons and last year’s 1.96MHz GB3SSS beacon.

Transmissions last one minute and start at zero, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour. A callsign is followed by two sets of 6dB power steps, then a PSK31 message starting at the 30 second boundary.

Software used for the 5MHz beacons can be used for decoding and this is available for download from www.rsgb-spectrumforum.org.uk.

Power is 15dBW to an 80m dipole. Reports should be sent to gb3sss@yahoo.co.uk, and further details are on the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club web site at www.gb2gm.org.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB