Topband: RBN and cluster spots

[VE6WZ_Steve]

As Henk says, I too use the VE7CC “CC Cluster” program.

It is a great program that runs in the background, and becomes the DX cluster and Skimmer aggregator that will port the spots to whatever logging program or cluster display you use.
In the VE7CC program you can select which conventional packet cluster you want to connect to, and there is choice to toggle ON or OFF the skimmer spots.  You can also choose a myriad of filters to select what countries/continents will be filtered out either as the DX or the spotter, as well as what bands and even band segments.
Some guys choose to only get spots from NA spotters with the idea that spots that come from EU skimmers are no good because they may not hear them.  I disagree with this logic personally….I want ALL spots, so I know who is where on the band.  I will RX with my own radio to decide if I can hear them.  That is why if G3YRO calls CQ tonight, I will know literally within a few seconds. There are so many EU skimmers any EU CQ is spotted instantly.  Same in NA.  These spots show up on my band map, so I know where the empty spots are between the EU CQers.  I WILL sometimes filter out the NA CQ spots since I am not interested in those.

There are other ways to stream the skimmer spots, but the CC cluster program is really flexible with almost any possible filter combination.

BTW….another really simple way is just go to the RBN web interface here: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=3 <http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=3>

At the top select >DX spots.  The pull down menu can allow you to show all HF>160m. Also you can use >build your own filter, and select the DX country or continent, or the Spotter country and continent. Handy filters.

I really cant imagine not using the RBN skimmer spots in this day and age!


73, de steve ve6wz




> On Mar 9, 2020, at 11:47 AM, Roger Kennedy <roger at wessexproductions.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> 
> Steve, I agree about getting response only when you've been spotted on the
> DX Cluster (which is why I sometimes resort to spotting myself after endless
> CQ DX calls - then suddenly I get lots of calls !)
> 
> But I only use RBN to check my OWN signals . . . how do you use it to check
> ANY DX signals on 160 ?
> 
> I can't even see how you configure RBN to only show signals from certain
> areas (like NA), so I have to put up with all the EU spots on RBN (which I'm
> not interested in)
> 
> I guess you'll tell me there IS a way of doing it . . . but presumably the
> reason you only get responses when you've been spotted on the DX Cluster is
> because others are the same as me !
> 
> Roger G3YRO
> 
> 
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector