Topband: CQ...CQ...CQ

[VE6WZ_Steve]

> While you are CQ'ing, do you also check your own call
> on RBN to see where you are being heard?  Would that
> differentiate between "dead band" and "lack of activity"?

Yes.  I always check RBN to see if my CQ is being spotted in EU or VK or JA etc.

However, a few comments about the RBN network.
For 9 years I have been running my RBN skimmer node on the RBN network and have noticed that I will only decode a small fraction of what I can actually copy with my radio and ears.  First of all, my main skimmer SDR radio is using a 30m loop antenna, while my “real radio” is using diversity RX with the 9 circle array and phased Beverages.  This is not uncommon with many other skimmers on the RBN network that may use compromise, and omni-directional antennas.  Often the trans-polar DX can be very weak, and just bubbling at the noise level which is simply not enough for my CW skimmer to decode together with the CQ.  However, when my skimmer IS decoding and reporting EU DX to the RBN, then the band must be “really” open.
Therefore, the reciprocal of this is equally true.  Just because my CQ is not being decoded in EU is not proof that the band is closed.  But on those nights when I am hitting many of the EU skimmers, then clearly things are good!

I stream all RBN spots through VE7CC into my logging program, band map and onto the Flex display, but to get a EU or NA summary of whats going on, the main RBN network webpage is great.
In case you haven't used the "filters function" on the RBN network page, here are some tricks that I find very handy to get a quick “snapshot” of whats happening.
Just looking at “all spots on 160m” is not very helpful because with lots of activity, detail is lost.
Here are some example filters:

ALL EU being spotted by NA skimmers: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=3896 <http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=3896>
This one is handy when I CQ…only VE DX being spotted only by EU: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=81972 <http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=81972>
OR are any VE CQs being copied in EU on 160: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=14728 <http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=14728>
(You can also show up to 100 spots to give more history….drop down window at right)

Make your own…..
You can make any filter you want based on: DX country (zone, continent etc) and SPOTTER  (based on country, zone, continent etc.) and band.
Just go to the top banner and select:  DX spots > create your own filter.

Also, don't forget that 160m is the band of QSB and patience is essential.  Just because you don't copy a DX spot, it may take 10 min of listening before the short QSB peak might make him copiable….for 20 or 30 seconds!! Yes…this ‘aint the 20m band. QSOs often need to be quick.

73, de steve ve6wz