Follow-up to An Introduction to the Reverse Beacon Network

(RBN) presented in Sept 2012

Dave Duskin – NE5S

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

• 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)

What is CW Skimmer

• Only supports the QS1R SDR

• Decodes multiple CW signals in real time

• Monitors multiple bands with single SDR

• No Waterfall Display

• No MASTER.DTA

• Telnet Server

Skimmer Server by VE3NEA(more software)

• 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

What is the Reverse Beacon Network?

RBN Feeds

• At any time there are approximately 90 skimmer stations reporting to the RBN – up from 70 in Sept 2012

• NE5S is the only CW Skimmer station reporting to the RBN in 5-land

• Perseus SDR owned by Darell Brehm – WA3OPY• CW Skimmer licensed to Darell Brehm – WA3OPY• Currently running from the OCAPA Club station here at the Salvation Army Citadel

NE5S RBN Feed

NE5S RBN Feed

CQWW CW – Nov 2012NE5S feeds to the RBN

• 23/1743Z – 24/1222Z – NE5S reported 2374

spots in 18 hours and 22 minutes

• 558 unique prefixes

• Only reported the first 22 KHz of 20M CWBand

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Perseus SDR - Darell Brehm, WA3OPY

• CW Skimmer – Darell Brehm, WA3OPY

• Computer setup – Steve Duskin, NE5SD

• CW Skimmer & Briefing Support – Bob Wilson , N6TV

• Configuration Settings – Tim Duffy, K3LR

• 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

FOR MORE INFORMATION

•  WA3OPY’s QS1R will be up and running shortly  feeding 160M, 80M, 40M & 30M spots to the RBN from 5-land.

•  QS1R SDR•  Pixel Pro II Shielded Magnetic Loop Ant.•  PC, Skimmer Server & Aggregator S/W

Late Breaking News

This concludes my presentation

Are there any questions?