tech4 DX Cluster Using the Internet By Martyn G3UKV
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For those of you not familiar with the
“DX Cluster”, a word of explanation.
The DX Cluster dates back to the 1980s, when Packet Radio
was born. Essentially it enables anyone connected
to monitor more unusual amateur radio activity on any band
— but with the emphasis mostly on the HF Bands.
Thus if
a DX station, such as XV3BV (Vietnam) comes on, someone, somewhere will “spot”
him, and enter the
callsign and frequency on the DX Cluster.
Within a minute or less, everyone else connected to the Cluster anywhere
in the world will see this information. There erupts an almighty
rush to this frequency to have a QSO with him.
As you
can imagine, the QRM is often phenomenal and the smaller fish tend to get trampled
on. I suppose the
attitude generally is that “All’s fair
in love and DX hunting”. Either you join in, or you loath it, and avoid it like
the
plague !! However, many just “listen in” and monitor the chaos.
Until the advent of Internet Broadband, links to the DX Cluster
were mainly on VHF (2 or 4 metres usually), using a TNC (Terminal Node Connector)
box. Various networks cover the globe with a mixture of radio
and landline/satellite links, so that as long as you have a nearby DX Cluster
provider (eg GB7MDX in Whixall, now operating as GB7UJS), plus a basic computer,
you can join in the fun.
Well, I’ve used the Cluster via 2 metres for a number of years,
mainly for identifying DX on 6 metres, where propagation is
very fickle and so “spots” are invaluable. I’ve also sent DX Spots up to the
Cluster on numerous occasions, so it’s not all ‘take’. The
trick here, naturally, is to work the DX first, then announce it to the Cluster
!
(You’d do the same, wouldn’t you ?)
The big change for me was going over to
Broadband Internet link in December, since the DX Cluster is available via “ Telnet”
using the Internet. Whereas previously I was paying for a dial-up connection
by the minute, Broadband can stay live all the time at no
extra cost other than whatever price plan you’re using, and more importantly
(in our house
at least), the ordinary phone is available
for normal voice calls in or out. Of course your PC can also do other things
at the same time too. You don’t need the
fastest PC alive either—I use an old 330MHz Celeron based job with Windows
98.
So, I’ve sold my TNC, freed up my 2 metre station, and just
quietly monitor DX activity. A very important feature is the
ability to filter the “Spots”. Once you know your way around the Cluster, you
can set it to only receive Spots for the bands you’re
interested in, so I usually set the filter to only accept 6 & 10 metre spots,
plus microwaves. It’s remarkably simple to do this. Once the
filter settings are what you require, they stay that way unless you tell them
otherwise. They are retained whether you’re connected or not.
For quick access, I’ve put the link on my Desktop, so it’s
only one mouse click away. So, connect to >>>> http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=4377
and you will find about 20 available DX Cluster links (GB7
callsigns). Choose one. You will see there are two styles of DX Cluster—the
older is called ‘Amateur Radio Cluster’, but most now use
the more flexible ‘DX Spider’ software. It has a built in ‘Help’ menu,
but for a full list of commands, go to www.dxcluster.org/ since they can be
a bit confusing initially. You can
also use it to calulate distances & bearings from
locators (eg IO82RR to JO01FG), sunrise/set times for greyline propagation,
WWV solar information, access qrz.com etc etc.
Our nearest Telnet DX Cluster site is Richard G8JVM in Dawley
(GB7IPT), but also I use Bob’s (G4UJS) site in Whixall—GB7UJS.
My personal favourite (fast, and no tiresome validity checks) is the Barnsley
node, GB7YDX. Click on one provider. Then simply log-in with
your callsign—it will recognise some callsigns, or ask you for basic information
and away you go ! Watch the screen—that’s all, for starters….. You can soon
start ‘filtering’ what YOU want to monitor, adjust colours
to your liking etc. Experiment with things like < SH/WWV > (which will
Show you
the last six WWV propagation figures from
Boulder in the USA) or SH/SUN (which will give you today’s sunrise and sunset
times at your location) or < SH/QRZ G3UKV > (Callbook details of G3UKV).
< SH/QRA G8UKV G4UJS > (distance and bearing G8UKV to
G4UJS) Try the filtering eg < ACC/SPOTS on vhf > (Accepts only Spots on
VHF). Or < REJ/SPOTS on VHF > (Rejects all VHF Spots).
You can send a series of filter commands. If you get in a tangle with
filtering, typing < CLEAR/SPOTS > which removes all the filtering, so
you will see Spots for all bands, modes, anywhere in the world,
or < SH/FILTER >will list what settings you have made. If you get it wrong,
it tells you quick enough, and it’s probably time to look
up the index of commands ( < www.dxcluster.org/ >) anyway.