The Reverse Beacon Network represents a clever inversion of traditional radio beacon concepts. While conventional beacons are transmitting stations that operators listen to for checking band conditions, the RBN turns this model on its head by creating a global network of listening stations that hear you. When you key up your transmitter and send CW, RTTY, or PSK signals, hundreds of automated receiving stations scattered across continents are potentially listening and ready to report your presence.
The network was originally built around CW contesting and remains strongest on Morse code. However, many skimmers now also support RTTY and other digital modes.
This network operates through the dedication of volunteer amateur radio operators who run specialized receiving stations equipped with software-defined radios and decoding programs. These stations work tirelessly around the clock, monitoring the amateur bands and automatically decoding callsigns from the signals they detect. The moment one of these stations successfully decodes your transmission, it uploads that information to a central database where operators worldwide can access it within seconds.
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