Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC1 REVERSE BEACONING and WSPR

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC 1

REVERSE BEACONINGand

WSPR


Why Reverse beaconing

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


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


REVERSE BEACON NETWORKS

• Pskreporter.info

• PropNET.org

• Reversebeacon.net


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


PSK REPORTER MAP





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.


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


PropNET Screen


PropNET Map


Reversebeacon

• Primarily for cw

• Uses the program Aggregator to extract information from CW Skimmer

•


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


CW SKIMMER 3kHz


SOFTROCK


RAW Output


FILTERED FROM 1 LAND


REVERSE BEACON MAP


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


WSPR MAP


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.


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.

Documents

Copyright 2010 Fred Cunningham K1FC1 REVERSE BEACONING and WSPR