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eHam Forums => CW => Topic started by: KB3USG on December 13, 2022, 12:53:31 PM

Title: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: KB3USG on December 13, 2022, 12:53:31 PM
Hi everyone,

I'm pretty much a newbie, so telling me the "obvious" is probably better than assuming I already know something "obvious".

I'm trying to find myself on the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) and I have had ZERO luck.  I'm not sure whether there's a standard format that it needs to see to be able to list your callsign. 

The message I'm sending is "CQ CQ CQ DE KB3USG KB3USG KB3USG TESTING K"

Is there a specific number of repetitions of CQ or callsign that I should be using?  Is there a different pattern I should be using?  Other advice?

I'm using a (KX-2 or QCX) with the AX-1 antenna with the 40m extender.

Thanks,
Paul
KB3USG
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: G8FXC on December 13, 2022, 01:03:24 PM
That should work fine - I've been registered with a similar call. The code does need to be clearly and well sent at a moderate speed - very fast or very poorly formed code may not be decoded correctly.

Martin (G8FXC)
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: W9IQ on December 13, 2022, 01:05:12 PM
Your format looks good. Some tips:

1.) Try repeating it a couple of times on the same frequency within a 10 minute window
2.) Make sure you are in the first 91 kHz of the CW band
3.) Have someone check the quality of your CW sending to make sure it is acceptable

- Glenn W9IQ
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: K6SDW on December 13, 2022, 01:05:46 PM
I use RBN all the time: CQ CQ CQ K6SDW .... it's that easy.  The new version of RBN you can check the box which shows the location of the "listeners" currently online, and most are going to be hundreds and thousands of miles from your station, so it takes RF and a "decent" antenna to reach them. And propagation as well, the band you chose, the time of day...etc. I have a vertical and the popular EFHW dipole and per RBN the End Fed beats my vertical almost every time.

KE0OG, the ARRL and QST's new technical editor has an excellent YouTube video on using RBN you might find it helpful.

So, bottom line here: More signal in the air, or move closer to a RBN monitoring station...HI HI

GL/73
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: K6LP on December 13, 2022, 01:11:18 PM
As a new CW op, I was having the same problem on my KX2. I was having trouble manually programming the KX2 message feature, too (that should have been a clue!). Finally I used the cable and software to program the KX2 CW message, and played that. RBN picked me up right away.
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: W9KY on December 13, 2022, 01:14:21 PM
Hi Paul,

I'm about one step above being a rookie so this will help you get started then your on your own !  Bring up the site and looking at the screen just above the "green box", you will see the words, "skip and go directly to the main page".  Click on the words "main page". The next page will show a world map as a "gray line" along with the "bands of operation" .  Say for example you want to be spotted on 40 mtrs then click on the 40 mtr box . Then look a little lower and to the right and you will see the words "spotted call sign" .  Type your call sign on this line.  Then start sending your CQ or CQ Test with your call sign like you were actually trying to make a contact. Sit back and wait for a few minutes and if anyone has spotted you, the new info will be displayed where originally was blank. Keep in mind if you try it again on the same band it won't work for about 10 minutes, guess it does a reset !  This afternoon I tried both 40 and 20 mtrs with NO replies but after running the "reverse beacon", plenty of stations replied with good S/N reports .  So guess at that time, NO one was close enough to hear my 25 watts of power Hi Hi   Hope this will be helpful for you,  Mike W9KY         
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: KE6SLS on December 13, 2022, 02:40:13 PM

and when in doubt, QLF.  :)

73
Jaye
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: AE0Q on December 13, 2022, 04:30:24 PM
Is there a specific number of repetitions of CQ or callsign that I should be using?  Is there a different pattern I should be using?
From one of the RBN programmers:

If you send a CQ, sign your call once, listen, and send another CQ, with your call, that is sufficient to get you spotted.  The CW Skimmer software listens to a 50-Hz decoder channel in a 255-character FIFO-style buffer, and if the software "hears" two repetitions in that span, together with the keywords CQ or TEST (there are some others, more appropriate for DXing, like UP 1), then it will spot you.  It's good down to 10 wpm.

Glenn AE0Q
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: W9RAC on December 17, 2022, 05:16:30 AM
Hi everyone,

I'm pretty much a newbie, so telling me the "obvious" is probably better than assuming I already know something "obvious".

I'm trying to find myself on the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) and I have had ZERO luck.  I'm not sure whether there's a standard format that it needs to see to be able to list your callsign. 

The message I'm sending is "CQ CQ CQ DE KB3USG KB3USG KB3USG TESTING K"

Is there a specific number of repetitions of CQ or callsign that I should be using?  Is there a different pattern I should be using?  Other advice?

I'm using a (KX-2 or QCX) with the AX-1 antenna with the 40m extender.

