Return-Path: Received: from rly-mf09.mx.aol.com (rly-mf09.mail.aol.com [172.20.29.179]) by air-mf03.mail.aol.com (v121.4) with ESMTP id MAILINMF032-97c47a605a61aa; Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:19:38 -0500 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [193.82.116.20]) by rly-mf09.mx.aol.com (v121.4) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINMF092-97c47a605a61aa; Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:19:20 -0500 Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1JLjQW-0001iC-Cd for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:18:48 +0000 Received: from [193.82.59.130] (helo=relay2.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1JLjQV-0001i3-UY for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:18:47 +0000 Received: from wmsmtp.opaltelecom.net ([62.24.128.253] helo=smtp.talktalk.net) by relay2.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from ) id 1JLjQR-00026r-Ur for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:18:47 +0000 Received: from unknown (HELO g3kev) ([89.240.144.149]) by smtp.talktalk.net with SMTP; 03 Feb 2008 18:18:36 +0000 X-Path: TTSMTP Message-ID: <004c01c86691$320182b0$0301a8c0@g3kev> From: "mal" To: "rsgb" Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 18:18:36 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 X-Spam-Score: 1.2 (+) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,SUBJ_ALL_CAPS=1.166 Subject: LF: 500 BEACONS Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.6 required=5.0 tests=SUBJ_ALL_CAPS autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false X-AOL-IP: 193.82.116.20 X-AOL-SCOLL-AUTHENTICATION: listenair ; SPF_helo : n X-AOL-SCOLL-AUTHENTICATION: listenair ; SPF_822_from : n Does anyone really listen to these beacons at present. In the early days they were useful but now there is very little reporting. The majority of operators that I speak to do not look for beacons, only real time QSO'S . If one looks at the odd beacon report it is the same person reporting over and over and is meaningless. I have not seen a report from any new countries for a long time, no one listening. even heard a BEACON CQ today from a GW station that went on for hours!!!!!!!!!!!! The preferred mode on this band is normal CW and a real QSO. Grabbers are useful for propagation testing when the band is quiet but a real qso and report is more authentic and do not forget xband working for a report from around EU. The experienced operator knows when their system is working. De G3KEV