> 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
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