1 <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN">
4 <title>DXSpider</title>
5 <meta name="Keywords" content="DX Cluster, DXSpider, Spider, Packet Cluster, DXCluster, Pavillion Software, AK1A, AX25, AX.25, WWV, Packet Radio, Amateur Radio, Propagation, DX, DXing, G1TLH, GB7TLH, Dirk Koopman, Mailing list, Linux, RedHat, PERL">
6 <meta name="Description" content="Software and systems for realtime digital communications between amateur radio stations for the provision of information on propagation conditions and stations operating">
7 <meta name="Author" content="Dirk Koopman G1TLH">
8 <link rel=stylesheet href="style.css" type="text/css" title="default stylesheet">
11 <body TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#800080" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">
12 <FONT COLOR="#606060" face="Verdana,Helvetica,Swiss,Arial">
18 <address><a href="mailto:djk@tobit.co.uk"></a>Dirk Koopman G1TLH</address>
20 <!-- Created: Wed Dec 2 18:22:33 GMT 1998 -->
22 Last modified: Sun Apr 1 18:21:18 BST 2001
27 The DXSpider DX cluster system is written in <a
28 href="http://www.perl.com">perl 5.004</a> running under <a
29 href="http://www.linuxhq.com">Linux</a> as an exercise in
30 self-training for both protocol research and teaching myself <a
31 href="http://www.perl.com">perl</a>.
33 <h4>What is a DX Cluster?</h4>
35 A DX Cluster is a means for Amateur (Ham) Radio operators to tell each
36 other, in realtime, about DX stations (other interesting or rare
37 Amateur Radio stations all over the world).
39 <p>To quote what is probably the most comprenhsive source of DX Cluster related
40 information, the <a href="http://www.cestro.com/pcluster/">DX PacketCluster WebNet</a>,
43 <p><em>One station is set up with PacketCluster and is linked to one or
44 more other stations who have installed the software. These nodes
45 when connected are called a cluster. Clusters are connected to
46 clusters, expanding the network. Individual users connect to the
47 nodes on a frequency different from what the node stations are
48 linked on. Users are capable of announcing DX spots and related
49 announcements, send personal talk messages, send and receive
50 mail messages, search and retrive archived data, and access data
51 from information databases among its many features.</em>
53 <p>It's a rather specialised (and not as robust) form of IRC really.
55 <p>The original package runs under DOS and was created by Dick Newell AK1A
56 but is no longer under active development. Most replacements also run under
57 DOS and/or are closed source. I wanted something in open source (so I don't
58 have to do <em>all</em> the work) and for Linux.
60 <p>This document will contain all the instructions for its
61 installation and use - eventually...
65 <li> <a href="http://www.dxcluster.org/download/">Download</a> the software and any patches.
66 <li> DXSpider <a href="installation_en.html">Installation</a> manual.
67 <li> DXSpider <a href="adminmanual_en.html">Administration</a> manual.
68 <li> DXSpider <a href="usermanual_en.html">User</a> manual.
69 <li> Peruse the <a href="spiderFAQ_en.html">FAQ</a>
70 <li> If you are on the bleeding edge, see the <a href="spiderCVS_en.html">CVS Addendum</a>.
71 <li> Explaining the <a href="client.html">client</a> programs.
72 <li> <a href="cron.html">Periodic</a> jobs, e.g. starting connection to other clusters.
73 <li> <a href="program.html">Programming</a> new commands or altering existing ones.
74 <li> <a href="local.html">Local</a> customisation of the cluster daemon.
77 <!-- Standard Footer!! -->
80 <FONT COLOR="#606060"><hr></font>
81 <font color="#FF0000" size=-2>
82 Copyright © 1998 by Dirk Koopman G1TLH. All Rights Reserved<br>
84 <font color="#000000" size=-2>$Id$</font>