[CQ-Contest] Skimmer for Propagation Analysis

[David Gilbert]

It occurred to me that a possible use of  a Skimmer-type application 
might be for propagation analysis. 

Given that:

a.  Skimmer and a wideband IF to feed it (either from an outboard 
Softrock or the rig itself) can monitor an entire ham band and, 
apparently with a fair amount of intelligence, decode and analyze the 
signals it finds there.  Skimmer is able to grasp simple phrases like 
"CQ" and "QRZ" to figure out whether a station is running or not.

b.  Skimmer can display its results on a bandmap for the user, but it 
can (or will be able to) also telnet the components of that bandmap to a 
server where presumably they could be aggregated, crunched to filter 
dupes and busted calls, and displayed as a master global bandmap.

So ... what if a contest used grid squares for the exchange, and Skimmer 
not only captured the callsign but also its report?  Callsigns are not a 
reliable indicator of location, but grid squares are.  That information 
could be used to generate a global propagation map for either real time 
use or analysis later.  Ideally Skimmer would capture signal strength 
information as well (it certainly would be technically possible to pull 
that off the A/D feeding the computer) but such readings would be 
unreliable due to many reasons (i.e., directional antennas).  However, 
Skimmer might be able to derive some intensity information from the 
number of reports over essentially the same path and create, for 
example, a color overlay on the propagation map to identify stronger 
openings.

Basically, once you have a program like Skimmer that is capable of 
analyzing and decoding an entire band, the uses are limited only by the 
data you feed it ... the rest is simply database crunching.  So why not 
feed it with something useful like location or (heaven forbid) actual 
signal reports?

Just some thoughts ...

73,
Dave   AB7E