243.0 Beacon???

[hanlonmi06]

Anyone able to tune into 243.0 around SE Michigan and hear what sounds like a possible beacon?

I've heard it on 3 different radios, 2 different antennas so i don't think its some interference.

and just heard Cleveland Center on 243.0 calling for "American 16" to change frequencies....6:52pm local time

 

[hanlonmi06]

The tone I am hearing is similar to the audio clip on this wikipedia page, halfway down on the right:

Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

signal has all but faded out as of 6:55pm local.

 

[wtp]

i had a little computer that put out a great carrier on 121.5 and 243.0, you might have to check a few things.
the cable box is a 144.0 signal generator.
ok, if it fades it could be a plane.

 

[hanlonmi06]

It was slowly changing signal level and all but faded away by the time I got to posting. I had never heard that type of sound before and I have 243.000 in a few different radios, regularly scanned when I'm in the office...never once ever heard anything on that freq before.

 

[tvengr]

A signal that slowly fades in and out is typical of aircraft. 243.000 is the military aircraft emergency frequency.

 

[hanlonmi06]

I was under the impression that the locator beacons would normally only be heard under stationary circumstances, so with that I was surprised to be hearing one that appeared to be on the move. Add to that, for all the time monitoring that freq, I've never heard traffic of any sort. Is there typically sporadic traffic heard on that freq, in other locations?

 

[dlwtrunked]

I was under the impression that the locator beacons would normally only be heard under stationary circumstances, so with that I was surprised to be hearing one that appeared to be on the move. Add to that, for all the time monitoring that freq, I've never heard traffic of any sort. Is there typically sporadic traffic heard on that freq, in other locations?

That is not true. Generally, once triggered on, it will say on until turned off. Aircraft have crossed an ocean with one stuck on. About 30 years ago, I reported hearing one to the FAA. I held the phone to the radio speaker to convince them that I was hearing one. They could not hear it at any nearby airports and they complained about their crappy receivers. They had me call back when I lost the signal as the aircraft flew in order for them to determine which aircraft it was (possibly hearded to Europe).

 

[hanlonmi06]

dlwtrunked- OK, cool, thanks for clarifying.

So, accidental activation's are possible I suppose. Chances are some plane buzzing over had it on. Cleveland Center calling to "American 16" may or may not have had anything to do with the beacon, there was just simply not enough traffic to piece anything together. Still all pretty cool in my book! thanks for the responses!

 

[littona]

dlwtrunked- OK, cool, thanks for clarifying.

So, accidental activation's are possible I suppose. Chances are some plane buzzing over had it on. Cleveland Center calling to "American 16" may or may not have had anything to do with the beacon, there was just simply not enough traffic to piece anything together. Still all pretty cool in my book! thanks for the responses!

Most definitely a thing. When I was in high school, I was part of the Civil Air Patrol... one of their missions is chasing down ELT's. We were called up around 11PM one night about an ELT activation "somewhere" on the west side of Nashville TN. It took us a few hours, but we ended up tracking it down to a house. We knocked on the door at 3AM. He was a pilot - took the ELT out of his aircraft and put it in his garage. Forgot to turn it off first. It was radiating through the pipes in the house and out to a nearby lake. Made it quite a challenge to triangulate!

 

[tvengr]

So, accidental activation's are possible I suppose.

An ELT can be triggered by a hard landing. I have heard them in flight.

 

[WPXS472]

This is a little off topic, but, in years gone by, I have often seen the military emergency handhelds at hamfests for cheap. Actually bought one once, but when I saw the frequencies, 121.5, and 243, I decided to never power it up.

 

[hanlonmi06]

Walking into the room and hearing some exotic (to me) beep-bop-boop that I'd never heard before brought me all the way back to the beginning of it all, the first time hearing a scanner or shortwave radio...

I'd say it is on topic, very interesting stories!

 

[WPXS472]

Now, I want to start monitoring 243 just to see if anything ever comes in.

 

[wtp]

YOU MEAN YOU HAVN'T BEEN !

sorry, but that had to be yelled.

 

[WPXS472]

Well, no. I didn't see the point of monitoring a frequency you never expect to hear anything on. I'll have to see if I can find a fixed frequency radio that can be dedicated to it. Might also attach a squelch operated recorder so I'll know if something happens to come in.