The DX CLUSTER
Info on the local WB4IUY DX node and use of the DX Packet Cluster
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DWAIT = 600 MSEC (some TNC's express this in 10's of Msec, so the setting would be 60 for 600Msec, as an example)RESP = 3000 MSEC (some TNC's have a maximum of 2500 MSEC, so set yours as close to 3000 as possible)TXDELAY = 400 MSEC RETRY = 10 PERSIST = 64 SLOTTIME = 10 PACKET SIZE = 255 BEACON = 0 (OFF) CWID = 0 (OFF) CONPERM = OFF
Today's DX Cluster Nodes are worldwide - a network providing instant DX spotsand related information to Ham Radio operators logged onto their local cluster/node. Even access via Telnet is possible to some nodes. The system has many commands to provide DX information, mail, bulletins, and informational databases. As a User you won't need to know all of them to make the network work for you. Following is an introduction to the commands you should know, and how to use them. When you logged on you probably went through a registration dialogue asking for your name and QTH. If you were not and plan on returning to utilize the network, it is normally asked that you provide your name, QTH, and the latitude/longitude of your station. Here's how:
Example = SET/NAME Dave. To enter your QTH (or full address/telephone), type SET/QTH [qth] Example = SET/QTH Youngsville, NC. To use the features which give the DX station heading and sunrise-sunset times, you need to enter your latitude and longitude. Enter for example, SET/LOCATION 35 55 N 078 22 W. To verify the information entered, type in
SHOW/STATION [yourcall], The most important item of the network is the sending and receiving of DX related information. To display DX spots that have been sent, type SHOW/DXto list the last five DX announcements. If you're interested in one band,say 15 meters, type SHOW/DX 15. To list spots for a particularcall, type SHOW/DX [call], ie. SHOW/DX S79A. To send a DX announcement, the format is: DX [freq in KHZ] [call] [comment-optional]. As an example, to spot VU2TTC on 14.223.4, you would send: To sned a spot for 9X5AA on 28.012.0 with QSL info of 'via W4FRU', you would send: Other primary commands are:
SHOW/WWV - lists last 5 WWV solar flux reports DIRECTORY or LIST - lists last 5 (or more) mail messages since last checked READ nbr - reads that particular numbered mail message READ - reads mail messages addressed to you DELETE nbr - deletes the mail message to/from you SEND call - send a mail message to someone (call) on system SHOW/BULLETIN - lists the directory of bulletin files TYPE/BU filename - reads the bulletin (filename) requested SHOW/HEADING pfx - gives the heading of the country prefix requested SHOW/SUN pfx - gives the sunrise/sunset of country prefix requested TALK call msg - send a one-line message to someone (call) on system SHOW/COMMAND - lists the available information databases Some commands may be sent in abbreviated format. Examples are:
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