Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC1 REVERSE BEACONING and WSPR
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC2 Why Reverse beaconing –Real time monitoring propagation –Find out where you are being heard –Compare antennas or equipment
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC3 What is a reverse beacon A reverse beacon is a receiver feeding a computer connected to a reverse beacon network. –Anyone can run a reverse beacon, including a non ham. –Each network requires its own special software
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC4 REVERSE BEACON NETWORKS Pskreporter.info PropNET.org Reversebeacon.net
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC5 PSK Reporter Receives your transmitted callsign and reports it to Pskreporter.info Pskreporter.info displays where received in near real time. Works with various digital modes including cw
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC6 PSK REPORTER MAP
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC7
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10 Implementing PSK Reporter Fldigi 3.2. and some other digital programs have PSK reporter built in. Check the Pskreporter site for more info. –To turn it on in Fldigi go to Configure-Rig Control-Misc and check autospotting. –Be sure you have entered all 8 figures for your sub-square. –If you are using the computer for rig control you can also report frequency.
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC11 PropNETpsk PropNETpsk free program –Automatically monitor up to 16 blocks of frequencies that you define –Automatically send reports to PropNET.org Can also be set to beacon 6 to 15 times/hr –Will not beacon on an occupied frequency Can be used in QSO mode –Will alert if it detects your call
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC12 PropNET Screen
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC13 PropNET Map
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC14 Reversebeacon Primarily for cw Uses the program Aggregator to extract information from CW Skimmer
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC15 CW RECEIVING SOFTWARE CW Skimmer –Used with a SDR can decode up to 700 signals at once. –With an analog receiver can decode about 24 signals at a time –There is a 30 day free trial and a $75 activation fee. –It can be run with Aggregator to report to reversebeacon.net Download from reversebeacon.net
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC16 CW SKIMMER 3kHz
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC17 SOFTROCK
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC18 RAW Output
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC19 FILTERED FROM 1 LAND
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC20 REVERSE BEACON MAP
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC21 WSPR A method of measuring propagation worldwide with a system of beacons and special software. –Not suitable for QSO’s Reports to wsprnet.org A good overview can be found at g4ilo.com/wspr.html
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC22 WSPR MAP
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC23 How WSPR Works Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Mode is MEPT-JT Manned Experimental Propagation Transmitter – Joe Taylor Low speed FSK about 6 Hz bandwidth in a 200 Hz band window. Each transmission just under 2 minutes. Time synced within 1 sec. Starts on even minutes. –Data is callsign, 6 character locator, power in dBm (1 watt is 30dBm) –Can be run in receive mode only. –Can decode signals below the noise.
Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC24 WSPR RECEIVING SOFTWARE / wspr.html WSPR 2.11 plus FMT –FMT is from the ARRL to very precisely measure frequency.