What Is It?
You can get real time, worldwide DX band conditions in just a few minutes on the 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter bands using the NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Network of 18 beacon stations located throughout the world!
This Windows based program will let you instantly see which DX Beacon you are currently hearing on your receiver/transceiver. The Beacon call sign is actively displayed along with a flashing LED overlaid on a relief map of the world. In addition, as each beacon becomes active, its country, city, latitude, and longitude are displayed. Important! There is no connection required between the computer and your receiver/transceiver. As a result, there is no need to tie up sound card input/outputs, serial ports, or IRQ assignments.
The NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Network
The International Beacon Network provides a reliable source of signals for determining HF propagation 24 hours a day. It consists of 18 beacons evenly located throughout the world. Each beacon transmits on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930, and 28.200 MHz.
The transmit sequence moves westward from New York across North America, Asia, Pacific to Africa, Europe, and South America. On each frequency, each beacon transmits for ten seconds -- its call sign at 22 wpm CW and a one-second dash at 100 Watts and three one-second dashes at 10, 1, and 0.1 Watts.
When each beacon completes a transmission it goes silent on that band and switches to the next higher band. For more information on the International Beacon Network, see QST Magazine Issues October 1994, November 1994, and September 1997.
Program Description
Program Description
