The new FARA DX Cluster

The DX cluster is a DX Spider node. It's commands are slightly different than the ones you may have known for the AK1A cluster that was run at N1HOQ.

Connecting: To do anything with the cluster you must connect to it from your TNC. That means the TNC has to be in the command mode and you issue a C K1RK as the command. Some of the newer packet programs use a connect window where you simply enter the call K1RK. The effect is the same either way and you will be connected with the K1RK cluster.

Welcome screen and sign on: If it's your first time there, we ask you to register. Instructions for doing that appear on your screen after the welcome message. Just follow the instructions which are cluster commands you must issue through your TNC in the terminal mode. The commands go something like this SET/NAME [your first name], SET/QTH [your town and State], SET/LOC dd mm N dd mm W. If you want to make K1RK your "homenode" issue the command SET/HOME K1RK, This tells the cluster system where to find you if you receive messages (email). This is not "Internet Email" it's packet email used only within the cluster system.

Once you establish a connection, you should immediately start to see DX Spots from all over the world. A DX Spot looks something like this:

DX de K1BI   14190.0  JA1ABC  20/9 big signal                   0750Z

the spot tells you that K1BI worked JA1ABC on 20m (at 14.190MHz) at 0750 Z. Want to work the JA too? Just dial up the frequency, listen for him and then call him. That's all there is to it - neat, no?

Other things of interest

A real DX hound wants to know what the propagation is like. You want to know the lates WWV report on solar conditions. Fine, just type SHOW/WWV (or sh/wwv). Out spills the last 10 or so propagation reports from WWV in 3 hour increments. Want to know what's a good band to use to work VK's at the moment? We got it! Just type sh/muf vk. Spider contains software to calculate the current maximum usable frequency between your QTH and the place you would like to work. It will show you what the best band might be and how loud the signals might be based on the current WWV propagation data. Double neat!

Of course you always just watch and see what spots are being made, by whom, and on what band. Be careful though, you may see all kinds of spots from W6's working New Zealand. You probably won't hear either of the stations if propagation for your area to ZL land or the left coast do not exist. That's why the muf function is there.

Are you a satellite fanatic? Well those spots are on there too. Not as often as regular HF DX spots, but they are their and listed as SAT spots. Usually they will tell you the Bird they are using too and who they worked. You may even see stations just saying they are calling CQ on AO-10 right now. Want to know where to point to hit the Bird? We got it: Type sh/sat ao-40 and out pops a table of az-el data for the next so many hours every 30 minutes. If the satellite is not in your view you only get a single line with a negative elevation.

DX Cluster has something for everyone. Want to know if that rare VP8GEO on S. Georgia Island is on now and where they're operating? Try sh/dx vp8geo - it will tell you, if he's been on, when and where. It also shows you who spotted them and if there were lots of 1's and 2's spotting them recently, you may still have a shot.

Want to know what's happening on 6 meters right now? Type sh/dx on 6m and you'll get the last 10 spots on 6m. If the band's not open you'll see old spots from earlier in the day, perhaps even yesterday. Again, remember that these spots come from all over the world, so don't get excited just because there are lots of spots on 6m - they could be Brits working Germans or something like that. You have to understand what you're seeing on the screen and take time to digest it.

Ready to sign off?

Just type b or bye and you'll be logged off the system. If you're not actually using the system, please don't stay camped on it for days on end.

Using the cluster for contesting

Many people do and, in fact that's its principal purpose. Why else would the cluster in this area be sponsored by the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC)? If you think you could get into contesting, visit the YCCC web site.

Some people think using the cluster for contesting is cheating. Nah - it's not, but it does put you in another operating class in most contests. You may find yourself competing against stations with 20 operators instead of one-on-one because using the cluster in most contests will move you into a multi-op class. Some contests provide a single-assisted class for cluster users.

What else does the cluster do?

Lots - so much that you better read the manual to fully understand and use the cluster. The manual is actually stored on the system and you can get help on any command. Just type HELP followed by the command you want help on. Thus help sh/dx will give you a rundown on that command. The catch is you have to know the command before you can find out how to use it. The manual is much better for beginners in the cluster business. The manual can be found at the DX Spider web site.

In any case, enjoy. If you have any problems, especially connecting with the cluster by packet on Cape Cod, please let me know.

73, de Saul K1BI
Sysop

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Updated: 10/15/2007