This and WebSDRs are Buck Rogers stuff I never get used to. Nobody's answering my call, but the RBN tells me my 30 watt signal is audible in Uruguay. Other times I load a WebSDR and actually hear myself live in Japan. Unimaginable when I was a kid. Helps that discouragement you used to get from unanswered calls, and graphically demonstrates band conditions. Thanks for another great video
FANTASTIC video - thank you. I’m back from being QRT for over 25 years. I’m now starting to experiment with simple wire antennas/QRP/portable, so this will be a fantastic tool to help - can’t wait to give it a try. Many thanks for such a clear and full guide. Best wishes, 73 G0BLQ
Feels like you fell asleep for a century, doesn't it? I too came back on a few years ago after ten years away and everything was new and confusing. The RBN and WebSDRs blew my mind, to say nothing of all the kits, Arduinos, UA-cam tutorials... Felt like an unfrozen caveman. Hope you're having fun!
As a new ham general, I asm still constructing my station and antennas. Dave, your videos on grounding, dipole antennas, and equipment have been very helpful, very very helpful. I am receiving very good signals on my 20 meter and 10 meter dipoles, and I want to use reverse beacons to see how well I can transmit. Your videos Dave give me enough information to figure out how to make that happen! I am interested in DX and look forward to learning CW as well as phone, so your video is perfect for me. Best wishes, Rich, KE8TBN, 73.
Fascinating. Thank you. As a sailor, I’ve approached light houses where I can sound their fog horns by keying on a channel (predetermined frequency) on my marine vhf radio. I always thought that was cool, but it pales in comparison to this video’s content
Not only is the RBN good for seeing what bands are open where, but I used it to check and see how well my new flagpole 8-band vertical was doing. It's very useful to see which directions your xmission is being heard from and what how many watts you might need to use to be heard in different locations. Thanks for another great video!
Thanks Dave for this explanation. I tried the RBN for the first time this morning and I had some questions, which your video has cleared up. The one thing, it seems to me that it would be better to send TEST than CQ, so that unwitting stations won't be answering a CQ thta wasn't intended to be answered. Right? 73 de 4X1MK
David, GREAT VIDEO! 👍 Loved the lighthouse example my friend! Also it was really nice to see that you had come to Oregon and been near Newport on the Central Oregon Coast. My QTH is about 55 miles NE of the Yaquina Lighthouse. Please my friend, don’t take this wrong. It’s not meant to put you down or make me “look like I know everything.“ That’s not at all the intention. I just wanted to make sure since you saw that spectacular lighthouse you’d be able to pronounce its name correctly. Because I know you love technical things so much. I thought I’d let you know the actual pronunciation of “Yaquina” The lighthouse it was actually named after the Yaquina Indian tribe. The actual pronunciation of the word “Yaquina” is “Yah kwen ah” it’s really a difficult word to pronounce because of the way it looks. Wonderful video and excellent illustrations. I Hope you had a wonderful time here in our fair state.
Thanks for the info. Can you suggest a message that is not a CQ but just a beacon to test here your signal is detected on the RBN? A CQ means you're looking for a reply. So would VVV VVV VVV TEST TEST TEST DE LB7ABC LB7ABC LB7ABC RBN RBN RBN AR be suitable? Ending with a K would be inappropriate for just a beacon. Is there a better message that could be constructed for an RBN beacon mode transmission? Thanks.
@@davecasler That is EXACTLY what I was looking for - sending CW and ending with K both seem like you're asking for a response, which you may not be. Which of course means that the RBN will see you when you ARE looking for responses too :-) 73 de N4JO.
Although I was licensed over 30 years ago on vhf, I have recently taken the hobby up again and this week set up an hf station. The RBN sounds like a great idea but I have no morse. Is there a simple way to do this without knowing any morse - perhaps using a pc? My rig is an Icom 725.
Nice presentation, Dave. One or two questions please. Since the RBN listening stations are all running a Skimmer, and presumably they are not time synchronized to scan the 91 KHz bandwidth at precisely the same time, getting my CQ or Test signal detected reliably on the first pass seems a bit hit and miss. Seems like I would need to repeat me call several times at high speed to get detected sometimes/somewhere. True? Second question. What is the Skimmer's sweep speed and rate? Keep up the great work, Dave. Your speech articulation is outstanding. Are you a radio or TV pro announcer by any chance?
I don't know enough about CW Skimmer to answer, but I believe it processes the entire spectrum fed to it simultaneously. Sort of like how fldigi can decode the entire PSK-31 band all at once.
