PSK Reporter Explained: See Who Hears Your Signal
You change an antenna, key up on FT8 for a few minutes and then wonder: did anyone actually hear that? PSK Reporter answers the question in seconds. It is a free reception-report service that collects automatic spots from decoders around the world and shows on a map who heard whom, on which band, at what strength. For anyone who uses digital modes, it is the closest thing to an independent, real-time audit of your signal.
This guide explains how PSK Reporter works, how to get your own reports flowing, how to read the map and the tables, how to use it for antenna comparisons and propagation checks, and where its limits lie. It avoids quoting frequencies or software versions, because these change; check the documentation of your decoder and the PSK Reporter site for current details.
What PSK Reporter Is and How It Works
The service is available at pskreporter.info. It does not run a network of receivers of its own. Instead, software such as WSJT-X, JTDX and many other digital-mode programs decode signals and, if the operator has enabled the option, upload the callsign, band, mode, signal report and location of every decoded station. The PSK Reporter server collects these uploads and makes them searchable on a map.
Reports, not contacts
A reception report is not a contact. When a station in another country lists your callsign, it means their decoder heard your signal, not that you exchanged information. This distinction matters. PSK Reporter shows where your signal can be heard, which is useful for propagation and antenna checks, but it does not prove that a two-way contact is possible. The other station may have a better antenna and a quieter location than you do.
Which modes it covers
Reports come mainly from digital modes that decoders can identify automatically: FT8, FT4, and many others. The service tracks the mode in each report, so you can filter by the one you are using. If you are new to those modes, our guide to a WSJT-X and FT8 setup that works the first time covers the software, and the comparison of JTDX and WSJT-X helps you choose a decoder.
Getting Your Own Reports
To appear on the map you need to transmit a mode that other stations decode, and those stations must upload their results. You do not need to enable anything to be heard, but you do to hear and contribute. Most decoders include a setting for enabling reporting, and enabling it improves the map for everyone.
Turn on spotting in your software
In WSJT-X the reporting option is in the settings under the reporting tab. Enable the option, make sure your callsign and locator are set correctly, and keep your computer clock accurate, because digital modes depend on timing. A grid locator that is wrong will place your station in the wrong location on everyone else’s map. If the Maidenhead system is unfamiliar, read our guide to grid squares and the Maidenhead locator system.
Check that reports appear
After a few transmit periods, open the site and look up your callsign. Choose to view the reports for the station that transmitted, or for the station that received. Both views exist: one shows who heard you, the other shows who you heard. If nothing appears after a while, check the internet connection of the other stations and your own upload setting.
Reading the Map and the Tables
The map is only part of the story. The site also shows a table listing each report, and reading the two together gives the most information.
Filters that matter
You can filter by band, mode, time period and direction of report. Narrow the map to one band and one mode, and choose a recent period such as the last fifteen minutes to see current conditions. Widen the time period to see the pattern over a day. The colours generally indicate the band or the strength of the signal, and lines link the transmitter and the receiver.
Signal reports
Digital decoders report a signal-to-noise figure for each decode. These are useful for comparison but are not calibrated measurements. Different receivers, antennas and noise levels shift the numbers, so treat them as relative rather than absolute. A difference of a few units between two of your own tests, made minutes apart to the same receivers, is more meaningful than a comparison between distant stations.
Ways to Use PSK Reporter
| Use | What to look at | What it tells you | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check if a band is open | Reports on that band in the last few minutes | Whether signals are getting through at all | Only shows where receivers exist |
| Compare two antennas | Reports for the same receivers, minutes apart | Relative difference in signal strength | Conditions change quickly; repeat several times |
| Test a new station | Who hears you and how far away | Rough footprint of your signal | Reports are not contacts |
| Find a DX opening | Long-distance reports on a band | Where propagation is currently good | Bias toward areas with many receivers |
| Confirm a remote station is on the air | Reports for that callsign | Whether its signal is being decoded | May lag by a few minutes |
Comparing Antennas and Changes Fairly
PSK Reporter is an excellent way to test a new antenna or a change to your station, provided you do it carefully. The main enemy is changing conditions. The ionosphere moves, noise levels shift and other stations come and go. To compare two options fairly, alternate between them in short periods, use the same mode and power, and note which receivers reported both times. Repeat the sequence several times and average what you see.
A simple test routine
- Choose one band and one digital mode, and set a fixed power.
- Transmit for a few periods on antenna A, then switch to antenna B for the same number of periods.
- Note which stations decoded you in each period, and their reported signal levels.
- Compare only the stations that heard both antennas.
- Repeat at another time of day and on another band.
