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[CQ-Contest] Secrets of Assistance - Using RBN spots with quality tags i

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Subject: [CQ-Contest] Secrets of Assistance - Using RBN spots with quality tags in contests
From: José Nunes CT1BOH <ct1boh@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 23:43:53 +0000
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Some time ago I made a post about Implementing a Dynamic error free
RBN-Skimmer (
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/CQ-Contest/2013-07/msg00138.html<http://lists.contesting.com/archives/html/CQ-Contest/2013-07/msg00138.html>
).
The idea tried to address specific problems when operating Assisted (Busted
spots, Non-existent calls spotted on a particular frequency, small
frequency shifting spots and unstable band map with callsigns alternating
popping-in and popping-out.


With the invaluable help of Terry AB5K, the algorithm behind the Dynamic
error free RBN-Skimmer is now in place at selected AR cluster nodes and the
RBN AR-Cluster node found at arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000.  This
is a great tool for Assisted stations to confirm that the calls in the band
maps are OK and not Busted or Fake, and also hopefully prevent some of the
busted call pile-ups that generate a lot of dupes for run stations. This
tool will also “educate” the Assisted users to confirm the call before
calling blind…


Each spot sent out by AR cluster or RBN cluster now has a spot quality tag
next to it in the comment field:

V – Valid spot running  with at least three skimmers “voting” to say the
call is valid and is running on the frequency

Q – Valid spot under QSY to this new frequency or I/Q image fake spot

B – Busted spot (Both the busted and the valid call will be shown)

? – Undetermined spot  (calls with just one or two spots, before a vote can
be made by skimmers or wrong sent calls or calls prone to errors)


Let me explain how to make the most use of the quality tag when operating
with Assistance (both for Multi-operations or Single op Assisted) and with
Win-Test logger as example. My explanation covers three parts: Activating
quality tags, using quality tags and checking past spots

ACTIVATING QUALITY TAGS

a.       Connect to Cluster with your logger Telnet program (either
dxc.ab5k.net port 23 orarcluster.reversebeacon.net port 7000)
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/0.png of how to do it

b.      Use the command “set dx extension skimmerquality)”  in your telnet
program to activate quality tags in the command field
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/1.png of how to do it



USING QUALITY TAGS (WIN-TEST EXAMPLE)

a.       Activate comments in Display options of Radio1 window and
Dx-Cluster announcements window (alt-A)
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/2.png of how to do it

b.      Check Dx-cluster announcement (Alt-A in Win-test)
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/3.png

i.      See SM5LNS example with V quality tag - Valid spot (at least 3
skimmers voted to validate the call is running on the frequency)

 ii.      See F8GD example with B quality tag – Busted spot  (the comment
field shows the Valid call is F8GDP from where the B originates)

iii.      See EA5IDQ example with ? quality tag – ? spot (this will either
be the first or the second spot before a third validates the call, or it is
a call replying to a runner and a skimmer wrongly thinks it is a runner)

iv.      See UT5MD example with Q quality tag – QSY spot (this is either a
validated call that just moved to this new frequency or a fake frequency
spot originated in an skimmer with an I/Q image problem)

v.      See VA3DP example with ? quality tag and a call before it (these
are calls prone to problems, that skimmer cannot vote correctly which one
is the Valid)

c.       Check Radio 1 or Radio 2 Bandmap
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/4.png

d.      Check radio 1 or Radio 2 List
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/5.png



3. CHECKING PAST SPOTS
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/6.png

Sometimes in contests the bandmap is very dynamic. Several spots are coming
in and coming out. Contest loggers only show the last spot and this may not
reflect the call that is on the frequency. The solution is looking into the
past. I have asked N6TV to develop a script for Win-test in order to
present past spots. The script can be downloaded here (
http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/RedisplaySpots2.wts ) and when activated it
will look into Win-Test filename.dxc file with all the spots, and will
present past spots:

a.       Put script in Win-test scripts directory
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/7.png of how to do it

b.      Assign a key to call the script in win-test during the contest
click here to see image http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/rbn/8.png of how to do it
With CQWW CW approaching I think this is a must have functionlaity for
Assisted stations.

73 José Nunes CT1BOH/CR3E
-- 
José Nunes
CONTEST CT1BOH - http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh
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