Good info Dave, thanks. Have you heard of call sign filtering by the reverse beacon network? I'm in NE and I've had QSOs through most of the middle and eastern US on 160, 80, 40, 30, and 20 but never get picked up on RBN with even the most careful code on a keyer. I asked in a Facebook group and someone suggested that some callsigns are filtered because they are suspicious for some reason (I'm WU0Q). I emailed RBN about it but never heard back. Is this something you've ever heard of? TU es 73 Lance
One thing that I am confused about: do I have to transmit on a specific frequency to use this system? If so, where can I find the list of frequencies that I should use?
With the reverse beacon network, calling CQ CQ YOURCALL YOURCALL or TEST TEST YOURCALL YOURCALL should do it, anywhere in the CW bands below the PSK-31 frequencies. You may have to do it multiple times or at different times of the day to see your callsign appear, as I had to do. Good luck! 73
I should add that the code must be extremely clean. Use an electronic keyer or keyboard keyer. No matter how good you are with a hand key, the system likely will not pick you up.
Hi Dave,,,,I hv to disagree....I hv bn CW A-1 transmission only since a Novice in 1965 and hv developed a very clean fist that is easily picked up by RBN. The system has no trouble whatsoever with my code, .which is abt.16 WPM. The KEY is to allow plenty of space between charcters and words.This is a good rule for ALL CW op's ! and...is the most common mistake that makes for difficult copy..Tnx for the grt, instructional video's !...Dana HS Science Teacher / Veteran Employment Rep. { Ret. ] WN6OHG 1965 Novice to Extra Class Syation
Dave, i’m in a conundrum here… I’ve sold my FTDX 3000 for a great deal on an FTDX 5000. But I’m very impressed with the 101D. What are your impressions of the 101D? Do you think it’s a great receiver with extra eye candy on top or a great hybrid SDR? Or something else? I love the 5000. I honestly think it’s one of the best DX/contest rigs ever made due to its ergonomics and multiple controls. I think the 5000 is such a great rig for DX and contesting. So much right there at your fingertips without digging into the menus. But pricing now on new ones are ridiculous. It’s 10-year-old technology priced at the same price as the new 101D. Given that fact, you can guess what nearly every buyer would choose if they were buying a new Yaesu rig. I have a friend that works for Yazoo ask him if they were considering dropping the 5000 altogether because it’s 10 years old now. He told me there’s no talk of them discontinuing that rig that he’s seen or heard. Now I can tell you for sure that at least HRO Portland is no longer carrying them in stock but getting them if only a buyer wants one. They’re selling the 101 D’s with no problem and not selling the 5000 because well, it’s a 5000 LOL even though that’s a great rig the 101D is very splashy looking of course LOL OK so if Yaesu doesn’t discontinue the FTDX 5000, they certainly will have to lower the price again. And to think it once cost over $5000! Of course that’s going to make a price correction happen on the used market directly affecting it literally overnight to any astute buyer. I thinking of selling my 5000 D and my Ameritron 811 H amplifier with the intention of buying a 101D used which right now is roughly about $3100 it appears and Black Friday sales are coming… We just might see a 101D priced below $3000 for Black Friday! I could buy one at the cost of moving the 5000 before a Yaesu price cut which seems logical in order with the 101D priced the same as the 5000. So would you take the 5000 and the Amp for $500 Alex or sell the amp and 5000 for a 101D?
The choice of an HF rig is highly personal. I really like my FT DX 3000. I was disappointed to learn that the new 101D has a traditional superheterodyne architecture for the two receivers, and an SDR for the display. That said it is certainly state-of-the-art. I'm about to test the ICOM 7610. It looks like a very exciting rig.
Yes my friend I understand. I lost my beloved 3000 to buy a 5000 it was scanned. So I’m in the market for a rig. I’ve got a 7600 that I can purchase now or a Kenwood 590 SG or I just found today and Elecraft K3. I know that the Elecraft K3 takes a lot of work initially to learn them which is a challenge for me… I love challenges LOL
This and WebSDRs are Buck Rogers stuff I never get used to. Nobody's answering my call, but the RBN tells me my 30 watt signal is audible in Uruguay. Other times I load a WebSDR and actually hear myself live in Japan. Unimaginable when I was a kid. Helps that discouragement you used to get from unanswered calls, and graphically demonstrates band conditions. Thanks for another great video
FANTASTIC video - thank you. I’m back from being QRT for over 25 years. I’m now starting to experiment with simple wire antennas/QRP/portable, so this will be a fantastic tool to help - can’t wait to give it a try. Many thanks for such a clear and full guide. Best wishes, 73 G0BLQ
Feels like you fell asleep for a century, doesn't it? I too came back on a few years ago after ten years away and everything was new and confusing. The RBN and WebSDRs blew my mind, to say nothing of all the kits, Arduinos, UA-cam tutorials... Felt like an unfrozen caveman. Hope you're having fun!
