RADIO = UNIDEN HR 2510
OUTPUT POWER = 15W (aprox)
OUTPUT MODE = CW @ 11 WPM
CONTROLLER = EXPANDED SPECTRUM SYS "FREAKEN bEACON" FB2
ANTENNA = 1/4 WAVE VERT

For many years I have been interested in the 10m and 6m propagation beacon system. Now that 10m has been showing some openings and the fact there is no coordinated 10m beacon in the E. Oregon region I decided to build my own. I did the research on the e-net on different existing systems that other operators have used successfully and come up with a plan. As you read this keep in mind this is my first attempt at this so most everything you read here is what I have cabbaged off the e-net and not experienced...yet.
My first order was what radio to use as a transmitter. I was surprised to learn that a large number were modified am cb's. The trick there is to find one that is capable of being modified to transmit between 28.210 - 28.300 which is the sub-band for automated beacons on the 10 meter band. Of course 28.200 is the "world beacon system" so you need to get away from there. The xtal controlled 23 channel radios are a good choice apparently because you can make a simple xtal switch and with the right combination find your radio in that portion of the band. There are a couple three xtal mixing schemes that different brands used so you have to kind of do a little checking to see which radio will work. The 40ch Pll chipped rigs are also usable but again after the early 90's or so they began using chips that were not capable of re-programming via either mixing xtal and or playing with the binary "truth table" . With these AM rigs by simply "dead keying" ( no audio) the xmitter the radio will send a cw signal when rx with a radio with a BFO ( ssb or cw rx).
The other radio choice would be a 10m rig that with either am or cw modes. Radio's like the RCI 2950 series, Uniden HR 2510-2600 series, Radio shack tx-100 or tx-10 ( tx-10 does not have cw mode so have to use AM mode.) Of course any multi band ham rig would do the job.
I have found multiple other xmitting devices on the web from kits to home brew transmitters of various kinds. Also I found you can legally use a tone injected into a ssb sig ( I assumed that was "modulated cw" but apparently not..do some research before you try that though).

The radio I decided on was an old HR-2510 that had some tx problems and being how my "technical knowledge" is not up to replacing the driver / final I shipped it off to have it fixed as well as having the power turned back to 15w cw ( suppose to be 25w) . The reason for this is because the radio will be transmitting at about 90% cycle and even at that I am not too sure it won't fry it anyway. I also have a RCI 2950 that will be tried as well and over the winter I will find the proper "yard sale cb" and give that mod a try. Back in the late "80's" I did modify a 23 ch cb and a 40ch pll cb to 10m voice and they worked so do have a little experience there ( buried somewhere in the back of the gray matter).

the cabinet is an old radio case and I did a hurry-up job on the refinish job so is rather funky but I wanted something to put all the complete beacon sys in and it was just taking up space on the junk table so it turned into a beaconbox. 

 have run it for over an hr into a dummy load and the heatsink was just luke warm.  they never turned it down to the 10w cw so it is putting out about 20w but the tx to rx(off) ratio is about 35 sec tx to 50 sec off with the current message. which is . . . de n7msh/b n7msh/b n7msh/b dn 15.  I might set the rx (off) time closer to 60-70 sec, depends on how hot the heatsink gets after 12hr running into a real antenna. 

I don't like the speaker placement but with my lack of hand function I couldn't get it back into the case further. If I use a little smaller speaker I can get someone with real hands and put it in the original speaker spot.  The fan is pulling air up through the heat sink fins.  "fb2" is a "freaken Beacon" controller by Expanded Spectrum Systems.  like I said I might kind of straighten up the wires but then first time I need to move one then they will look just like what you see now.  I listened to it on the 847 with all the attenuators on and rx rf gain almost full off and the signal sounded super clean and no clicks or chirps.  When I get someone over here with good fingers I would still like to pull the top and tweak  it back to about 10w, I am afraid with my dexterity or lack of I would mess those coils up big time however I know for a fact (Past usage of hr2510 on packet) the radio is capable of an easy 45w peaked up so it might plug along at 20w cw all day with no problem, guess we will see.
UPDATE
The beacon has been running several months now during the day ( 1500Z to 0300Z) and other than an antenna problem for a couple days it has worked flawlessly.  due to the terrain around here it can be heard as far as 20 miles locally ( if your high enough). 
 Below is a google map that shows various places that my beacon has been reported being heard.  so far only one report from outside cont USA.  you might have to zoom in on the US to see some sites hiding behind others ( example--two reports in AZ close enough together to not be seen if map is "world wide"

view ).  The Blue balloon is my beacon the red are reporting stations, by putting your mouse on the balloon it will show call of reporting station, if you click on the balloon it will show other info on the station.
If you hear my beacon please report it to me at  neal@eoni.com  with "Beacon report" in subject line.  I sure appreciate all reports and will send a "tnx" qsl.