Topband: how to set up a Skype receiving beacon

[Eric Scace K3NA]

Tom W8JI brings up some interesting points.

I thought about the case of people using distant receivers 
to work DX that they would not otherwise be able to work. 
That's one reason why the receiving beacon does not allow 
any control of the radio.  The Skype connection allows 
listening to one frequency only; the chances of finding the 
DX on that frequency are smaller.  I used Skype "as is", but 
Skype has an API that can be exercised by programmers. 
Potentially a bit of software could be created, using this 
API, so as to limit a connection to 1-2 minutes... thus 
further reducing the utility for someone intent on cheating 
at DXCC.  Another alteration that would eliminate the 
utility of a receiving beacon for cheating at DXCC, but 
preserve most of its utility for propagation/antenna 
testing, would be to add a delay of 5 seconds or so.  These 
two additions would make the beacon concept a bit more 
complex to implement... but, if folks feels the ethical 
concerns are great, these are ideas that can mitigate the 
ethics issues.

The choice of frequency is a balance of many factors.  I 
picked 1832.10 for the proof of concept phase, considering that:
    -- most topband operators can transmit here (with the 
notable exception of Japan).
    -- initial beacon use was anticipated to be light.
    -- operators are unlikely to make a test transmission on 
the beacon's receive frequency if the frequency is occupied 
by an ongoing QSO/pileup copiable at the receiving location, 
since the test transmission would be impaired ... and we are 
gentlemen on the gentlemen's band.

But I'm open to other choices that allow wide usage.

I feel medium-power transmitting beacons, wherever located, 
are less useful for some applications.  These will always be 
few in number and, at medium power levels, can't give much 
insight to the more marginal (but intriguing!) openings.

Of course others may feel differently.

If, after consideration, the concept is widely considered to 
be unethical by the topband community, that's important to 
me and I'll shut it down.

If the concept has little utility beyond a novelty factor, 
it will die a natural death.

But, if receiving beacons have utility, can be located at a 
suitable spot in the band acceptable to the community, and 
don't raise serious ethical issues, then why not encourage them?

-- Eric K3NA