As a new ham general, I asm still constructing my station and antennas. Dave, your videos on grounding, dipole antennas, and equipment have been very helpful, very very helpful. I am receiving very good signals on my 20 meter and 10 meter dipoles, and I want to use reverse beacons to see how well I can transmit. Your videos Dave give me enough information to figure out how to make that happen! I am interested in DX and look forward to learning CW as well as phone, so your video is perfect for me. Best wishes, Rich, KE8TBN, 73.
Thanks for posting. WA2CLP
Great informative video Dave. Thank you! 73 from NEØD
This is exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks for this!
Fascinating. Thank you. As a sailor, I’ve approached light houses where I can sound their fog horns by keying on a channel (predetermined frequency) on my marine vhf radio. I always thought that was cool, but it pales in comparison to this video’s content
Great Job Dave....Finally I understand how it works and how to use it!
New general here Dave - thanks for the very informative video!
Not only is the RBN good for seeing what bands are open where, but I used it to check and see how well my new flagpole 8-band vertical was doing. It's very useful to see which directions your xmission is being heard from and what how many watts you might need to use to be heard in different locations. Thanks for another great video!
another fantastic video!
Thank you!
Fascinating and very informative. Thank you so much ...john m0asn
Thank you!
Thanks Dave for this explanation. I tried the RBN for the first time this morning and I had some questions, which your video has cleared up. The one thing, it seems to me that it would be better to send TEST than CQ, so that unwitting stations won't be answering a CQ thta wasn't intended to be answered. Right? 73 de 4X1MK
Yes, indeed! 73
Hey, Dave, I think I just 'spotted' you on WSPR 14.095 at 00:50 09/28/19 :D
Could be! My WSPR transmitter is on most of the time. It's very low power and uses the MFJ octopus antenna.
Due to budget cut-backs, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.
Seems like the only comment I can come up with.
When a Democrat Congress see' the light at the end of the tunnel, they pass a funding measure for a longer tunnel.
well done for doing that, at least you came up with something.
David, GREAT VIDEO! 👍 Loved the lighthouse example my friend! Also it was really nice to see that you had come to Oregon and been near Newport on the Central Oregon Coast. My QTH is about 55 miles NE of the Yaquina Lighthouse.
Please my friend, don’t take this wrong. It’s not meant to put you down or make me “look like I know everything.“ That’s not at all the intention. I just wanted to make sure since you saw that spectacular lighthouse you’d be able to pronounce its name correctly.
Because I know you love technical things so much. I thought I’d let you know the actual pronunciation of “Yaquina” The lighthouse it was actually named after the Yaquina Indian tribe. The actual pronunciation of the word “Yaquina” is
“Yah kwen ah”
it’s really a difficult word to pronounce because of the way it looks. Wonderful video and excellent illustrations. I Hope you had a wonderful time here in our fair state.
Thanks for the pointer.
Thanks for the info. Can you suggest a message that is not a CQ but just a beacon to test here your signal is detected on the RBN? A CQ means you're looking for a reply. So would VVV VVV VVV TEST TEST TEST DE LB7ABC LB7ABC LB7ABC RBN RBN RBN AR be suitable? Ending with a K would be inappropriate for just a beacon. Is there a better message that could be constructed for an RBN beacon mode transmission? Thanks.
Just TEST LB7ABC will do it.
@@davecasler That is EXACTLY what I was looking for - sending CW and ending with K both seem like you're asking for a response, which you may not be. Which of course means that the RBN will see you when you ARE looking for responses too :-) 73 de N4JO.
Although I was licensed over 30 years ago on vhf, I have recently taken the hobby up again and this week set up an hf station. The RBN sounds like a great idea but I have no morse. Is there a simple way to do this without knowing any morse - perhaps using a pc? My rig is an Icom 725.
Yes. It works on RTTY too. Also software such as fldigi can send morse (and receive it, though it does a terrible job at that.)
i use the rnb but please remember a small donation will help maintain and improve the service
Thank's
Dave, I want to know the answer to one question. What is the SNR signal report compared to. 10 or 15 or 40db over what? Tim Pepper- K4JTP
Dave never mentioned how the RBN SNR value is calculated. I'd like a clarification as well.
Nice presentation, Dave. One or two questions please. Since the RBN listening stations are all running a Skimmer, and presumably they are not time synchronized to scan the 91 KHz bandwidth at precisely the same time, getting my CQ or Test signal detected reliably on the first pass seems a bit hit and miss. Seems like I would need to repeat me call several times at high speed to get detected sometimes/somewhere. True?
Second question. What is the Skimmer's sweep speed and rate?
Keep up the great work, Dave. Your speech articulation is outstanding. Are you a radio or TV pro announcer by any chance?
I don't know enough about CW Skimmer to answer, but I believe it processes the entire spectrum fed to it simultaneously. Sort of like how fldigi can decode the entire PSK-31 band all at once.
