[Skimmertalk] Skimmer with N1MM

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Hi Deni - The basic reason for receiving spots from other Skimmers is to 
provide redundancy and to help avoid busted spots from your single 
Skimmer.  For example, I use the following filter string with ARCluster 
V6, either from the RBN or from a cluster node that feeds both 
traditional and RBN spots, like K1TTT.NET.

  SET DX FILTER call=n4zr OR (SKIMMER AND UNIQUE>2)  and 
(spotterstate=md OR spotterstate=pa OR spotterstate=va OR spotterstate=WV)

This does several things.  First, it tells me if *I* have been spotted 
anywhere in the world, then it looks at each incoming spot, and tells 
the cluster not to send it to me unless the station has been spotted by 
at least 3 stations.  That helps me to avoid busts by one or even two 
stations.  Even with an error rate below 1 percent, when you have >70 
Skimmers active they happen fairly often.

Then, if it passes that test, the filter only sends it to me if the 
spotter is in one of several states near my own, so that I can probably 
hear the spotted station.  I have two buttons set up in my packet window 
- one with this filter and another with the simple command SET DX 
Filter, which opens my filter wide open to receive all spots worldwide.

An explanation of how to build such compound filters can be found at 
<http://ab5k.net/ArcDocsVer6/UserManual/ArcDx.htm#SetDxFilter>.  You 
could set it only to pass on spots from nearby countries, for example.

I hope this is helpful.

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 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000


On 3/11/2012 1:03 AM, F5vjc wrote:
>   As a new user of Skimmer, I'm now trying to learn how best to use it.
>
> I have successfully set it up with my logger N1MM and it feeds spots
> into the band map via telnet, all very cool.
>
> Why would I now need to feed spots from another cluster (or RBN) when
> I have my own local skimmer which gives me spots I can actually hear,
> and hopefully work.
>
> I know there is software available to do this,  'Clusterjoin' for
> example but what is the advantage in doing this to feed in duplicate
> and non workable spots from other cluster/s?
>
> I'm only interested in CW contesting and can of course see the need
> for this in SSB contests.
>
> I'm trying to see the overall big picture here, am I missing something ?
>
> I only participate very small time for fun in SOA  but I like to use
> all the available new tools for assistance...
>
> What is the current thinking in using Skimmer in CW contests?
>
> Appreciate any comments,
>
> 73, Deni
> F5VJC
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