[Dx4win] A new "DX cluster" experience for contesters

[Jim Reisert AD1C]

If you wish, you can add this line to your DX4W###\SAVE\DX4WIN.TCP file:

   RBN>Reverse Beacon Network,telnet.reversebeacon.net:7000

It seems to work OK with DX4WIN 8.03.  Older versions of DX4WIN (earlier 
than 7.07) *may* not pick up the spots correctly.  I know this was a bug 
at one time, but I don't remember in which version Paul fixed it.

I'll be adding this near the top of the DX4WIN.TCP file the next time I 
release it.

73 - Jim AD1C

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: [CQ-Contest] A new "DX cluster" experience for contesters
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:16:41 -0400
From: Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com>
Reply-To: n4zr at contesting.com
To: CQ Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>

The Reverse Beacon Network (http://reversebeacon.net) has now made a
Telnet feed of the aggregated output of all currently active RBN Skimmer
receivers available in real time at telnet.reversebeacon.net port 7000.
Thanks to Rick, K4TD, for making the server available, and to Felipe,
PY1NB and Nick, F5VIH for the programming effort.

So big deal, you say?  Well, before you blow it off, take a look at the
flow of spots, even on a normal weekday.  Run them through appropriate
filters to remove duplicates, restrict spots to your country, continent,
or call area, or whatever, and use them to populate the bandmap of your
favorite contest logging software.  I think you'll be amazed.

This feed offers one huge advantage for contesters, because the RBN
spots *every* station it hears, not just the ones that someone,
somewhere thinks are worthy of being spotted.  It is also listening on
all bands, all the time, at world-wide sites.

ONE CAUTION -- Precisely because it spots everything, usually multiple
times, it would be disastrous if someone were to feed the RBN Telnet
server into the normal DX cluster network.  If this happens, the server
may have to be shut down, so *please* don't do it.

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at 
reversebeacon.blogspot.com