Good info Dave, thanks. Have you heard of call sign filtering by the reverse beacon network? I'm in NE and I've had QSOs through most of the middle and eastern US on 160, 80, 40, 30, and 20 but never get picked up on RBN with even the most careful code on a keyer. I asked in a Facebook group and someone suggested that some callsigns are filtered because they are suspicious for some reason (I'm WU0Q). I emailed RBN about it but never heard back. Is this something you've ever heard of? TU es 73 Lance
I've not heard of that happening. I would think the software would pass any valid callsign.
One thing that I am confused about: do I have to transmit on a specific frequency to use this system? If so, where can I find the list of frequencies that I should use?
With the reverse beacon network, calling CQ CQ YOURCALL YOURCALL or TEST TEST YOURCALL YOURCALL should do it, anywhere in the CW bands below the PSK-31 frequencies. You may have to do it multiple times or at different times of the day to see your callsign appear, as I had to do. Good luck! 73
I should add that the code must be extremely clean. Use an electronic keyer or keyboard keyer. No matter how good you are with a hand key, the system likely will not pick you up.
I'm still learning morse code so I can't send CQ at all using CW. However I am getting setup with RTTY so I am going to try that mode soon.
Hi Dave,,,,I hv to disagree....I hv bn CW A-1 transmission only since a Novice in 1965 and hv developed a very clean fist that is easily picked up by RBN. The system has no trouble whatsoever with my code, .which is abt.16 WPM. The KEY is to allow plenty of space between charcters and words.This is a good rule for ALL CW op's ! and...is the most common mistake that makes for difficult copy..Tnx for the grt, instructional video's !...Dana HS Science Teacher / Veteran Employment Rep. { Ret. ] WN6OHG 1965 Novice to Extra Class Syation
Dave, i’m in a conundrum here… I’ve sold my FTDX 3000 for a great deal on an FTDX 5000. But I’m very impressed with the 101D. What are your impressions of the 101D? Do you think it’s a great receiver with extra eye candy on top or a great hybrid SDR? Or something else?
I love the 5000. I honestly think it’s one of the best DX/contest rigs ever made due to its ergonomics and multiple controls.
I think the 5000 is such a great rig for DX and contesting. So much right there at your fingertips without digging into the menus.
But pricing now on new ones are ridiculous. It’s 10-year-old technology priced at the same price as the new 101D. Given that fact, you can guess what nearly every buyer would choose if they were buying a new Yaesu rig. I have a friend that works for Yazoo ask him if they were considering dropping the 5000 altogether because it’s 10 years old now. He told me there’s no talk of them discontinuing that rig that he’s seen or heard.
Now I can tell you for sure that at least HRO Portland is no longer carrying them in stock but getting them if only a buyer wants one. They’re selling the 101 D’s with no problem and not selling the 5000 because well, it’s a 5000 LOL even though that’s a great rig the 101D is very splashy looking of course LOL
OK so if Yaesu doesn’t discontinue the FTDX 5000, they certainly will have to lower the price again. And to think it once cost over $5000!
Of course that’s going to make a price correction happen on the used market directly affecting it literally overnight to any astute buyer. I thinking of selling my 5000 D and my Ameritron 811 H amplifier with the intention of buying a 101D used which right now is roughly about $3100 it appears and Black Friday sales are coming… We just might see a 101D priced below $3000 for Black Friday! I could buy one at the cost of moving the 5000 before a Yaesu price cut which seems logical in order with the 101D priced the same as the 5000.
So would you take the 5000 and the Amp for $500 Alex or sell the amp and 5000 for a 101D?
The choice of an HF rig is highly personal. I really like my FT DX 3000. I was disappointed to learn that the new 101D has a traditional superheterodyne architecture for the two receivers, and an SDR for the display. That said it is certainly state-of-the-art. I'm about to test the ICOM 7610. It looks like a very exciting rig.
Completely agree. Nice screen on the 101D but... it was designed for huge IMD results.That doesn’t necessarily mean a great overall rig.
Yes my friend I understand. I lost my beloved 3000 to buy a 5000 it was scanned. So I’m in the market for a rig. I’ve got a 7600 that I can purchase now or a Kenwood 590 SG or I just found today and Elecraft K3. I know that the Elecraft K3 takes a lot of work initially to learn them which is a challenge for me… I love challenges LOL
Dave will this work on SSB voice? why or why not?
No, not on SSB. It's too hard to pick out callsigns from a random SSB conversation.
The higher the SNR, the stronger the signal?
Generally yes.
Or the weaker the noise
@@thatcrazywolf Good.
sorry i canot ..my ex call USSR un7tbg Vlad. 80 y. old/ mni tks and 73.