9cm microwave band Test Beacon from VK1

 

Dimitrios Tsifakis via groups.io <dtsifakis=gmail.com@groups.io>	Jun 14, 2026, 11:12 AM
to VK-Microwave

Hi all,

This beacon is mainly of interest to the ACT members.

The 9 cm beacon is finally on air! The nominal frequency is 3398.8 MHz, the beacon power output was measured to be +15 dBm past the final filter. Out of this power I expect about +10 dBm to make it to the HPOL antenna. The beacon transmits 12 WPM morse code that includes the callsign (VK1SV/B) and the approximate location (QF44).

Its stability should be superior to previous beacons I have put on air, however there might be a small offset from the nominal 3398.8 MHz operating frequency. Using an (uncalibrated) SDR, I see it at 3398.80045 MHz (450 Hz higher than the nominal freq). YMMV.

This may be a beacon that can only be heard from mountaintops, but in any case, reception reports, positive or negative, are always welcome.

73, Dimitris

PS, I have obtained a 10 W 3.4 GHz amplifier from aliexpress but haven't powered it up yet. It cost me about $40 from memory. This could be used to bring the beacon to a watt or so of output power in the future. A discussion including some measured data about this amplifier can be found here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/10w-rf-amplifier-3400-3800-mhz-from-aliexpress-reverse-engineering/

23cm activity from VK3 this morning 26th January, 2026

 The VK3's having a cracker of a morning on 23cm SSB

Microwave activity 18th October, 2025

my activity is from Buff Point, near Budgewoi on NSW Central Coast, aiming across Lake Budgewoi, it proved the point that can definitely get back into Sydney from here on 23cm FM, so would be easy on SSB and WSPR

 

23 on 23 Activity for 23rd August, 2025

Here in Sydney tonight, VK2HC,VK2ZIP,VK2ZIW,VK2BPG,VK2KQ,VK2TDN 

VK3RXX 2403.530MHz Beacon back on air

 VK3RXX 2403.530MHz Beacon back on air after some work done on it.

Some new VHF & Above DX locations

 on trip out to Mudgee and return, I looking out for good locations to operate VHF, UHF  and above, two good accessible, clear locations found are :
1. intersection of  Aarons Pass Road, Castlereagh Highway and Perrams Road,  a few kilometres north of Ilford, the two side roads are on the crest of a hill, clear of trees, good place for microwave portable.
2. Cherry Tree Hill, on Castlereagh Highway, place called Running Stream, south of Ilford, north of Capertee, it was sign posted as being 1100m ASL, north of Razorback Road.  That is a significant height, as Mt Canobolis near Orange is 1250m ASL

latest multimode transceivers for VHF and above

I can never remember the latest model numbers as they are similiar and easily confused

ICOM IC-905   144, 430, 1200, 2400, 5600 MHz +10 GHz   All Mode Transceiver approx $4k8

ICOM IC-705   HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz    All Mode Transceiver    approx $2k

ICOM IC-9700   144, 430, 1200 MHz   All Mode Transceiver   approx $2k5      -  replacement to IC-910

YAESU FT-991A    HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz  All Mode Transceiver    approx $2k1

VK3 Microwave Group Activity Day - 17th November, 2023

 Here is a snippet from the VK3 Microwave Chat group from their field day operations yesterday.

These guys are getting out on mountain tops and activating the microwave bands.

Stations worked by VK3KRD and the Group.

10.368.1 Gig and 5760.1 Gig.

VK3IE VK3TWO VK3HY VK3ACR.

2.4 Gig  beacon VK3IE.

144.1 SSB VK3ZO Vk3 ACR.

439 Fm, VK3ZO VK3BCU VK3DYD VH3CH VK3PI VK3TWO VK3IE VK3ACR

vk3-microwave@groups.io

Dave VK0DS / VK2JDS arriving at Davis Station (Antartica) on Saturday, 11th November, 2023

 Some Antartic photos from Dave VK0DS / VK2JDS arriving at Davis Station on Saturday, 11th Nov 2023 after cutting through much ice. Dave will operate on 2m EME, 23cm EME and HF as time permits between work duties over the next 14 or so months.

update on 23cm repeater systems centered around Sydney and NSW as of 22nd Oct 2023

 update on 23cm repeater systems centered around Sydney and NSW as of  22nd Oct 2023

OUTPUT / INPUT    Callsign    Location

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ  Mt. Sugarloaf  - working,  it idents every hour, requires 91.5Hz CTCSS tone to access

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC   Chatswood  - working

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG  Somersby - working,  now linked to VK2RAG 6metre repeater, requires 91.5Hz CTCSS tone to access

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI Dural  -  working, carries Sunday WIA broadcast.

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains - working, it idents every 10 minutes with a CW message

All the above are Vertical polarised.

