[CQ-Contest] "Reverse Beacon" Test using CW Skimmer

[Pete Smith]

I have an 20M Softrock Lite listening on ~14000-14090 KHz with a beta CW 
Skimmer program by VE3NEA that has Telnet capability.  Until further 
notice, I plan to have it listening continuously, though there may be down 
periods.  If you wish to see if you are being received at my QTH near 
Washington, DC, connect to 24.126.38.27:7300 with your DX cluster client 
(any logging program should work), using your callsign to sign in.  Then 
transmit your callsign at least twice somewhere in between 14000 and 14090 
(but please avoid 14042-46, because that's where the SoftRock local 
oscillator is).  The best way to be "noticed" by Skimmer is to send your 
callsign several times, along with a CQ or QRL?.  If Skimmer "hears" you, 
it will send a DX spot out via Telnet, so you can see you got 
through.  Fading can prevent copy, so if it doesn't work the first time 
please try again.  My stack of tribanders will be pointed toward Europe 
most of the time, but I should be able to hear most US stations as well.

If you want to see what Skimmer is hearing in general, send a SH/DX to 
Skimmer, and it will return all calls on its call-list, and their 
frequencies.

This is an informal test of the reverse beacon idea.  It is likely, based 
on CPU loading considerations, that a real reverse beacon capability 
worldwide will depend on development of a web server capable of handling 
multiple simultaneous user requests, but this is a first proof of 
concept.  Your help and any comments would be greatly appreciated.

73, Pete N4ZR