Reverse Beacon

same speed.

When one looks at the growth of QSOs during 48 hour contests (notably
maximum QSOs in the CQWW SOAB CW category in the past decades:
50's 1277 QSOs
60's 2623 QSOs
70's 4505 QSOs
80's 5970 QSO
90's 7555 QSOs
00's 7828 QSOs
one has to wonder where have all those extra QSOs have come from.

- The operators have better resources and share more information (more
knowledgeable with propagation and openings, more skillful with SO2R
resources, ...)
- The logging software and Computer Generator CW have added extra efficiency
when working stations
- The stations (split TX signals) and low band antennas (both RX and TX)
have added extra QSO potential
      but If there is one aspect that has impacted Contesting the most, for
good or for bad, in my opinion, it is:
- The development of Packet Cluster network by AK1A in the late 80's and the
enhancement it has given to contest operators to be found while CQ'ing on a
band

There was one aspect in the Packet Cluster network that was not fair. Since
most users of the packet cluster network are DX'ers they tend to spot
stations more according to their DX rareness than to their actual operating
time.

Looking at the packet spot data for 2009 CQWW CW with its almost 51.000
packet spots, listing the stations with most spots shows great differences
between them. Almost all these stations were active during the 48 hours of
the contest but still great differences exist:

For stations with most spots worldwide
HC8GR-573, LX7I-271 , EA8URL-254, JA3YBK-249, B7P-219, VK9XW-216, EE2W-211,
K3LR-206, KC1XX-206, JA5FDJ-198

For stations with most spots in the USA
K3LR-206, KC1XX-206, W3LPL- 165, K1LZ-156, K1TTT-155, NQ4I-139, W2FU-115,
NR4M-103, NR5M-99, K0RF-63

For station in the SOAB Category worldwide
V47NT-190, ZS4TX-183, A25NW-182, 8P5A-174, VE2IM-160, P49Y-146, 6W1RW-145,
EF8M-144, VQ5M-132, CR3E-127

There is not fairness in the packet cluster network. The more DX you are,
the more known you are the more spots you get, even if you have a great
signal or are QRV all the time. The K3LR verus K1LZ or V47NT versus EF8M
are good examples.

Another interesting aspect also to note is that more and more people rely on
the packet cluster network to work stations in contests.
Looking at 2009 CW Claimed results, there were 783 stations submitting logs
in the SOAB category and 1020 stations submitting logs in the SOAB Assisted
category
The fact that there is a majority of stations operating the Assisted
category versus the Non Assisted category in the SOAB class also provides
extra QSOs to those CQing stations, because in order to maximize QSOs these
Assisted stations are not only going after DX multipliers but also after
stations that are not necessarily multipliers for new QSO points.

In 2008 when VE3NEA - Alex Shovkoplyas developed CW Skimmer I sent him the
following note on Mar 2008:

"(...) you realize this is the end of CW contesting as we have known it. It
will be a very different contest in the future. (...) Also, with a script
that puts all the calls from CW Skimmer into packet, no need for "old
version packet". It's like having a requirement in the rules for self
spotting.(...)"

What I did not realize was how quickly would Skimmer reverse beacon network
achieve such a degree of coverage and overcome Packet Cluster Network in a
devastating way.
The result can be tagged as "shock and awe" to use a military jargon.
In order for you to understand the degree of band coverage Skimmer reverse
beacon network is capable of I will compare the results of packet cluster
network performance against Skimmer reverse beacon network, using the last
IARU HF Championship contest as a reference and my CR3E operation.

I took the packet cluster network data from DX Summit Search option
http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx and Skimmer reverse beacon network from
http://www.reversebeacon.net/raw_data/

CR3E was spotted 40 times in the packet cluster network. An average of one
spot every 36 minutes
CR3E was spotted 500 time in the Skimmer Reverse Beacon network. An average
of one spot every 2.9 minutes

The difference is incredible.
What is the impact of this difference? In order for all to fully understand
I will use the packet window concept.
Most Contest logging programs have a packet spot lifetime option to display
new multipliers and QSO's in the band map. Using a common 30 minute default
option, l can calculate the packet coverage of both the packet and skimmer
reverse beacon network.

