Use of DX Clusters

For Dxers and Contesters

J.P. LeBlanc, VE9BK

• What is a DX Cluster

• On-line access

• CW Skimmer

• Reverse Beacon Network (RBN)

• DX Spot Filtering

• HRD/N1MM+ DX Cluster Access

Topics

What is a DX Cluster ? • A "chatroom" or node into which amateur DX hunters can post information about

DX either worked or heard.

• Physically, it is a central computer that collects, stores and disseminates information

that hams send to it.

• The networked nature of DX clusters is perhaps its most powerful feature as it gives

amateurs almost instant access to information about rare and unusual DX conditions

such as meteor scatter or VHF ducting.

• DX Cluster users use computer software that is capable of communicating with the

cluster. On initial login, users will be asked to provide station information. This allows

other hams to compare DX openings to their physical position, and hence to make

informed decisions about beam direction for example. New information is passed on

to logged in users continuously.

• There are thousands of nodes around the world, connected together via the internet

or radio. Connection to a DX cluster is by either telnet or packet radio.

Telnet Window Example

Drawbacks of DX Clusters

• Too much information

• A lot of the DX Spots are of no use to you

− 80M spot in Japan in the afternoon

• During major contests – too many spots!

− 2015 CQWW DX CW Contest

• 7,046,580 spots from 171 skimmers

− 40.7 spots per second!

• Need to filter DX spots

• No need to use Telnet/Packet radio access

• No need to download/set-up software

• What you see is what you get

• Little or No filtering

On-Line Access to DX Clusters

On-line Access

On-line Filtering for DX

DX Cluster Spot Sources

• Operator generated spots (CW, voice, RTTY,

PSK, etc.)

• CW Skimmer (CW spots only)

• Reverse Beacon Network (RBN)

CW Skimmer

• A high sensitivity CW decoding algorithm based

on the methods of Bayesian statistics

• Simultaneous decoding of ALL CW signals in

the receiver passband - up to 700 signals can

be decoded in parallel on a 3-GHz P4 if a

wideband receiver is used;

• The callsigns are extracted from the decoded

messages, and exported as DX cluster spots via

the built-in Telnet cluster server.

CW Skimmer

Reverse Beacon Network

• A network of CW Skimmers

• 200 (plus or minus) skimmers

Filtering Spots - VE7CC CC User • Full featured Telnet and TNC program for use with CC Cluster , AR Cluster , DX Spider , CLX, DxNet, or WinCluster

Nodes.

• 32 Bit Windows Program that allows "point and click" setting of node parameters. Runs under WinXP/2000 and later

versions of Windows.

• Has Telnet, DDE, and RS-232 outputs for logging and contest programs. Unlimited number of telnet connections.

• Can insert States and Provinces into feed to contest programs to aid in multiplier determination.

• Separates data from the cluster. DX spots, WWV, Announces, Mail, filtering etc all have their own tabs on the display.

• For DX Spots, each band has its own color.

• Removes bad DX Spots. (blank or duplicate)

• Can be set to reject DX spots by spotter, DX call or by comments.

• Displays bearing and distance to DX.

• As well as the usual data in a dx spot, the following data can also be shown. Spotter's node, Spotters country, DX Country's

regular prefix, DX Country name, spotter and DX stations CQ/ITU zones, grid squares, states/provinces.

• LoTW & eQSL. Flags DX callsigns if the DX station uses LoTW(+), eQSL(-) or both(=).

• Full WWV data displayed on DX Spot page.

• Auto reconnects and gets missed spots.

• DX Alarms Audible, visual or even email alerts for needed countries or states.

• Saves DX Spots to log file for later analysis or reloading to program.

• Capable of over 1,500 users

VE7CC AR User – Main Window

VE7CC – AR User – Settings Window

VE7CC – CC User - Country Filter

Example - WAE Contest Filters

DX Spot Filtering Objective

• Reduce spots to the minimum

− Only need useful spots

• Select spots from nearby CW Skimmers

− K1TTT,

• Need to consider propagations/time of day

Logging Software Examples

• DX Spotting available in most Logging Software

• We’ll look at 2 examples:

− Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) DX Logger

− N1MM+ Contest Logger

Ham Radio Deluxe

• Logbook is a complete DX operations center

• Logbook interfaces with DX cluster servers for spotting

the rare ones

• Graphically displays DX spots within the bandmap

• Once you have the rare DX in the log, Logbook

interfaces with many popular electronic logbook services,

including eQSL, LofTW, and ClubLog

• Logbook keeps track of many popular awards too.

• Free version and Pay version.

Ham Radio Deluxe Screen

Ham Radio Deluxe – Log Entry

Ham Radio Deluxe – Award Tracking

N1MM+ Contest Logger

• N1MM Logger is the world's most popular ham

radio contest logging program.

• Its combination of contest-optimized features is

unmatched.

• All major and many minor HF Contests are supported

− Including General DX logging, DXpedition

• SSB, CW and Digital support

• Multi-user support

N1MM+ Contest Logger

N1MM+ Contest Logger

DX Cluster - Summary

• A useful tool for amateurs to:

− Increase DX totals

− Increase contest scores for contesters

• DX Spot Filtering will:

− Increase usefulness of spots

− Reduce number of useless spots

• Integrated in most DX / Contesting software

Questions ?