I've been playing around with CW Skimmer , again. I'm 10 days in to my "trial". Previously I had tried it and gave up because I was not too impressed with the CW decoding ability compared to that of Multipsk .. This time I have used it a bit more and learned more about how to use it. In combination with the reverse beacon network (http://www.reversebeacon.net/) , plus some useful ways to use it with Spotcollector and an SDR , I'm quite impressed with what can be done. Now I'm thinking maybe its time to develop something like a Digital Skimmer. PSK Reporter, and application specific things like PSK "Broadband decoding" in Winwarbler, or Superbrowser in DM780, or "Panoramic" modes in Multipsk , come close ...but not quite.
To have an equivalent of CW Skimmer for digital modes , we would need the following... Ability to detect and decode all common digital modes via RS ID Detection over a wide frequency range 10 kHz -200 Khz, multiple bands at same time (with an SDR panadapter). Multipsk can do some of this now. Recognition of any "CQ de K3UK" type call Placement of any "QRL " on waterfall or band map Placement of any 5NN or 599 on waterfall or band map Placement of detected callsigns on the waterfall (some apps can do this already) or on a band map Mouse controlled narrowing/widening of the audio frequency range played via PC speakers. A web site to accept all these spots without maps (like reversebeacons.net) that is searchable by call and band. PSKreporter is good but maps make it too resource dependent. Hamspots would be better suited. The key would be the ability to integrate "skims" with one central on line repository and the local Telnet server capability that CW Skimmer has. e.g Heard by Caller WE4S K3UK 3530.5 CQ 25 dB 23 wpm 0134z 10 Jan N0XR-4 K3UK 7045.9 CQ 5 dB 23 wpm 0029z 10 Jan N0XR-4 K3UK 7018.7 CQ 7 dB 23 wpm 2307z 09 Jan N0XR-4 K3UK 7014.7 CQ 12 dB 23 wpm 2306z 09 Jan N0XR-4 K3UK 7011.7 CQ 19 dB 23 wpm 2303z 09 Jan K4TD K3UK 7011.5 CQ 33 dB 23 wpm 2303z 09 Jan or de dx freq cq/dx snr speed time LA5EKA IZ4GSC 14005.0 CQ 15 dB 16 wpm 0832z 11 Jan LA5EKA OE4AAC 14028.0 CQ 37 dB 24 wpm 0832z 11 Jan G0KTN KM1CC 1822.5 CQ 8 dB 28 wpm 0832z 11 Jan N4ZR LA5HE 3501.6 CQ 16 dB 17 wpm 0832z 11 Jan LA5EKA I1GIS 7022.9 CQ 24 dB 18 wpm 0832z 11 Jan LA5EKA F5VV 14028.6 CQ 48 dB 27 wpm 0832z 11 Jan K4TD LA5HE 3501.5 CQ 7 dB 17 wpm 0832z 11 Jan Just some thoughts Andy K3UK
