[ADXA] DX Cluster

[w5znjoel at gmail.com]

Thanks Jay, on all.

 

I like to use CW skimmer to see the stations calling in a CW pileup. That way I can see how many ADXA members I get to WALK OVER to work the DX !!!!  😊

 

ZN

 

From: Jay Bromley <jayw5jay at outlook.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 3:05 PM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com; adxa at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [ADXA] DX Cluster

 

OH, one last thing.  Joel, I do use CWSkimmer to see what my receiver is hearing!  I love seeing those callsigns on my Spectrum scope.  This is mainly to hook up with old friends, but you can also use it on DX and see his pattern working stations split.  

 

Just find a clear spot and wait for them to come to you.  Again, small signal thing.  You would never have to worry about such details.  😂

 

73 de jay/w5jay..

  _____  

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > on behalf of Jay Bromley <jayw5jay at outlook.com <mailto:jayw5jay at outlook.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 2:33 PM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com <mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>  <w5znjoel at gmail.com <mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> >; adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>  <adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net> >
Subject: Re: [ADXA] DX Cluster 

 

Joel,

I mainly used SpotCollector in DXLabs, but don't look at that screen.  Too much info to fast, but you can funnel all the info down the band map or what they call bandspread.  You can set the configuration to where the callsigns are colored coded.  Like Red for an ATNO, Blue for a new band counter, Green for a new band/mode, etc.  

 

Normally run 4 DX Cluster sites in SpotCollector, one for each part of the world.  This is very easy to set up and do.  That way you can do research on how the DXpedition is currently working.  Plus, if it was a long ranger like when Monk Apolo was alive, you can track his habits and be waiting on him.  There is even a video or PowerPoint called Stalking Monk Apolo.  I used that and got the good Monk within a few days on CW, two bands.  I mainly use SC for SSB and CW.

 

If you are one of those guys that think, well I don't need to see the spots on the other side of the world you can filter all the above in one mouse click.  But IMHO there is a good reason not to filter this out if you use the bandmap.  

 

When I was interested in the Desto Challenge, I would use the bandmap to see how old the spot is and what part of the world they were being spotted in.  One just needs to hover the mouse over the callsign to see all this information.  So filtering isn't really needed or wanted.  There is also a box in the bandmap that comes up with the same color code you made for the callsigns.  When you see it turn red, ATNO, then hover the mouse over the box to see how old the spot is who, what, and where, etc.  If it is something you would rather chase, you can click on the box (assuming your are using rig control) it will take you right to that DX's frequency.  So even if you are one band, but a new one comes up you don't miss out.   

 

There is more power in this suite of programs, but I don't think a person like you really needs it at this point in your DXCC career.  It is us Winnie Heads that need all the help we can get!  

 

73 de jay/w5jay..

 

  _____  

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > on behalf of w5znjoel at gmail.com <mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>  <w5znjoel at gmail.com <mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 7:16 AM
To: adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>  <adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net> >
Subject: [ADXA] DX Cluster 

 

ADXA folks – Sitting here this morning thinking about DX clusters. What are you using these days? That question may be old school now since a lot of you FT8 folks are using JT alert and other things, but since I focus mostly on CW I still like to monitor a DX cluster. I normally use VE7CC but know there are others, and several of them are linked up.

 

So, insuring minds need to know. If you monitor or use one, which one?

 

73 Joel W5ZN

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/adxa/attachments/20250115/f53aaaf2/attachment.html>