[GCARC] Reverse Beacon Network - WS2C

[w2usf at comcast.net]

Club members operating HF CW please note a reverse beacon node is
operational on eight bands (160M - 10M) at my QTH in Washington Township.
Contesters, DXers and seasoned operators need no further introduction to the
Reverse Beacon Network (RBNs).

Although RBNs were originally conceived for DXers and then embraced by the
contest community, the RBN tool can also be an added benefit for the casual
operator, special event station, etc. too:

*	Quickly gauge real time propagation into the greater Gloucester
County area;
*	Determine active HF bands;
*	An effortless self-spotting tool (by following several protocols
when calling CQ) and;
*	Seeing where you signal is receives by RBN nodes and your S/N ratio.
Use your call in the "spotted" dialogue box.

There are many informative tutorials and videos posted on the internet
instructing how to   integrate RBNs into station operations.  HF CW RBN
spots are available at
https://www.reversebeacon.net/main.php?zoom=26.68,-78.38,3.05
<https://www.reversebeacon.net/main.php?zoom=26.68,-78.38,3.05&rows=100&max_
age=10,hours&bands=160,80,60,40,30,20,17,15,12,10&modes=cw&hide=distance_km>
&rows=100&max_age=10,hours&bands=160,80,60,40,30,20,17,15,12,10&modes=cw&hid
e=distance_km 

Use WS2C as the "spotter" for a snap shot picture of HF propagation. 

Be aware that not all DX clusters report RBN spots. A DX cluster must
connect to the RBN server to disseminate RBN spots. In other words, RBN
spots are not shared among DX clusters.  Therefore, it prudent to connect to
a DX cluster reporting legacy spots (operator reported) and RBN spots.  In
this way you will see the entire list of relevant  spots.

A overwhelming amount of data in reported by RBN nodes especially during
contest. Even under normal conditions you must employ filers either on the
front end at the DX cluster or in logging software to cut excessive, and
unnecessary spots. Contesters relay on DX clusters to filter buster RBN
calls. The decoding software is impressive but not perfect. Decode errors
can occur.

Technical details:

*	14-bit software define radio (SDR) with a Linex OS skimming the
bottom 96khz  each CW band (adjusted for WARC bands.  Dedicated
four-core-Inte I7 processor - Windows 10 OS running the skimmer/server and
agitator.
*	220-foot all band high Z dipole at 50-70ft fed with 300-ohm ladder
line (otherwise a force fed station transmit antenna) or;
*	An active vertical located nearly 300ft from buildings and remote
from my antenna farm.

I am contemplating weaving a 500-600 foot receive antenna through a wooded
potion of the property. However, the above aforementioned antennas are
should more or less mirror a typical amateur station for operators using
fundamental resonant antennas.  RFI is virtually absent at remote active
vertical.

Steve - WS2C