[CQ-Contest] Finally, a "DX Cluster" made for CW contesters - how to make the most of the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN)

[Pete Smith]

As we approach the big CW contests of the season, I thought that 
Assisted/Unlimited contesters might appreciate a few tips on how to make 
the best use of the Reverse Beacon Network's Telnet feed 
(http://telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000).  If that's not you, go 
ahead and hit the Delete key now!

As I've said before, the RBN is uniquely fitted to use by contesters, 
because its 40 or more stations scattered worldwide spot every running 
station, wherever the station is being heard.  Stations are re-spotted 
every 10-11 minutes if they stay on the same frequency, or immediately 
if they change frequency more than a few hundred Hz.  The result is an 
all-band snapshot of activity on every band, delivered in real time.  
Picture that on Sunday afternoon in Sweepstakes, or anytime during the 
CQWW DX contest.  Is 10 meters open?  As soon as one station calls CQ, 
and is heard by CW Skimmer at one or more of the Reverse Beacon Network 
stations, it will be spotted.  You should never have to miss that rare 
opening again.

Now obviously, the volume of RBN spots will be tremendous, and could 
easily overwhelm you (or your logging program). The first thing to do, 
to manage this, is to filter spots at the Telnet node.  K4TD, who 
generously hosts the node, uses DX Spider cluster software.  This 
software lets you set filters with great precision, so that, for 
example, you can tell the node only to send you spots from a given 
continent, or country, call area, or even state.  I find it most useful 
to limit the RBN spots I receive to those generated by stations in 
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, because I can pretty much count on 
being able to hear everything they spot.

DX Spider's filter commands are quite different from those used by 
AR-Cluster.  You can either learn the syntax or, as I did, download 
VE7CC's excellent CC User (http://www.ve7cc.net/).  This software 
translates your wishes to commands and "tells" DX Spider what to do.  
You do *not* have to use CC User as an intermediate step between the 
telnet node and your logging program.  Instead, once you've set the 
filters, you can shut it down, start your logging program, and you're 
ready to go.

Two more hints for operators using the RBN.  Most contest loggers have a 
setting for "packet spot timeout", or something similar, that removes 
spots from the bandmap when they get too old.  Because of RBN's unique 
re-spotting capability, there is no reason to have the timeout set to 
more than 15 minutes - if the station is still there, it will be spotted 
again, and your bandmap won't be clogged with obsolete spots.

And finally, if you want to make sure that you're spotted by the RBN, 
then once in a while, even if you're running fast, send "CQ" or "TEST" 
as a part of your end-of-QSO transmission.  CW Skimmer isn't perfect at 
determining which stations are running and which are S&P - it has 
trouble with runners who only sign their calls at the end of each 
contact - but this way, you can help it "notice" you.

See you on the air.

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,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000