1294.000 FM Simplex, not heard anyone since July 2022.

23 on 23 Microwave Activity Day - 23rd September, 2023

 good showing today and tonight for 23 on 23,   silly me got my day wrong, thougtht 23rd was Sunday, but it was today.

extract courteousy of VKSPOTTER.COM

VK Microwave groups

 some VK Microwave SHF groups :

VK3-Microwave@groups.io

https://groups.io/g/VK2-Microwave-Users-Group/topics

Winter Weak Signal DX Update - 4th July 2023

 here some more 23cm and 9cm weak signal Q65 activity on 1296.215MHz and 3398.215MHz

Winter Weak Signal DX Update - 28th June 2023

 here are some very impressive DX contacts,  from VKSpotter Propagation Reporter,
specifically the microwave activity on 23cm and 9cm, this represents  the path of Gladstone to Brisbane.

Note : 9cm via Aircraft Enhancement using Q65 digital.

That is equivalent path of Sydney to Albury,  or Sydney to Coffs Harbour

update on 23cm repeater systems as of 10th May 2023

update on 23cm repeater systems centered around Sydney as of  10th May 2023

Here are the operational 23cm FM Analogue repeaters I can work:

OUTPUT / INPUT    Callsign    Location

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ  Mt. Sugarloaf  - working,  it idents every hour, requires 91.5Hz ctcss

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC   Chatswood  - working

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG  Somersby - working, has beep on the tail

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI Dural  -  working, carries Sunday WIA broadcast.

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains - working, it idents every 10 minutes with a CW message

All the above are Vertical polarised.

1294.000 FM Simplex, not heard anyone since July 2022.

23cm FM voice repeater systems centered around Sydney as of 9th April, 2023

 An update on 23cm FM voice repeater systems centered around Sydney as of  9th April, 2023

Here are the operational 23cm FM Analogue repeaters I can work:

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ at Mt. Sugarloaf  - working,  it idents every hour, at 6minutes before the hour, requires 91.5Hz ctcss to access

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC  at Chatswood  - working

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG at Somersby - working, has beep on the tail

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI at Dural  -  yes, it is working again.

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains - working, it idents regularly every 10 minutes with a long CW message

Activity:  mostly found on Chatswood repeater, with some activity on Dural repeater on Sunday after the WIA NSW broadcast 10am and 7.30pm local time

1294.000 FM Simplex, not heard anyone on here since July 2022.

Wayne Knowles, ZL2BKC silent key

 Wayne Knowles ZL2BKC, creator of the ZL PLL boards for microwave and weak signal enthusiasts, became silent key on 30th December, 2022.

23cm / 1296Mhz Update - October 2022

 a recap on 23cm repeater systems centered around Sydney as of October, 2022

Here are the operational 23cm FM Analogue repeaters I can work:

OUTPUT / INPUT    Callsign    Location

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ Mt. Sugarloaf

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC  Chatswood  

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG Somersby

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI Dural  - currently off-air due to antenna problem

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains

There are other known 23cm Repeaters, i.e VK2RRR Razorback and  others at Blue Mtns, Walcha, Muswellbrook, Lismore and Jervis bay,  all these have been unfortunately cancelled, scrapped or never completed.

23cm updates for 2nd August, 2022

I had 23cm transceiver scanning, I kept hearing a very weak female voice, looks to be a automated ident, kept trying to catch which frequency but eventually got it, so this good news, confirmed VK2RTZ is alive and still working. This is Peter VK2ZTV's baby.

 VK2RTZ in QF57SC                                  1273.100000 REP 51

Spotter: VK2KFJ in QF56OG @19° 97.5 Kmfrom Sugarloaf Range, near Newcastle, s0 weak, has a female voice for ident

I also in recent days seeing some weak signal digital activity,some guys doing JT65 on 1296.215 MHz between VK4'sand some WSPR on 1296.500 MHz between VK1 and VK3 stations
This is exciting, I need to get some more 23cm antennas up in the air.

23cm activity 26th July 2022

 found that I can key and hear myself noise free via the parrot repeater, as per my VKSpotter entry

VK2RMP in QF55LR1296.850000  53

Spotter: VK2KFJ in QF46XE @119° 100.9 KmFM parrot rptr
then spent 25mins chatting with Brian VK2AH at Bulli via the parrot.
Brian advised that IARC would like to convert the parrot to a proper 23cm FM repeater in the future.
gave some CQ's on 1294 MHz FM simplex. nothing heard.

VK2TDN in QF56ME1294.000000 FM 51

Spotter: VK2KFJ in QF46XE @89° 99.8 Kmqsb, and rain squalls in between

VK2RWC in QF56OE1273.200000  59

Spotter: VK2KFJ in QF46XE @88° 109.8 Kmworking dave vk2tdn via the rptr