Radio
Reading the bands
Understand reception reports, propagation paths, and what a radio map can tell you.
NOTES FROM THE BAND
The absence of a dot
isn’t silence.
A reception map shows reports, not every signal on the air. Pair it with a receiver and a bit of context.
A spot is evidence of reception
PSK Reporter plots reports submitted by monitoring stations. Read the selected mode and time window before comparing locations. An unreported station may still be transmitting. Open the reception map ↗
Reverse beacons listen
Rather than sending a beacon for you to hear, the network listens for other stations and reports their signals. Comparing reports over time can help reveal an opening. Read the RBN introduction ↗
A remote receiver changes the perspective
WebSDR lets multiple listeners tune independently on a receiver connected to the internet. What you hear is what reaches that receiver’s antenna. How WebSDR works ↗
Kp is context, not a band forecast
The planetary K-index describes geomagnetic disturbance. NOAA lists radio users among those affected, but a single index does not describe every path, band, or time of day. NOAA: understanding Kp ↗