Imagine CR3E started the contest on 15 meter and was QRV for 120 minutes on
that band.
Imagine there was only one packet spot during that 120 minute QRV and that
it occurred in the minute 20
CR3E will be in Assisted stations band map (if not worked) during the packet
spot lifetime window from minute 20 until minute 49 (30 minutes), when the
spots lifetime ends.
CR3E was QRV 120 minutes and there was a coverage of 30 out of 120 minutes,
i.e. 25% packet coverage for the time of QRV

So what is the difference between Packet Cluster Network (PCN) and Skimmer
Reverse Beacon Network (SRBN) for CR3E IARU operation when it comes to
packet coverage?

Looking at the 1440 minute of the IARU contest I checked how many minutes
CR3E was QRV while CQing/Running. I removed minutes with SO2R QSOs that are
not spotted because I'm replying to stations:

On 28 Mhz CR3E was QRV 68 minutes, there was a 65% PCN and 78% SRBN coverage
On 21 Mhz CR3E was QRV 485 minutes, there was a 60% PCN and 96% SRBN
coverage
On 14 Mhz CR3E was QRV 503 minutes, there was a 53% PCN and 98% SRBN
coverage
On 7 Mhz CR3E was QRV 283 minutes, there was a 33% PCN and 99% SRBN coverage
On 3.5 Mhz CRE was QRV 28 minutes, there was a 86% PCN and 96% SRBN coverage
On 1.8 CR3E did not CQ, just S&Ped.

Skimmer Reverse Beacon Network (SRBN) achieved an incredible 96% window
coverage. while CR3E was CQ/running. i.e. CR3E was spotted ALL the time of
the contest, whenever he was CQing (TEST CR3E). To put it in another way the
minute I CQ the minute a Skimmer Robot will spot me.
There was even one time Skimmer reverse beacon network spotted me before I
even logged stations.

With Skimmer reverse beacon network, spotting will rely on robots. Everybody
will be spotted about the same for same conditions. It's democracy into
packet spots.

t's no wonder stations like K3LR have implemented their won skimmer network
http://www.k3lr.com/skimmer/ in order to have all the data of active
stations on the bands, in order to gain an extra competitiveness over their
competitors. Tim K3LR told me that last ARRL they even found a new opening
never heard of, thanks to skimmer.

Assisted stations, MS, M2, MM, DXers and alike don't need systems like K3LR
to gather all this data. They can feed into the telnet aggregated output of
all currently active skimmer reverse beacon receivers in real time at
telnet.reversebeacon.net port 7000. Check
http://reversebeacon.blogspot.com/ for details.

Relying in the old Packet cluster network is the best way to loose. Relying
into Skimmer reverse beacon network is the way for Assisted station in CW
Contests.

I guess it is proper to say The King (Packet cluster network) is dead! Long
live the King (Skimmer reverse beacon network).

I have never operated in the Assisted SOAB class in my 36 CQWW Contests as a
single operator that span over 21 years non stop since 1989.
http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/operations.htm
I do recognize the great impact packet has had in my pile-ups and
operations. I do love packet pile-ups. "It's rush after rush". Packet
spotting is certainly here to stay, no matter what.

Will the contest be a different one? Information is tilting the nature of
the contest. It will not be worse nor better. It will be just different. And
I guess change is what people fear the most.

John F. Kennedy once said "Change is the law of life. And those who look
only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
I don't really care if the good old days are better than today but it is an
interesting coincidence that for some, the less days one has left the better
the good old days are...

73
--
--
José Nunes
CONTEST CT1BOH - http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest

Skimmer	Spots	Avg S/N
GW8IZR-#	140118	29.2
DK9IP-#	133209	20.8
DJ3AK-#	123229	23.1
S50ARX-#	121321	28.1
SK3W-#	110255	27.1
DL8LAS-#	102939	25.6
W3OA-#	99240	27.7
OL5Q-#	96460	24.5
G0KTN-#	94552	26
LA5EKA-#	93528	24.6

SV8RV-#	86348	18.2
K3LR-#	82552	28.6
RU9CZD-#	78791	22.6
K3MM-#	78608	28.2
K8ND-#	77846	25
OH6BG-#	72966	26.8
WA7LNW-#	71994	24.4
KM3T-#	66668	26.1
W3LPL-#	66663	28.6
HA6PX-#	64823	15.6

