Beacon Project - 26-27 MHz 11 Meter Band Export Radio + Keyer

[R4002]

So I found myself thinking about the 11 meter band beacon project again, only this time I'm looking at it at a different angle.  Instead of building a transmitter around a set of crystals or using an old pager transmitter, I'm going to use an export radio.  The radio does have a regular 4-pin microphone connector and a CW key jack on the back.  

I have the following equipment:

*Superstar 3900 transceiver (made in Taiwan, EPT360011Z or EPT3600-11Z main board, built by Ranger/RCI)
frequency coverage 25615-28305 kHz 25.615-28.305 MHz continuously (channelized into 6 bands of 40 channels but has +10 kHz switch and +/- 5 kHz and +/- 1 kHz transmit/receive clairifers
*Antron-99 CB vertical CB antenna (currently in storage but in good condition)
*11 meter dipole antenna kit
*Possible transmit location located on top of an industrial fabrication shop in the downtown area of a medium sized city on the East Coast of the USA, with access to mains (120 Volt AC, 60Hz) power.

My plan is to drop the transmit power of the Superstar 3900 down to 3-4 watts or so to reduce strain on the transmitter.  

The missing piece is the CW generator.  I'm looking for something that doesn't draw a lot of power but will key the radio continuously, without the need for operator intervention.    Does anybody have an experience building a beacon of this type?  I plan on putting the radio on a frequency like 27500 kHz or 27510 kHz (as 27.500 MHz is the commonly accepted frequency for CW activity on 11 meters).  

Anybody have any recommendations or experience putting together a project like this?  I admire the Common and Precious III beacon operating in Europe and want to have a similar beacon operating in my part of the world.  

[CoolAM Radio]

Guess this is interesting for you?

https://www.eham.net/articles/2240

Maybe also check

https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/the-sproutie-spt-beacon-a-legal-unlicensed-hifer-beacon/

https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/tag/altoids-homebrew/

http://soldersmoke.blogspot.nl/

http://www.qrpkits.com

https://cqbitx.blogspot.nl

André
CoolAM Radio - ShortWave
http://coolam-productions.tk
http://www.coolam.nl
the Netherlands

[R4002]

Thanks for the links CoolAM.  What I'm looking for is a beacon board that would allow me to program a CW message onto an IC or something similar, ideally something I could install inside the radio chassis and run off the power from whichever power supply I end up using (probably a 10 amp or something similar for DC power from the main 120VAC power available at the transmitter site).

[Rob.]

http://www.hamcrafters2.com/KID2.html

Simple, easy, inexpensive.

[R4002]

Awesome.  Thanks for the link

[Teotwaki]

Since this thread receives lots of views and has been brought alive again in 2020,  I thought I'd add in that a user programmable CW ID Kit can be purchased from Black Cat Systems

https://www.blackcatsystems.com/rf-products/ham_amateur_radio_beacon_cw_keyer_kit.html

This allows the user to keep the CW ID list to himself as opposed to mailing it to someone to program into a chip, thus creating a paper trail of the CW ID and the user's address.   

[JimIO]

If you really want user programmable do a search for: arduino cw beacon

~

[Teotwaki]

I am a fan of Arduinos  BUT...  they are way too complicated for just sending a CW ID.

If the OP wanted to send battery voltage, temperature and wind speed (like Windy) the Arduino would be perfect.

[JimIO]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNO-R3-Atmega328P-CH340G-Development-Board-with-USB-Cable-Pin-Header-for-Arduino/113797459156?epid=4026019589&hash=item1a7edb6cd4%3Ag%3AJawAAOSw2fRdEMH4&LH_BIN=1

~

[Teotwaki]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNO-R3-Atmega328P-CH340G-Development-Board-with-USB-Cable-Pin-Header-for-Arduino/113797459156?epid=4026019589&hash=item1a7edb6cd4%3Ag%3AJawAAOSw2fRdEMH4&LH_BIN=1

Super cheap! I've progressed to reading a temp probe and a voltage then displaying both on a serial LCD. Mostly by hacking what is already available for code but lots of fun.

Edit: I found that this cheaper board has a different USB interface chip and needs to have the right drivers.

Also found this note:

"You need the 16u2 if you ever want to change what sort of usb device your arduino is, eg make it into a keyboard, mouse or joystick device, or a soundcard, or anything like that. If you're happy for it to remain a plain serial device, the CH340G variant should be fine"

[JimIO]

With all of the tutorials and libraries and sample code out there 90% of what
you want to do is already done. Who would have thought microcontrollers
would end up being cheep fun.

~

[Stretchyman]

Funny thread...

I thought the idea of a beacon to be a simple affair and using a whole CB radio seems a tad OTT?

Keyer wise bought something from a UK ham a while ago and is an 8 bit pic, whole circuit is about 1cm sqr.

http://www.g4jnt.com/BcnKeyer.htm

Tx wise just use the Cardinal osc and class C/E RF, probably 20 components max.

I'd like to produce such a thing if I have time.

Str.

[Teotwaki]

With all of the tutorials and libraries and sample code out there 90% of what you want to do is already done. Who would have thought microcontrollers would end up being cheep fun.

I agree that the available code is really great to have. Using the code can end up being a learning experience as it may not select the pins you want to use, may have bugs, etc. but so what?    It can be quite fun (and harmless) to hack the code and see what happens.

[Teotwaki]

I thought the idea of a beacon to be a simple affair and using a whole CB radio seems a tad OTT?

1980's CB radios are cheap and the OP already had one so it is supremely simple to just use it for the 11M transmitter rather than have to purchase anything.

[Matt285]

I didn't know CW beacons were a thing on 11 meters? Sounds like a great idea though. I've used beacons for propagation for years on all other HF bands.