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What is a DX
Cluster?
A DX Cluster is a means for Amateur (Ham)
Radio operators to tell each other, in
realtime, about DX stations (other
interesting or rare Amateur Radio stations
all over the world).
To quote what is probably the most
comprenhsive source of DX Cluster related
information, the
DX
PacketCluster WebNet, a Cluster is:-
One station is set up with PacketCluster and
is linked to one or more other stations who
have installed the software. These nodes
when connected are called a cluster.
Clusters are connected to clusters,
expanding the network. Individual users
connect to the nodes on a frequency
different from what the node stations are
linked on. Users are capable of announcing
DX spots and related announcements, send
personal talk messages, send and receive
mail messages, search and retrive archived
data, and access data from information
databases among its many features.
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So what is
DXSpider?
PacketCluster nodes have been around since
roughly 1985. The original PacketCluster
idea came from Dick Newell, AK1A, and ran
under DOS. In about 1992 Dick stopped the
development of the PacketCluster software
for amateur radio. Many systems are still
using this relatively old DOS software
today.
There are several new compatible cluster
programs around now, including DXSpider.
DXSpider is a clone of PacketCluster
software that runs under several operating
systems including Linux and Windows. Linux
is fast becoming the choice for amateur
radio stations because of it's flexibility,
reliability and the lack of the memory
limitations of DOS. Linux supports
multitasking and is also multiuser. It has
support for AX25, ROSE, NetROM and TCPIP
built in, making it the ideal choice for
amateur radio. It is also totally free!
DXSpider was conceived and begun in 1998 by
Dirk Koopman, G1TLH as an exercise in perl
programming. It has developed rapidly and
today is a very powerful cluster program. It
was designed to be totally compatible with
the AK1A program, although several commands
have been extended to improve functionality.
This manual is designed to help you become
familiar with the commands that DXSpider
supports and to help you get the best from
the program so you can enjoy working that
rare DX! As DXSpider is being improved all
the time, commands will be added as time
goes by, so make sure you have the most upto
date version of this manual. The latest
version will always be included with the
cluster program so if you are unsure, simply
ask your sysop. The manual will also be
available on the wesite.
The DXSpider User Manual v1.50
The DX
Spider Home Page
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