During January, I plan to publish an updated patt3ch.lst file for the Reverse Beacon Network.  Forgive me if you know this already, but the purpose of the pattern file is to improve the accuracy of CW spotting by the RBN, by distinguishing between the "shape" or pattern of legitimate callsigns and other strings that may appear on the air that look like callsigns, but are not.  Cw Skimmer Server does this by comparing each string of received CW with a pattern file that lists "real" patterns, which includes prefix, the first number following the prefix, and then wildcards for additional numbers (#) and letters (@).  Depending on whether a pattern is rated by the file as common or less common, or is omitted from the file altogether, Skimmer Server will require two, three or more repetitions within a specified-length string of characters before it decides "Yes, spot that call."

Call-sign patterns should be included in the pattern file if they have been used or will be used in the future - for example, the pattern PJ4@@, had been in use for years, but when active contesters were granted calls in the pattern PJ4@ , we were happy to add that pattern to the file.  We'll treat similarly any administration's publishing special callsign patterns that it is willing to issue for future operations, such as contests.  Conversely, we will be more skeptical about an unusual pattern that has been used in the past for a particular commemorative event, for example 8J##@@@@, or a similarly complex pattern for a one-time commemorative event in the future.

The reason for this "drag on the system" is simple - if every possible pattern from A@#@ to ZZ####@@@@ were included in the pattern file, then the pattern file's usefulness would dissipate, since every "string" would fit one pattern or another.

So, help us do a better job, and help yourself by reviewing the current pattern file (at http://www.reversebeacon.net/pages/patt3ch.lst+36)and letting us know what needs to be added.

73, Pete N4ZR
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