copyright 2010 fred cunningham k1fc1 reverse beaconing and wspr

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 1

REVERSE BEACONINGand

WSPR

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 2

Why Reverse beaconing

– Real time monitoring propagation– Find out where you are being heard– Compare antennas or equipment

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 3

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 K1FC 4

REVERSE BEACON NETWORKS

• Pskreporter.info

• PropNET.org

• Reversebeacon.net

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 5

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 K1FC 6

PSK REPORTER MAP

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 7

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 8

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 9

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 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 K1FC 11

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 K1FC 12

PropNET Screen

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 13

PropNET Map

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 14

Reversebeacon

• Primarily for cw

• Uses the program Aggregator to extract information from CW Skimmer

•

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 15

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 K1FC 16

CW SKIMMER 3kHz

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 17

SOFTROCK

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 18

RAW Output

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 19

FILTERED FROM 1 LAND

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 20

REVERSE BEACON MAP

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 21

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 K1FC 22

WSPR MAP

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 23

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 K1FC 24

WSPR RECEIVING SOFTWARE

• /www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html

• WSPR 2.11 plus FMT – FMT is from the ARRL to very precisely

measure frequency.