Unlike 6M beacons which transmit continously on a specific frequency, the
NCDXF/IARU Beacon system has 18 beacons around the world transmitting on the
same frequency in rotation. Please read URL:
http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/BeaconSchedule.html

You do not need to copy the beacon ID in Morse code, programs are available
to ID the beacon transmitting. The program does not read the code, rather it
is time based. That is your computer clock is precisely on time and the
beacons are precisely on time also. The program shows a world map and which
beacon is currently transmitting

The NCDXF/IARU system is a great propagation aid real time -- world wide.

Further there are beacons systems on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930, and
28.200 megaHertz.

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !


"an_old_friend" wrote in message
ups.com...

Caveat Lector wrote:
You can tell where 20M is open world wide by using the NCDXF/IARU beacon
system
See URL:
http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/intro.html

Specifically 14.100 MHz
If the morse code is too fast --

you need to read the code if the question is the band open at all

indeed I listen for beacons on 6m myself and code at any speed is too
fast but if I can hear em esp if I can a bunch of em the band my well
be open enough to use

see URL:
http://www.ncdxf.org/Beacon/BeaconPrograms.html

For programs that will tell which beacons are transmitting

Be sure your computer clock is accurate to within a fraction of a
second --
See URL:
http://www.locutuscodeware.com/swatch.htm
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !






"J Shrum" wrote in message
...
Greetings. I've only been a ham for a couple years. Not really done
anything
w/ it however. Just homebrewed a thing or two, but never made any
QSO's. I
just acquired a 5w 20m rig (all my budget could allow).
Can someone give me any tips on how to know when 20m is open? What time
of
year or time of day is typically good for 20?
I tried looking over some MUF charts... but its greek to me at this
point.
I've tried googling, but unless I know exactly how to phrase my search,
I'm
coming up empty...

Any pointers would be great.
Thanks
Jim
KC9FFX