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Reverse Beacon Network

The Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) is a worldwide network of automated receivers that decode CW and digital mode signals and report what they hear. Unlike the DX Cluster, which relies on human spotters, the RBN is fully automated -- making it a powerful tool for checking propagation and verifying that your signal is getting out.

[SCREENSHOT: RBN feed showing automated spots with signal strength, speed, and receiver locations]

How It Works​

Dozens of RBN receiver stations (called "skimmers") run around the clock, listening across the HF bands. When a skimmer decodes your CW or digital transmission, it posts a spot that includes:

  • Callsign -- The station that was decoded
  • Frequency -- The exact frequency
  • Mode -- Typically CW or RTTY, plus digital modes like FT8
  • Speed -- For CW, the sending speed in WPM
  • Signal strength -- The SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) in dB as measured by the receiver
  • Skimmer callsign -- Which receiver station heard the signal

Viewing RBN Spots​

  1. Open the Activity tab and select Reverse Beacon from the activity mode dropdown.
  2. RBN spots stream in continuously and appear on the map at the skimmer's location.
  3. Tap any spot for full details, including signal strength and the skimmer's location relative to the transmitting station.

Filtering RBN Data​

The RBN generates a large volume of spots. Use the Filter button to focus:

  • Band -- Show only spots on specific bands (e.g., 20m, 40m)
  • Mode -- Filter by CW, RTTY, FT8, or other decoded modes
Is my signal getting out?

Call CQ on CW or a digital mode, then check the RBN feed for your callsign. Within seconds, you should see spots from skimmers that decoded your signal. This tells you which directions and distances your signal is reaching -- without needing another operator on the other end.

Understanding Signal Reports​

RBN signal strength is reported as SNR in dB. Here's a rough guide:

SNR (dB)What it means
0 -- 5Barely detectable
6 -- 15Readable, moderate signal
16 -- 25Strong signal
26+Very strong

Higher values from more distant skimmers indicate good propagation on that band.

info

The RBN only spots stations that are transmitting CW or digital modes. It does not decode SSB voice transmissions. For general-purpose spotting including SSB, see the DX Cluster.