BARRETT 2030 HF SSB TRANSCEIVER
Checking for the Best Channel to Use Between Two Stations - Beacon Call
Before using many of the Selcall and Telcall functions in this section it is useful to
know how to use the “Beacon Call” function.
"Beacon Call" allows the operator to determine the signal quality between their
station and a station they want to call on a particular channel, but without actually
alerting the station they are doing so.
When a Beacon Call is sent to another station, if the channel being used is “open”,
the remote station sends back a distinctive 4 tone revertive signal. The operator can
judge the quality of the channel for communications purposes by the strength and
clarity of this distinctive tone. Using Beacon Calls on several available channels will
determine which channel is best to use subsequent Selcalls or Telcalls.
Note:-
Both stations must be programmed for Selcall or Telcall operation.
Sending a Beacon Call
select the channel you think will be best to use (Refer to section
Overview of HF operation)
listen for traffic on that channel, if no traffic is heard then continue
then press the
key
select “Beacon Call” with the scroll keys
then press the
key
enter the station ID of the station you wish to Beacon Call (see
“
Entering station IDs and using the address and telephone
books”)
then press the
key
wait for the Beacon Call to be sent
listen for the distinctive 4 tone revertive signal from the station you
have called
If no revertive call is heard or it was difficult to hear try another
channel and repeat the process until the best channel is found
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