If your results are inconsistent, do not draw conclusions from a single test. Keep records so that patterns emerge over several sessions. Results are also affected by how well the transmitted signal is matched to the antenna, so use an SWR meter or analyzer to be certain each configuration is set up properly. If you use a vertical, check the ground system as well.
Using Spots Alongside DX Clusters
PSK Reporter and the DX cluster network answer different questions. A cluster spot is a human or a skimmer telling the world that a station is on the air, with a frequency to tune to. A PSK Reporter report is an automatic decode showing that a signal was received at a particular place. Chasers use both: the cluster to find a station, and PSK Reporter to see whether a band is open toward it. Our guide to DX clusters, spotting etiquette and filtering out noise explains how the spot network works, and automating DX spot alerts shows how to be notified when a station you want appears.
This is where an alerting tool such as LY4A DX Reminder is useful in practice. It watches several DX clusters, including DXSummit and PSK Reporter, and sounds an alarm when a station you are looking for appears. That lets you keep doing something else while your radio and software wait, instead of staring at a spot window. As with any automation, keep the alert list small and specific so that the notifications stay meaningful.
Limits and Biases to Keep in Mind
PSK Reporter is powerful, but it is not a complete picture of propagation. The map only shows paths that end at a station running a decoder with reporting turned on. A region with few such stations will look empty even when the band is open there. Likewise, the map shows stations that are transmitting a mode that gets decoded. If nobody is transmitting on a band, you will not see it.
- Receiver bias. Areas with many active receivers dominate the map.
- Noise and antenna differences. A quiet remote receiver hears signals that a noisy city receiver cannot.
- Mode bias. Activity is concentrated in popular modes, so the map reflects what people use, not just what propagation allows.
- Clock and locator errors. Incorrect settings produce misleading reports.
- Delay. Reports arrive after decoding and upload, so the map lags by a short time.
Combine PSK Reporter with other tools. Space weather data, propagation predictions and beacon networks each add a piece to the puzzle. For CW and RTTY, the automated decoders of the Reverse Beacon Network at reversebeacon.net play a similar role to PSK Reporter for digital modes.
Privacy and Good Practice
Because reports include the callsign and grid locator, anyone can see where a receiver is. Choose a locator that suits your privacy needs, remembering that a four-character grid square covers a large area, while a six-character one is more precise. Keep your data current if you move or operate portable, and use the correct locator when you operate from a park or a summit so that reports are meaningful.
Finally, remember that this is a volunteer resource. Turn on reporting if you can, and leave it running when your receiver is active. The more stations contribute, the better the picture for everyone. For general resources on digital operating and regulations, the ARRL is a reliable independent reference.
A Worked Example: Checking an Opening
Suppose you want to know whether the band is open toward a particular region. Open the map, select the band you are on and the mode you use, and set the period to the last fifteen minutes. Then filter for reports received in the region that interests you. If several receivers there are decoding stations from your area, the path is open, and you have a good chance of being heard if you call. If the region is quiet, widen the time period to see whether it was open earlier or whether nothing has been heard for hours.
Then transmit a few periods yourself and refresh the view for your own callsign. If nobody in that region reports you although they hear others in your area, consider whether your antenna pattern, power or mode is the limitation. Small differences, such as a lower take-off angle or a quieter time of day, can change the result, and the map gives you quick feedback to test them one at a time.
The Bottom Line
PSK Reporter turns every digital-mode decode into a data point on a shared map. Enable reporting in your software, keep your clock and locator correct, filter by band and mode, and use it to compare antennas and check openings, remembering that a report is not a contact. Used with DX clusters and propagation data, it shows where your signal goes and where to point your attention next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PSK Reporter?
PSK Reporter is a free service that collects automatic reception reports from digital-mode decoders and shows on a map which stations were heard by whom, on which band and mode.
Is a PSK Reporter spot a QSO?
No. A spot means a station’s decoder heard your signal. It is not a two-way contact, and the other station may have a much better receiving setup than yours.
How do I get my signal on PSK Reporter?
Transmit a digital mode that other stations decode and that they report. To contribute your own reports, enable the reporting option in your decoder software and set your callsign and locator correctly.
Why do I see no reports after transmitting?
The band may be closed toward receivers, or few stations may be running decoders with reporting enabled. Check your transmit period, your mode and your band, and look again after several minutes.
Can I use PSK Reporter to compare antennas?
Yes, if you alternate between antennas in short periods on the same band and mode, and compare only the stations that heard both. Repeat several times because conditions change quickly.
Are PSK Reporter signal reports accurate?
They are useful for relative comparison but not calibrated. Different receivers, noise levels and antennas change the numbers, so treat them as indications rather than measurements.
Does PSK Reporter cover CW?
Digital-mode decoders provide most reports. For CW and RTTY, automated receivers such as those in the Reverse Beacon Network provide similar information.