An Introduction to the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) Dave Duskin – NE5S

Overview of this presentation Background What is CW Skimmer? What is the RBN? How does the RBN work? How to access the RBN

Overview of this presentation - continued How to be spotted by the RBN RBN Accuracy NE5S RBN setup What can it do for you More information Acknowledgements

Background RBN was created by Pete Smith, N4ZR RBN is hosted by dxwatch.com (PY1NB) CW Skimmer was developed by Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA Aggregator developed by Dick Williams, W3OA

What is CW Skimmer Software developed by VE3NEA Works with many SDRs • Decodes multiple CW signals in real time • Can monitor an entire CW band • Waterfall Display • Uses MASTER.DTA • Telnet Server (emulates a DX Cluster)

Skimmer Server by VE3NEA • Only supports QS1R SDR • Decodes multiple CW signals in real time • Monitors multiple bands with single SDR • No Waterfall Display • No MASTER.DTA • Telnet Server

CW Skimmer Requirements Antenna Radio Receiver Personal Computer “CW Skimmer”

What is the Reverse Beacon Network? • Originated and operated by PY1NB • Uses any decoded CW signal as a beacon • Multiple Skimmers world-wide decode your callsign, sending speed and S/N ratio • An “Aggregator” program forwards Skimmer spots to a central server • Central server distributes spots via www.reversebeacon.net, and public telnet servers

How does the RBN work? A station, NE5S, receives and decodes all CW signals in a band(s) Signals are filtered, parsed and forwarded to RBN Only stations calling CQ or TEST or VHF stations are forwarded At any time there are approximately 70 skimmer stations reporting to the RBN

RBN Feed Requirements Antenna Radio receiver Personal Computer “CW Skimmer” “Aggregator” Internet access

NE5S RBN Feed Perseus SDR owned by Darell Brehm – WA3OPY CW Skimmer licensed to Darell Brehm – WA3OPY Various antennas: SteppIR, low band loop, 80M Dipole, 160M sloper

What NE5S Sees:

Aggregator “Status” Window

What the BROWN Text Means The brown text tells how Aggregator decided to handle the spot and what it sent. The first brown entry is the frequency sent to the RBN. This may be different from the spot frequency if an offset frequency was specified. Aggregator determines if the spot is a "CQ" spot. Normally only “CQ” spots are forwarded. If it had been a VHF spot, Aggregator would have sent it on anyway NVHF means it was Not VHF. NExcl means that the spot's frequency is not within the excluded frequencies controlled by the server NBcn means it is not a regular listed beacon. Either VHF or Bcn would have over-ridden an NCQ determination Excl would have blocked a spot that otherwise seemed to qualify for forwarding NInMaster doesn't matter, because I had not selected the option to spot only those stations in the master database NInBadCall means that it had not identified this call as a "badcall“

NE5S TELNET Output

How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Window XP TELNET Setup Go to C:\Windows\System Click on telnet.exe or create a shortcut How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Skimmer Skimmer Skimmer • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again

How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Windows 7 TELNET Setup Click on START Click on CONTROL PANEL Click on PROGRAMS AND FEATURES Click on TURN WINDOWS FEATURES  ON OR OFF (left column in fine print) A window will open Check the box for TELNET CLIENT Click OK How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Skimmer Skimmer Skimmer • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again

How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW TELNET Log-on Click on START Click on SEARCH PROGRAMS AND FILES (should be the bottom box) Type TELNET in the box and hit return <ENTER> You should now be in telnet Type “o dragon.ham-radio-op.net 7550” That should log you on to my RBN computer You will be asked to enter your callsign How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Skimmer Skimmer Skimmer • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again

NE5S TELNET Output

Reverse Beacon Network Access http://www.reversebeacon.net To see NE5S spots reported to the RBN: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=0&c=ne5s&t=de To see everything that NE5S sees: TELNET to: dragon.ham-radio-op.net 7550

Use as Main DX Cluster But Filter The Spots • telnet.reversebeacon.net port 7000 accept/spots by_zone 1,3,4,6,7,31 and not by WZ7I or call NE5S http://www.dxcluster.org/main/filtering_en.html#toc1 • arcluster.reversebeacon.net port 7000 set dx filter call=NE5S or (unique>2 and (spotterstate=OK or spotterstate=NV)) http://www.ab5k.net/ArcDocsVer6/UserManual/ArcDx.htm

How to be spotted by a CW Skimmer Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ DE NE5S NE5S Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether Change freq. slightly to get spotted again

How do I use the RBN to Check My Antennas? • To test performance, just call CQ on CW, check RBN web site (turn beam, repeat) • Use RBN web site’s “Spots Analysis Tool” to compare your signal to the competition • Download raw data files for deeper analysis – Every RBN spot posted since February, 2009 is archived on the site

Gee Whiz Facts Total World-Wide RBN spots, CQ WW: 3,268,434 (18.9 spots per second) 2012 ARRL DX CW: 2,451,276 (51,068 spots per hour) 1,242,715 by DX Skimmers, outside USA

Skimmer Accuracy • Frequency accuracy is very good, so – Call a bit off frequency! • For an individual skimmer, >99% of calls are copied correctly (proper spacing helps) • But 500 spots/hour = 5 “busted spots” per hour, per skimmer • The more skimmers you monitor, the higher the total number of busted spots

Recommendations • Make sure Skimmers copy you • Call spots off frequency • Limit monitored skimmers to those within your geographical area, plus any spots of yourself • Use new unique>n filter to eliminate most busted spots

What Can The RBN Do For You Use as main spotting network for CW contests (far more spots, with fewer pileups) Fill-in band spots Shows where you are being heard (spotted by) Compare your signals to the competition (post contest)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Perseus SDR - Darell Brehm, WA3OPY CW Skimmer – Darell Brehm, WA3OPY Computer setup – Steve Duskin, NE5SD CW Skimmer & Briefing Support – Bob Wilson , N6TV

FOR MORE INFORMATION • http://www.reversebeacon.net • http://www.reversebeacon.net • http://www.pvrc.org/n4zr/rbn.pdf • http://reversebeacon.blogspot.com • http://www.bcdxc.org/ve7cc/default.htm#download • http://www.dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer • http://www.qrz.com/db/n6tv

Late Breaking News How to be easily spotted by a CW A BETA version of Skimmer for PSK32 and RTTY has been operating since the last week of August 2012. How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Skimmer Skimmer Skimmer • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again

How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW This concludes my presentation Are there any questions? How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW How to be easily spotted by a CW Skimmer Skimmer Skimmer • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed • Send everything at the same consistent speed – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down – Do not use +++/--- or >/< to speed up/slow down • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice • Call CQ or TEST and send your call twice – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV – CQ N6TV N6TV • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) • Use proper spacing (let computer send) – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether – Don’t send by hand and rusheverythingtogether • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again • Change freq. slightly to get spotted again