W8WTS-#	63440	19.9
V51YJ-#	62858	15.7
ES5PC-#	62538	31.1
WZ7I-#	58989	30.1
VK6IA-#	54303	14.8
N7TR-#	53961	24
KB9AMG-#	50633	23.2
W4AX-#	50530	26.4
TF3Y-#	48115	26
PA1T-#	47676	23.1

OE3DIA-#	46742	17.9
NC7J-#	46441	19.1
PJ2T-#	46173	20.4
N6TV-#	43935	18.8
JA4ZRK-#	42716	18
ON5KQ-#	42682	29.7
KH6LC-#	40645	20.8
N0TA-#	40210	18.7
K1TTT-#	38195	26.6
RZ3DVP-#	32738	23.7

NY3A-#	31973	25.6
TF4M-#	28867	27.2
N4ZR-#	23609	25.4
DL0LBS-#	21102	13
VE2WU-#	19295	31.1
K9QC-#	19075	23.9
SM6FMB-#	18701	20.4
AA4VV-#	18020	25.9
W1UJ-#	17505	22.5
W0MU-#	17160	21.2

R4WT-#	16364	12.7
DJ9IE-#	16237	25.1
PA5KT-#	13126	22.9
NB3R-#	12188	29.1
AB7TB-#	11388	19.5
SA7AKE-#	11116	17.8
VK1LW-#	10685	11.4
G0VXE-#	9548	17.3
N6NC-#	7906	9.3
PY3OL-#	7892	13.8

N3CXV-#	7785	25
NP2L-#	7246	18.3
HZ1FI-#	7227	16.4
SP7KED-#	6745	28
OH8KVA-#	5909	24.8
8Q7DV-#	5362	16.1
DL1AMQ-#	5226	27.2
W0QL-#	5045	21.8
DO4DXA-#	4091	28.8
M0NOZ-#	4058	14.6

DJ6JZ-#	3720	18.7
E71DX-#	3632	13.5
DK8NE-#	3401	22.1
F5NBU-#	3150	31.4
EI6IZ-#	2805	30
IK0XBX-#	2753	26.4
IK3STG-#	1949	17.7
KC0VKN-#	1480	14.5
G4BYG-#	1477	18.9
AK2B-#	909	13.4

DF6PW-#	868	23.7
VE6WZ-#	659	24.3
DJ2RD-#	485	27.9
DL9GTB-#	424	26.3
WE4S-#	415	23.3
JR3IXB-#	375	25.6
UA4NE-#	332	22.5
DK1MAX-#	311	19
UR5FCM-#	266	25.5
KE4OPI-#	256	25.5

