Transcript Reverse Beacon Network (RBN)

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
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
(more software)
• 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
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
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
NE5S RBN Feed
• 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
CQWW CW – Nov 2012
NE5S 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 CW
Band
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
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• 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
• 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
This concludes my presentation
Are there any questions?