[Ham-Mac] DX Cluster

[Dick Kriss]

On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:04 PM, John T Barr wrote:

> Folks...
> 
> I just wanted to say "thanks" as several offered DX Cluster suggestions and happy to say I am up and running!
> 
> A special thanks to Dick who walked me through the process by phone.
> 
> I must say, it was a lot easier in the "old days" with a TNC and a 2 meter radio!
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> John
> 
> Capt.John T. Barr
> PO Box 652
> Stuart, FL 34995-0652
> (772) 985-0523 V
> (425) 988-0505 F

John W6JTB

Thanks for the nice note.  The following are some AR-Cluster Version 6 tips for you. The next time you are on the cluster, enter the following commands:

set/dx/extension  LOTW CTY

set/Station/Macro 0 sh/heading

The first will display the AD1C distributed cty.dat country names and prefixes when you call for a list.  In the example, note the prefix before the time. Also note the "+" symbol before the prefix. The + before the TF means the station is a LoTW user.

0 TF3SG
DX de GW3LEW:    50150.0  TF3SG        57 in io71                 +TF 2319Z

The second command is a Macro or shortcut that you will find useful when you notice a strange looking call or prefix and want to Get Info on the call. Rather than having to type out the long form all you have do is is enter 0 (for zero not the letter O) and the call or prefix. For example:

0 SK3SIX 
Heading/distance to: SK3SIX/Sweden   28 deg/208 lp   5090 mi/8192 km

or

0 3Z2012EFC
Heading/distance to: 3Z2012EFC/Poland   34 deg/214 lp   5580 mi/8981 km

FYI, there is a bug in the current released ARC-6 cluster software and it will not respond to commands to calls with embedded /bars. For example: 

0 SV2ASP/A
Error processing Show Heading command: sh heading SV2ASP/A

Terry AB5K, the AR Cluster Software Developer, is aware of this issue and has corrected the problem on his development system but has not pushed the fix to the ARC-6 cluster host stations.

If you want to view your AR Cluster settings, use the command

sh/station

Jeff, N8NOE, has link on his web page at <http://www.n8noe.us/ARC.html> to AB5K's AR-Cluster Quick Command Summary and the AR-Cluster Version 4 and 6 User Manuals.

Good DXing and enjoy the clusters


73 Dick AA5VU