[Ham-Mac] AR-Cluster tip on Use of Macros

[Dick Kriss, AA5VU]

If you are a DX cluster user, you may want to read this tip. It covers a new
(to me) AR-Cluster command (for macros) that is pretty cool. It works FB on
my Mac and should work just as well on a PC. I don't own a PCs so cannot
comment.

First, I use NI5V's NetDXCluster software on a Mac G4 to connect to the
AB5K-2 AR-Cluster Telnet port in Bee Cave, TX via a DSL connection.  I use
some (semi-complex PITA to type) embedded macros that I use over and over
again to check for RTTY and PSK spots. The macros are commanded with a mouse
click.  All I have to do is pull down Filter menu and select the command I
want to use with a mouse click. (The current version of NI5V's NetDXCluster
does not provide for user defined macros so I used the Filter options as a
work around macro template.)

When I mentioned using embedded RTTY and PSK macros to Terry, AB5K, he
suggested I try the new macros added to the AR-Cluster software.  I was not
aware the AR-Cluster software had built-in macro support until he pointed me
to the docs at:

 http://www.ab5k.net/ArcDocs/UserManual/ArcPersonalization.htm#macros

Terry, AB5K, then provided the following explanation and an example using
one of my cluster commands:

--------------------
AR-Cluster has 10 programmable macros.  Macros are user defined shortcuts.
The 0 thru 9 keys are defined as macro keys.  If the first character of a
user command is a 0 - 9, the character is replaced with its macro
definition.  

In Dick's example, rather than type the command
sh/dx/30 where freq > 14060.0 and freq < 14120.0
he can set up a macro by typing
set/macro 9=sh/dx/30 where freq > 14060.0 and freq < 14120.0
and the next time simply type a
9 (followed by a the Enter key)

-------------------

I tried Terry's tip and find it is much easier to just type the number
rather the having to pull down a menu and mouse click to command a macro.

FYI, the following is the results of a "sh/macro" command to display my
current macro settings.

-------------------
AA5VU de AB5K-2    28-Jun 1354Z  arc >
Macro0 set to: sh/heading
Macro1 set to: SH/ART
Macro2 set to: 
Macro3 set to: 
Macro4 set to: 
Macro5 set to: 
Macro6 set to: sh/dx/10 where comment like '%PSK%'
Macro7 set to: sh/dx where comment like '%PSK%'
Macro8 set to: sh/dx/10 where comment like '%RTTY%'
Macro9 set to: sh/dx/30 where freq > 14060.0 and freq < 14120.0
-------------------

If you are an AR Cluster user, you may want to play around with the macros.
They are pretty cool and save typing and mousing around.  The macro numbers
I use all the time are 0, 6, and 8.

For those not be familiar with NI5V's NetDXCluster, it has a data entry
(type in) box for user interaction with the cluster.  One of the standard
commands I use a lot is the SH/HEADING command to find the name and location
of a strange (brain freeze) spot on the cluster display. With the new (to
me) cluster macros, all I have to do is push the zero "0" key, type in the
prefix or call (7Q7PF) and push ENTER or RETURN. The cluster response is:

Country: 7Q = Malawi  81 deg (LP 261) 9279 mi (14929 km) from AA5VU

FYI, the "ART" command (my macro 1 above) is the callsign lookup. If I push
the "1" key, type in AA5VU and push ENTER or RETURN, the cluster responds
with:

AR-Techology Callsign Database - updated 12/28/2004
  Call: AA5VU  Class:E  Expires:02/15/2013
  Richard M. Kriss, 904 Dartmoor Drive, Austin, TX,  78746
  County: United States  Lat: 30.2971  Long:-97.8181  Grid: EM10CH  Email:
aa5vu at qsl.net

Another useful tip is to copy/paste the complete (street, city and zip)
address into Google and you will get a FB map display for most locations.

Thanks for reading this AR-Cluster macro tip. Hopefully, someone will find
it useful too.  To find a AR-Cluster node near your QTH, go to

http://www.ab5k.net/ArcNodeList.aspx

and contact your local AR-Cluster sysop for support, if necessary.

73 de Dick, AA5VU