[CQ-Contest] Using the Reverse Beacon Network in WPX CW

[Pete Smith]

For ops planning Assisted operation in this weekend's CQWPX CW, you may 
want to consider using the worldwide RBN telnet feed as one of (maybe 
even your only) spot source.  All indications are that we will have at 
least 25 Reverse Beacons operating during the weekend, and at least 4 
continents represented most of the time.

You can use the RBN most conveniently by telnetting to 
,telnet.reversebeacon.net>, port 7000 (note the non-standard port 
number).  You will probably want to use the filtering capabilities of 
your logging software, or those provided by intermediary software such 
as VE7CC's CCCluster, to limit the spots on your bandmap to those being 
reported by people relatively near you, since that way you are pretty 
well assured of being able to hear the stations too.

Why bother?  Because Reverse Beacons spot everyone they hear running, 
not just stations that people think are subjectively interesting.  
Granted that WPX is predominantly a rate/running contest, you can S&P to 
good advantage between run QSOs if you *know* that a spotted station is 
a mult.  That WL1 may not interest everyone else on the spotting 
network, but if you don't have the mult, then it matters to you.

Another point - since many Reverse Beacons listen on all six contest 
bands at once, they provide good advance warning of unexpected openings, 
or early notice of when the bands first open, so you can stake out a 
spot before the herd.

Have fun, and see you on the bands.

-- 
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