I've spent the last 3 years collecting data from the NCDXF beacons to see if I can hear them using Faros. The results have been displayed on this site as a way of keeping a valid copy of the data away from the home pc's which seem to give up the ghost or lose data. Lately I've been really frustrated that I haven't really had a spot for a long time.
The rig is fine and the PC is getting the sound in, theres just no spots. So I'm thinking of a slight change of rig so that I can get a bit more out the set up. There are a few hams locally that use APRS and I'm wanting to get a bit more involved, so I'm thinking of putting the trusty and very reliable IC-703 onto Ebay so I can get hold of a FT-817 and a TNC to run APRS both out and about and in the car as well as switching over to WSPR instead of Faros.
I do go up to Scotland quite a lot and have found it would be nice to have something in the car on the way up there and whilst I'm there both on HF and VHF. So that only really leaves one sensible option. The FT-817, a cross country wireless APRS TNC and a mobile whip for the car and my Cobwebb for HF
I haven't heard a beacon for ages either. These days, though, they seem to be a bit redundant with things like WSPR and PSK Reporter that can show what propagation is like between far more places.
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