Thanks,
Paul
KB3USG

Paul code must be legible for skimmer to copy. Try paddle and check, they should list you on CQ list. 73 Rich
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: N2SR on December 17, 2022, 06:15:38 AM
Paul code must be legible for skimmer to copy. Try paddle and check, they should list you on CQ list. 73 Rich

Code must be legible for even humans to copy.   ;)
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: NI0C on December 17, 2022, 01:16:16 PM
Using QRP with such a compromise antenna, your signal may be too weak to be copied by whatever skimmers that may be listening at the time.
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: NB3R on December 19, 2022, 04:02:47 AM
Your format looks good. Some tips:

1.) Try repeating it a couple of times on the same frequency within a 10 minute window
2.) Make sure you are in the first 91 kHz of the CW band
3.) Have someone check the quality of your CW sending to make sure it is acceptable

- Glenn W9IQ

Glenn's Tip #2 is very important.  All the skimmers listen to the low part of a band.  Not so many higher in the band.
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: KB3USG on December 21, 2022, 07:23:57 AM
Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice.

I think that the issues are:

I had the rigs send my message to remove my newbie fist out of the equation :)

I'll make some adjustments here and see whether I can get spotted (and possibly report back).

Thank you, again, for all the replies!
Paul
KB3USG
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: WX7Q on March 27, 2023, 10:38:09 AM
I have used the Reverse Beacon Network on several occasions and checked my results on 15 meters. It showed that the signal was getting out. I did a screen shot. (CW, first 91 kHz of the CW band) 10 meters was open the other day, tried it, with no results. Is it just that the skimmers, sometimes, are not listening on a particular band?

TIA

WX7Q
Jim
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: AE0Q on March 27, 2023, 11:10:52 AM
I have used the Reverse Beacon Network on several occasions and checked my results on 15 meters. It showed that the signal was getting out. I did a screen shot. (CW, first 91 kHz of the CW band) 10 meters was open the other day, tried it, with no results. Is it just that the skimmers, sometimes, are not listening on a particular band?

The RBN shows that when you were spotted in the last few weeks you were sending 11 or 12 wpm.  That's pretty close to the low end of where the skimmers detect CW (about 10 wpm).  Maybe faster would work better...

Since 10m wasn't open much until recently, maybe a lot of the skimmers aren't on SDRs with 10m yet?

Glenn AE0Q
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: N2SR on March 27, 2023, 11:44:43 AM
The RBN shows that when you were spotted in the last few weeks you were sending 11 or 12 wpm.  That's pretty close to the low end of where the skimmers detect CW (about 10 wpm).  Maybe faster would work better...

Since 10m wasn't open much until recently, maybe a lot of the skimmers aren't on SDRs with 10m yet?

Glenn AE0Q

There were plenty of skimmer spots on 10m during ARRL CW. 
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: WA3SKN on March 27, 2023, 12:13:24 PM
Dec 2022... he may have figured it out by now.
A 45 inch whip with coil inside a brick building does not work well for 40 meters.  The 13 ft single radial is also a probable issue.  Add QRP to the mix.
Hopefully he got the antenna outside.

-Mike.
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: WA9ZVF on March 27, 2023, 01:06:01 PM
Paul,
When I first started messing with RBN I tried sending code using an old fashion key.  RBN did not recognize me.  I tried using the CW memory in my Icom 7300 and RBN would spot me.  If I use a keyer then for the most part RBN hears me.  The point is that RBN needs good quality code i.e. good dot to dash ratio and good spacing. 
Ray
W9NZ
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: N8TGQ on March 27, 2023, 02:59:11 PM
Here's what RBN says:


https://www.reversebeacon.net/pages/How+to+get+spotted+by+the+RBN+44
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: N8NK on March 27, 2023, 08:22:41 PM
suggestions above that QRP may be the 'problem' are absolutely off the mark.
I've done EXTENSIVE antenna testing, ONLY with QRP, and often with compromise antennas. I've relied on the RBN network when doing my multi-tap UNUN and Michigan Cacti testing.
The only format I've ever used is this:
TEST TEST TEST TEST de N8NK (No 'K' needed)
And because I'm not calling CQ, people won't call me when I'm doing my antenna testing and not in the mood, or not equipped, to have a QSO.
Typically I'm spotted on the first round within the 'states. By the time I've done a second transmission, I'm spotted globally if the band permist. Yep, using QRP.
I worked S. Argentina using 2.5 milliwatts. Care for a story?
'a QRP Story'  https://youtu.be/ja6e_uISvZ8
Chuck, N8NK
Title: Re: Anything special required to be spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network?
Post by: AE0Q on March 28, 2023, 11:16:29 AM
The only format I've ever used is this:
TEST TEST TEST TEST de N8NK (No 'K' needed)

You don't need to send TEST more than once.

From one of the RBN programmers that set it up:

"If you send a CQ, sign your call once, listen, and send another CQ, with your call, that is sufficient to get you spotted.  The CW Skimmer software listens to a 50-Hz decoder channel in a 255-character FIFO-style buffer, and if the software "hears" two repetitions in that span, together with the keywords CQ or TEST (there are some others, more appropriate for DXing, like UP 1), then it will spot you."

Glenn AE0Q