[Skimmertalk] beacons.csv and beacon spotting

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

The BEACONS.CSV file is used only by the RBN Aggregator; it's not part of
the VE3NEA skimmer software.  This file is automatically and periodically
downloaded from the Internet to the Aggregator installation directory from
a server, but I don't know where the server copy is located, or who
maintains it.  A number of VHF / UHF beacon callsigns are already listed
there, but* many VHF/UHF beacon callsigns above 146 Mhz were deleted
between my November 2017 copy and my January 2018 copy*.  Perhaps W3OA can
explain.

The format is just frequency (in whole kHz, no decimals) and callsign,
comma-separated.

1810,YR2TOP
1853,OK0EV
1875,DL3KR
...
145415,R3MAV

I don't see W6REK/B 28214.3 listed in the BEACONS.CSV file, yet this beacon is
being spotted <http://reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=0&c=w6rek/b&t=dx>
OK as
a Beacon (BCN) by the RBN, perhaps because the Aggregator treats anything
signing /B as a beacon even if it is not listed in BEACONS.CSV.

73,
Bob, N6TV

On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 4:55 AM, John Ackermann N8UR <jra at febo.com> wrote:

> Our VHF/UHF Skimmer is going to mainly hear beacons, and that's the main
> value of the project -- to use them as a sign of propagation enhancement.
>
> I found Pete's blog articles about optimizing for NCDXF beacons (
> http://reversebeacon.blogspot.com/2014/02/ncdxf-beacon-spotting-redux.html
> and http://reversebeacon.blogspot.com/2017/09/beacons-revisited-
> checklist.html).  From that, I'm guessing that the Watch.lst file might
> be helpful, though most of our beacons do send their call more than once.
>
> I also notice that there is a beacons.csv file, but I can't find any
> documentation about it.  The only reference seems to be in a list posting
> by W3OA (http://dayton.contesting.com/pipermail/skimmertalk/2013-Aug
> ust/001214.html) but that doesn't indicate what the contents of the file
> should be.
>
> Can anyone provide a pointer on how to populate and use that file?
>
> Thanks!
>
> 73,
> John
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