IK0VCK-#	256	24.6
G6LSB-#	208	27.5
PA0MBO-#	199	15.9
RL3A-#	101	19.5
DL5KW-#	95	20.7

Skimmer	Spots	Avg S/N
8Q7DV-#	5362	16.1
AA4VV-#	18020	25.9
AB7TB-#	11388	19.5
AK2B-#	909	13.4
DF6PW-#	868	23.7
DJ2RD-#	485	27.9
DJ3AK-#	123229	23.1
DJ6JZ-#	3720	18.7
DJ9IE-#	16237	25.1
DK1MAX-#	311	19
DK8NE-#	3401	22.1
DK9IP-#	133209	20.8
DL0LBS-#	21102	13
DL1AMQ-#	5226	27.2
DL5KW-#	95	20.7
DL8LAS-#	102939	25.6
DL9GTB-#	424	26.3
DO4DXA-#	4091	28.8
E71DX-#	3632	13.5
EI6IZ-#	2805	30
ES5PC-#	62538	31.1
F5NBU-#	3150	31.4
G0KTN-#	94552	26
G0VXE-#	9548	17.3
G4BYG-#	1477	18.9
G6LSB-#	208	27.5
GW8IZR-#	140118	29.2
HA6PX-#	64823	15.6
HZ1FI-#	7227	16.4
IK0VCK-#	256	24.6
IK0XBX-#	2753	26.4
IK3STG-#	1949	17.7
JA4ZRK-#	42716	18
JR3IXB-#	375	25.6
K1TTT-#	38195	26.6
K3LR-#	82552	28.6
K3MM-#	78608	28.2
K8ND-#	77846	25
K9QC-#	19075	23.9
KB9AMG-#	50633	23.2
KC0VKN-#	1480	14.5
KE4OPI-#	256	25.5
KH6LC-#	40645	20.8
KM3T-#	66668	26.1
LA5EKA-#	93528	24.6
M0NOZ-#	4058	14.6
N0TA-#	40210	18.7
N3CXV-#	7785	25
N4ZR-#	23609	25.4
N6NC-#	7906	9.3
N6TV-#	43935	18.8
N7TR-#	53961	24
NB3R-#	12188	29.1
NC7J-#	46441	19.1
NP2L-#	7246	18.3
NY3A-#	31973	25.6
OE3DIA-#	46742	17.9
OH6BG-#	72966	26.8
OH8KVA-#	5909	24.8
OL5Q-#	96460	24.5
ON5KQ-#	42682	29.7
PA0MBO-#	199	15.9
PA1T-#	47676	23.1
PA5KT-#	13126	22.9
PJ2T-#	46173	20.4
PY3OL-#	7892	13.8
R4WT-#	16364	12.7
RL3A-#	101	19.5
RU9CZD-#	78791	22.6
RZ3DVP-#	32738	23.7
S50ARX-#	121321	28.1
SA7AKE-#	11116	17.8
SK3W-#	110255	27.1
SM6FMB-#	18701	20.4
SP7KED-#	6745	28
SV8RV-#	86348	18.2
TF3Y-#	48115	26
TF4M-#	28867	27.2
UA4NE-#	332	22.5
UR5FCM-#	266	25.5
V51YJ-#	62858	15.7
VE2WU-#	19295	31.1
VE6WZ-#	659	24.3
VK1LW-#	10685	11.4
VK6IA-#	54303	14.8
W0MU-#	17160	21.2
W0QL-#	5045	21.8
W1UJ-#	17505	22.5
W3LPL-#	66663	28.6
W3OA-#	99240	27.7
W4AX-#	50530	26.4
W8WTS-#	63440	19.9
WA7LNW-#	71994	24.4
WE4S-#	415	23.3
WZ7I-#	58989	30.1

All Areas	Spots	Africa	Spots
DR1A	30,103	DR1A	891
9A1A	24,542	NQ4I	753
K3LR	23,599	WE3C	711
NQ4I	23,292	KC1XX	707
KC1XX	22,706	K3LR	695
DF0HQ	21,292	9A1A	680
W2FU	21,228	DF0HQ	657
LZ9W	20,915	NR4M	633
W3LPL	19,477	W2FU	591
WE3C	19,044	W3LPL	533

North America	Spots	South America	Spots
NQ4I	13,019	K3LR	521
K3LR	12,642	NQ4I	467
W2FU	11,567	KC1XX	463
KC1XX	11,459	DR1A	444
W2PV	11,066	W2FU	390
PJ2T	9,565	WE3C	383
W3LPL	9,364	9A1A	359
NR5M	9,239	W3LPL	355
WE3C	9,223	NR5M	340
K0RF	9,123	NR4M	331


Europe	Spots	Asia	Spots
DR1A	18,361	JA5FDJ	1,288
9A1A	15,113	DR1A	1,183
LZ9W	14,499	JA3YBK	1,175
DF0HQ	13,227	9A1A	1,145
SK3W	12,396	DF0HQ	1,111
LY7A	11,437	LZ9W	1,102
KC1XX	9,305	SK3W	980
K3LR	8,727	LY7A	900
W3LPL	8,445	B1Z	694
NQ4I	7,988	JA1YPA	650
		...
		N6WM	346
		...
		K3LR	312


Oceania	Spots
JA5FDJ	1,279
JA3YBK	1,207
ZM1A	792
K3LR	702
NQ4I	699
N6WM	692
B1Z	690
K0RF	680
DR1A	660
JA1YPA	633
NR4M	589
WE3C	582
KC1XX	559
W3LPL	536
W2FU	530
DF0HQ	529
9A1A	529
NR5M	489

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