[RTTY] RTTY Skimmer

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Thanks for calling this out, Ian.  I checked, and discovered that DF4UE 
is running "minimal" validation.  I'm sure this is an oversight on his 
part, and have just sent an e-mail to him suggesting he adopt the 
recommended RBN standards of "normal" validation on CW and "aggressive" 
on RTTY. Recent tests confirmed that "aggressive" validation on RTTY 
results in usefully better spot accuracy with only a small reduction in 
the raw number of spots.

73, Pete N4ZR
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On 3/23/2016 4:28 AM, Ian White wrote:
> K6LL wrote:
>> In my experience, the VE3NEA RTTY Skimmers are much improved
>> lately on spotting stations that are actually calling CQ.  I
>> always connect to a CC-Cluster node, using CC-user Software,
>> which seamlessly feeds N1MM Logger.  I think the CC Clusters do
>> some filtering to validate spots from multiple skimmers.  My
>> usual nodes are VE7CC-1 or AE5E-2.
>>
>> RTTY Skimmers have definitely come of age in the past 12 months.
>> Many thanks to all those who are feeding the RBN, both CW and
>> RTTY!
> The quality of RTTY skimmer spots does continue to improve, but there is
> still a significant 'leakage' of spots for stations that are replying to
> a CQ.
>
> Although "CQ" can appear at both the beginning and end of a text string,
> it still should not be too difficult to parse an ambiguous fragment like
> "GM3W CQ K6LL". One of the two spaces in that string will be a genuine,
> synchronous RTTY <space> character; but the other will just be an
> asynchronous gap between two different stations.
>
> And above all: if there is any doubt, the skimmer should *not* spot! It
> isn't a race between different skimmers, and there's sure to be another
> CQ coming along shortly.
>
> Another problem last weekend was that one specific skimmer (DF4UE-#) was
> spotting consistently incorrect callsigns.
>
>
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK (@GM3W)
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dave
>> Hachadorian
>> Sent: 22 March 2016 23:03
>> To: reflector RTTY
>> Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY Skimmer
>>
>> In my experience, the VE3NEA RTTY Skimmers are much improved
>> lately on spotting stations that are actually calling CQ.  I
>> always connect to a CC-Cluster node, using CC-user Software,
>> which seamlessly feeds N1MM Logger.  I think the CC Clusters do
>> some filtering to validate spots from multiple skimmers.  My
>> usual nodes are VE7CC-1 or AE5E-2.
>>
>> RTTY Skimmers have definitely come of age in the past 12 months.
>> Many thanks to all those who are feeding the RBN, both CW and
>> RTTY!
>>
>> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
>> Yuma, AZ
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:  pcooper
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 10:31 AM
>> To: Al Kozakiewicz
>> Cc: rtty at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY Skimmer
>>
>> Al AB2ZY and the group,
>>
>> I have local access to a skimmer cluster as well as a normal
>> cluster.
>> Both run simultaneously here in the shack 24/7. Looking at the
>> skimmer cluster, I repeatedly see spots for stations that are
>> responding to a CQ call, rather than calling CQ themselves.
>>
>> I have tried using the skimmer cluster in a contest, and that
>> simply clogs up the bandmap with loads of spots that aren't
>> calling CQ.
>> I know the skimmer clusters are supposed to be intelligent and
>> only spots calls who are sending CQ, but I see far more spots for
>> those that aren't.
>>
>> Where cluster access is allowed in a contest, I will use the
>> normal cluster, as I mostly use it to gauge whether another band
>> is open, or worth trying. If there is some juicy DX spotted, I
>> may well try for them, depending on the situation, but generally,
>> if that juicy DX has just been spotted, it's usually pointless
>> trying, as loads of others will already be there.
>> This was evident during the BARTG contest at the weekend, as I
>> came across FP/KV1J calling CQ on 20m, so I tried to get in, but
>> he had a mini pile-up going. I did try a couple of times more,
>> but then he got spotted, and I gave up, as it just got silly,
>> with callers shouting over each other and the exchange in
>> progress.
>> Happily came across him again later, and got in first shout. It
>> was similar with HP3/VY2SS.
>>
>> That's just my own view of things.....
>>
>> 73 de Phil GU0SUP
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