RBN data are stored in one-day chunks, and are available for download
from <http://reversebeacon.net/raw_data/>. One day's .csv file is
almost always more than my Excel, at least, can handle, so I generally
use Microsoft Access to explore the data.
As for the data security risk, since anyone can download the entire FCC
database, and acquire a lot more information about each of us than is
ever afforded by RBN data, I'm not too bothered.
You raised, in passing, what I think is a fundamental issue. I do not
see the RBN as "the best way to move contesting forward." Instead, I
see it as fascinating technology which collects data that potentially
have a lot of interesting uses. RBN spots are one application of those
data, and it appears that the world's leading multi-operator stations
have already voted with their pocketbooks on their usefulness.
As for the rest of us - whether you make use of such a tool, either to
collect spots or to get spotted, is all up to you. I've spent the last
couple of years immersed in the technology, and I am getting a strong
yen for a return to unassisted contesting. Alas, during the coming ARRL
DX contest I'll have my hands full testing some new RBN capabilities
(more on this in a separate message), but one of these days...
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,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
On 2/15/2011 9:44 PM, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
> So I have to wonder... what will come of all this data
> once the contest is over?
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|