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View Full Version : usefullness of dx clusters?


kb9rqz
03-08-2007, 02:47 PM
new at Ican I see lots of spot on the dxcluster but what do they realy tell since noe of the spotters seem to be anywhere near ME?

just looking to see what i can glean besides some data of what freqs to try a mode
ad4mg
03-08-2007, 03:52 PM
Find the type of software the system you are looking at is running. Nearly all will allow you to apply "filters" to the spots you receive. For example, on the cluster I log on, I have defined a filter that allows only spots posted by east coast stations.

I liked dx clusters much better when they were only available via packet radio.

73 - Luke
03-08-2007, 08:21 PM
Do you have suggestions as to where to get such software? What's good?
ad4mg
03-08-2007, 09:08 PM
Do you have suggestions as to where to get such software? What's good?

Actually, the software running the cluster allows you to set filters. No additional software is needed.

On our cluster, for example, the syntax is something like: set/filter <argument list>

I have included a partial on the help file on our cluster and how my filters are set:

show/filter

DX Spot Orig Cty Filter set to Pass: K
DX Spot Orig State Filter set Off
Announcement Spot Orig Cty Filter set to Pass: K
Announcement Spot Orig State Filter set Off
WX Spot Orig Cty Filter set to Pass: K
WX Spot Orig State Filter set Off
DX CTY Filter set Off
DX BandMode Filter set Off
Keyword Filter set to Off

AD4MG de W4ML 09-Mar 0204Z arc > help set/filter

SET/FILTERS - User filters control spots send to your connection. Use the following
to quickly set all filters to a common setting
SET/FILTERS K/PASS (Pass all spots originating in the USA)
SET/FILTERS K,VE/PASS (Pass all spots originating in the US and Canada)
Use the command SET/NOFILTER to turn all filters OFF
You can further fine tune filters with the following commands:
DX Origination Filter, DOF - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS DOF
Announce Origination Filter, AOF - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS AOF
WX Origination Filter WOF - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS WOF
DX Spot CTY Filter - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS DXCTY
DX Spot Band-Mode Filter - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS BM
DX Keyword Reject Filter - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS DXKW
Dx Needs Filter - More help by HELP SET/FILTERS NEEDS
Also see SHOW/FILTERS

AD4MG de W4ML 09-Mar 0205Z arc >

I had all of the help files for the most popular dxcluster software here in a word document. I'll try and dig that up, and will let you guys know when I do. It explained all of the available commands in great detail.

73 - Luke
kb9rqz
03-11-2007, 01:24 AM
thanks for the thoughts right now I am not filtering them much since it amuses I was aking since I suspect it will get old soons enough
KF5ER
08-19-2007, 10:19 AM
I enjoy DXing. If I see a spot for a new country, band or mode country from
anywhere I check it out. I've worked a lot of new ones from spots generated in
Europe, SA and Asia. I filter VHF/UHF spots because I only have HF radios.
The clusters are a good tool if you're into DXing.
w2amr
08-19-2007, 10:34 AM
I enjoy DXing. If I see a spot for a new country, band or mode country from
anywhere I check it out. I've worked a lot of new ones from spots generated in
Europe, SA and Asia. I filter VHF/UHF spots because I only have HF radios.
The clusters are a good tool if you're into DXing.
I hate working DX. If I want to talk to somebody who speaks broken English, I'll go down to the quicky mart and buy a pack of smokes.
al2i
08-19-2007, 03:57 PM
I have sat down for a quick QSO with someone, and then had someone else want to tell me their name, QTH, and that I am "599" follwed by TU K. Thsi starts happening more and more until it is a cacophony of heterodyne (I'm mostly CW on HF) every time I stop transmitting. suspicious, I'll check the spotters, and sure enough, I see al2i at 14.009.

It is all cool, except if I really did just have a few minutes.