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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

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

8. 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
and public telnet servers

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. What NE5S Sees:

13. Aggregator “Status” Window

14. 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“

17. NE5S TELNET Output

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. NE5S TELNET Output

22. Reverse Beacon Network Access
To see NE5S spots reported to the RBN:
To see everything that NE5S sees:
TELNET to: dragon.ham-radio-op.net 7550

23. 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
• arcluster.reversebeacon.net port 7000
set dx filter call=NE5S or (unique>2 and
(spotterstate=OK or spotterstate=NV))

24. 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

25. 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, is archived on the site

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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)

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

31. FOR MORE INFORMATION • http://www.reversebeacon.net•  •  •  •  •  • 

32. 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

33. 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