[CQ-Contest] Reverse Beacon Network Update

[Pete Smith]

It's been a while since I reported on the status of the Reverse Beacon 
Network (http://skimmer.dxwatch.com), run by Felipe, PY1NB.  Happily, 
there's good news to report.

First of all, the number of Reverse Beacons using CW Skimmer to report CW 
DX heard at their QTHs has increased dramatically.  As I write this, we 
have 17 reverse beacon stations reporting on bands 160-15 and 6 meters, 
from the US Pacific Northwest (W7TMT), across the US Middle West and East 
(too many to list), and from Europe (OY3JE, SV8RV and others). From 
September 1 to today, 42 percent of visitors to the site have been new 
ones, and the overall visitor trend is up nicely so far in November.

A major contribution to the increased activity, we think, is the release of 
version 1.3 of CW Skimmer, free to all registered users (and available for 
a free trial) at www.dxatlas.com .  The new Skimmer includes reporting of 
signal strengths of spotted stations, which are displayed on the web 
site.  That means, for example, that you can send a CQ from your station in 
the United States and, once you've been spotted, compare your signal at 
that reverse beacon with those of other stations from your part of the world.

If you'd like to find out more, log on to http://skimmer.dxwatch.com, and 
read the brief introductory articles there to find out how easy it is to 
use or participate in the Reverse Beacon Network.

73, Pete N4ZR
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