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16 <H2><A NAME="s4">4.</A> <A HREF="usermanual.html#toc4">Getting and posting DX.</A></H2>
18 <P>When all is said and done, this is the main function of a DX cluster.
19 In its simplest form you can just connect to the node and you will
20 start to receive DX spots almost immediately! You can check on
21 recent postings in either a general manner or on a particular band or
22 mode. You can even check DX by callsign or a fragment of a callsign.
23 Of course, once you get the hang of things, it is expected that you
24 start posting some yourself! After all, there would be no clusters
25 if people did not post DX and you get the added thrill of the hunt!</P>
27 <H2><A NAME="ss4.1">4.1</A> <A HREF="usermanual.html#toc4.1">Receiving DX.</A>
30 <P>As we have already said, it is possible just to connect to the
31 cluster and you will receive spots automatically. However, you may
32 wish to check on spots just posted. Maybe you wish to see if a
33 particular band is open or if a certain callsign is active, perhaps a
34 DXpedition. The command to do this is <B>SHOW/DX</B>. Without any
35 other arguments, this command will output the last 10 spots
36 posted. It is possible to look at more than this, for example the
37 last 20 or 50 spots, by adding the number to the command. You can
38 make it even more specific by adding a band in either wavelength or
39 frequency, and/or any additional information such as QSL details.</P>
40 <P><B>Examples:</B></P>
50 <P>will show the last 10, 5 and 20 spots received by the cluster
52 <P><B>Examples</B></P>
62 <P>will show the last 5, 10 or 20 spots on 20 metres only.</P>
63 <P>It is also possible to check for certain callsigns, or fragments of
64 callsigns in the same way.</P>
65 <P><B>Examples:</B></P>
74 <P>would show the last 5 or 10 dx spots containing the callsign g0vgs.</P>
76 <P>You can check for DX by offset and also by specifying a comment to
78 <P><B>Examples:</B></P>
88 <P>would show the spots that arrived between 30 and 40 spots ago and any
89 spots with the word <EM>iota</EM> in the comment field. The case of
90 the comment is not important.</P>
91 <P>Checking DX posted on a certain day is possible too. All you have
92 to do here is to specify how many days ago it was like this ...</P>
93 <P><B>Example:</B></P>
101 <P>It is of course possible to specify multiple arguments.</P>
102 <P><B>Example:</B></P>
106 show/dx 20 prefix 9a on vhf day 30
110 <P>This would show the last 20 spots posted by or about calls with the prefix
111 9a on vhf 30 days ago.</P>
112 <P>As you can see the <B>SHOW/DX</B> command is very flexible, so if you are
113 not sure whether something will work or not, try it and see! More
114 information can be found in the Command Set section.</P>
116 <H2><A NAME="ss4.2">4.2</A> <A HREF="usermanual.html#toc4.2">Posting DX.</A>
119 <P>To post DX you use the <B>DX</B> command. The syntax is shown below. </P>
120 <P><B>Example:</B></P>
124 dx (frequency) (callsign) (remarks)
128 <P>Where frequency is in kilohertz and the callsign is the callsign of
129 the station you have worked or heard, (ie not your own callsign!).
130 The remarks section allows you to add information like the operators
131 name or perhaps a location. Actually DXSpider will allow the frequency
132 and callsign fields to be entered in any order.</P>
133 <P><B>Example:</B></P>
137 dx 14004 pa3ezl OP Aurelio 599
141 <P>In fact, all the following will give the same result...</P>
145 dx 14004 pa3ezl OP Aurelio 599
146 dx pa3ezl 14004 OP Aurelio 599
147 dx pa3ezl 14.004 OP Aurelio 599
151 <P>This posting, or callout as it is known, will be forwarded to all
152 other connected stations both at the cluster you are connected to and
153 other active clusters in the network. The callout will also be sent
154 to you as proof of receipt. </P>
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