[OKDXA] A Good DXCluster/DXSpider?

[Kim Elmore]

Mornin' Coy!

Well, my questions probably wasn't well posed.

I haven't done much serious DXing for years. When I was in CO, there 
were no Internet clusters and everything I got was off of a local DX 
Cluster run by MHDXA. Their cluster could only "see" as far as they 
were willing to build dedicated UHF links, so all the spots we saw 
were from relatively local sources. Those days are long gone, but I 
haven't kept up with cluster evolution.

I'm aware that DXSpider is open source and in Perl and that it's 
essentially a port of DXCluster. Some commands aren't exactly the 
same as the old Clusetr commands, but close enough. I'm simply 
wondering if there is a way to emulate the old, limited-scope 
DXClusters, and your answer tells me that as close as I can get is to 
cleverly use filters.

I use DXBase as my logging program -- which I suppose makes me a bit 
of an oddball because I chose not to use freeware logging software -- 
and it has some nice Internet cluster features. I chose DXBase 
because at the time because none of the freeware loggers did what I 
wanted. They probably do now, but I haven't looked. Since I now have 
a fully computer-capable radio, I'm finding that I use these features 
and like them.

So, the hunt is on for a good Internet cluster site. I'm currently 
using N0VD-8, which is DXCentral Node 2 (if what they say in their 
login header is right).

You are certainly right about seeing activity of a station 
world-wide, even if we can't hear it. That's a good point and one 
I'll have to keep in mind. I need to make some tools to allow me to 
find operating patterns for some stations to help me in the hunt.

I'll give AB5K a look!

Cheers,

Kim N5OP

P.S.: Are you one if the DXCC field-checkers?  I need to gather up my 
new ones and get my totals up to date.

At 08:27 AM 12/8/2006, you wrote:
>Kim,
>
>Good morning.  I'm a little confused about your question.  (but then, I'm
>still on my first cup of coffee)  DXSpider is a DX Cluster program with
>open source code.  That means you can dink with it if you know how to
>program in Perl.
>
>Some prefer to connect to a DX Cluster such as AB5K and others like to
>keep a window open with DX Summit, DX Watch or the like.  DX Summit has
>been sick lately so I don't recommend it right now.  Take a look at
>DXWATCH.COM.  What it does is send you a summary of what has been spotted.
>  It does this about once a minute.  It also stores all the data which is
>searchible.  I find that feature very valuable.
>
>If you are connected to a DX Cluster, you are correct in that you can set
>up filters to receive only certain spots.  The filtering system has many
>combinations that you can implement.  I prefer leaving mine open except
>for frequencies on 2 meters and above.  I do have to put up with a lot of
>Euro and JA, etc. spots but I know when a station is active and it helps
>me watch for them.  This has been particularly true of the VU7 operation
>when they are working Euro's and the band suddenly opens up to the states.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Coy
>--
>Coy Day, N5OK
>20685 SW 29
>Union City, OK 73090
>405-483-5632
>
>Kim Elmore wrote:
> > So, which ones do you prefer?  Are they all more-or-less linked
> > together, or are there some that limit themselves to regional traffic?
> >
> > I find about half the stuff I work without them, but I'd like to see
> > one that shows spots mainly from our region. I could set up filters
> > for seeing spots that originate only in the US, but I'm wondering if
> > there's another way. On the other hand, maybe I'm just a luddite...
> >
> > To be sure, seeing spots world-wide is sometimes useful, but
> > propagation vagaries make posts from my region more useful to me.
> >
> > Kim Elmore, N5OP
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OKDXA mailing list
> > OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
> >
> >
>
>_______________________________________________
>OKDXA mailing list
>OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa