A DX Cluster is a packet node where DX chasers on any band or mode can -post rare or interesting stations that they have worked or heard. Of -course other people are doing the same thing too, so you can find new -DX as well as telling others about the stations you have worked. -Clusters tend to be linked to each other so that the amount of people -using them is increased, thereby increasing the amount of posted DX. -Other information can be found on clusters such as on-line call books, -mail etc. You can talk to other stations connected to the cluster -network too, in real time, whether at the node you are logged into or -on another node connected to the network. You can also use converse -mode, where several stations can talk to each other in the same way. -Of course, the DX is still posted to you all the while!
- -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.
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