<title>The DXSpider Installation and Administration Manual
<author>Ian Maude, G0VGS, (ianmaude@btinternet.com)
-<date>Version 1.28 January 2001
+<date>Version 1.29 January 2001
<abstract>
A reference for SysOps of the DXSpider DXCluster program.
</abstract>
<sect>Installation (Original version by Iain Phillips, G0RDI)
<P>
-Last modified: 02 January 2001 by Ian Maude, G0VGS
+Last modified: 13 January 2001 by Ian Maude, G0VGS
<sect1>Introduction
the other cluster nodes that we are linked to. This is usually because of
rules and regulations pertaining to items for sale etc in a particular country.
-<sect1>Filtering DX callouts
+<sect1>Filtering DX callouts (Depricated)
+
+<P>
+<bf><it>From version 1.47, this method is replaced by the command set/baddx</it></bf>
<P>
In the same way as mail, there are some types of spot we do not wish to pass on
repository. You do this with the command below ...
<verb>
-cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.DXSpider.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/DXSpider login
+cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.DXSpider.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/dxspider login
</verb>
You will get a password prompt. Simply hit return here and your machine should
directory.
<verb>
-cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.DXSpider.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/DXSpider co spider
+cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.DXSpider.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/dxspider co spider
</verb>
This command is all on one line.
You can use any of the following things in this line:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
info <string> eg: iota or qsl
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
channel <prefixes>
wx 1 filter WX announces
dest <prefixes> eg: 6MUK,WDX (distros)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
some examples:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/ann dest 6MUK
acc/ann 2 by_zone 14,15,16
(this could be all on one line: acc/ann dest 6MUK or by_zone 14,15,16)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
or
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/ann by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
This filter would only allow announces that were posted buy UK stations.
You can use the tag 'all' to accept everything eg:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/ann all
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
but this probably for advanced users...
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
accept/ann by G,M,2
accept/ann input node_default by G,M,2
accept/ann user_default by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>accept/spots (0)
You can use any of the following things in this line:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
freq <range> eg: 0/30000 or hf or hf/cw or 6m,4m,2m
on <range> same as 'freq'
call <prefixes> eg: G,PA,HB9
by_zone <numbers>
origin <prefixes>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<P>
For frequencies, you can use any of the band names defined in
some examples:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/spot 1 on hf/cw
acc/spot 2 on vhf and (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
You can use the tag 'all' to accept everything, eg:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/spot 3 all
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
but this probably for advanced users...
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
accept/spot db0sue-7 1 by_zone 14,15,16
accept/spot node_default all
set/hops node_default 10
accept/spot user_default by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>accept/wcy (0)
It is unlikely that you will want to do this, but if you do then you can
filter on the following fields:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
origin_dxcc <numbers> eg: 61,62 (from eg: sh/pre G)
by_itu <numbers>
by_zone <numbers>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<P>
There are no examples because WCY Broadcasts only come from one place and
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
accept/wcy node_default all
set/hops node_default 10
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>accept/wwv (0)
It is unlikely that you will want to do this, but if you do then you can
filter on the following fields:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
origin_dxcc <numbers> eg: 61,62 (from eg: sh/pre G)
by_itu <numbers>
by_zone <numbers>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
for example
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
accept/wwv by_zone 4
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
is probably the only useful thing to do (which will only show WWV broadcasts
by stations in the US).
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
accept/wwv db0sue-7 1 by_zone 4
accept/wwv node_default all
set/hops node_default 10
accept/wwv user_default by W,K
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>announce (0)
be ALL the non-private messages. You can prevent this by using these
commmands:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
catchup GB7DJK all
catchup GB7DJK 300 301 302 303 500-510
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
and to undo what you have just done:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
uncatchup GB7DJK all
uncatchup GB7DJK 300 301 302 303 500-510
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
which will arrange for them to be forward candidates again.
If you have a filter:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/spot 1 on hf/cw
acc/spot 2 on vhf and (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
and you say:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
clear/spot 1
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
you will be left with:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
acc/spot 2 on vhf and (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
If you do:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
clear/spot all
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
the filter will be completely removed.
It is expected that the sysop will add an entry to the local Aliases file
so that users can use the more familiar AK1A style of enquiry such as:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/BUCK G1TLH
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
but if he hasn't and the database really does exist (use DBAVAIL or
SHOW/COMMAND to find out) you can do the same thing with:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DBSHOW buck G1TLH
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>debug (9)
You can combine some of the various directory commands together eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DIR TO G1TLH 5
or
DIR SUBJECT IOTA 200-250
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
You can abbreviate all the commands to one letter and use ak1a syntax:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DIR/T G1* 10
DIR/S QSL 10-100 5
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>directory (extended for sysops) (5)
This is how you send a DX Spot to other users. You can, in fact, now
enter the <freq> and the <call> either way round.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DX FR0G 144.600
DX 144.600 FR0G
DX 144600 FR0G
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
will all give the same result. You can add some remarks to the end
of the command and they will be added to the spot.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DX FR0G 144600 this is a test
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
You can credit someone else by saying:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
DX by G1TLH FR0G 144.600 he isn't on the cluster
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
The <freq> is compared against the available bands set up in the
cluster. See SHOW/BANDS for more information.
<sect1>kill full (5)
+<P>
<tt>
<bf>kill full <msgno> [<msgno>]</bf> Delete a message from the
whole cluster
<sect1>load/baddx (9)
+
+<P>
<tt>
<bf>load/baddx</bf> Reload the bad DX table
</tt>
<P>
<tt>
-<bf>ping <node></bf> Send a ping command to another cluster node
+<bf>ping <node></bf> Check the link quality between nodes
</tt>
<P>
-This command is used to estimate the quality of the link to another cluster.
-The time returned is the length of time taken for a PC51 to go to another
-cluster and be returned.
-
+his command allows you to send a frame to another cluster node on
+the network and get a return frame. The time it takes to do this
+is a good indication of the quality of the link. The actual time
+it takes is output to the console in seconds.
Any visible cluster node can be PINGed.
+
<sect1>rcmd (1)
<P>
You can use any of the following things in this line:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
info <string> eg: iota or qsl
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
channel <prefixes>
wx 1 filter WX announces
dest <prefixes> eg: 6MUK,WDX (distros)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
some examples:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
rej/ann by_zone 14,15,16 and not by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
You can use the tag 'all' to reject everything eg:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
rej/ann all
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
but this probably for advanced users...
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
reject/ann by G,M,2
reject/ann input node_default by G,M,2
reject/ann user_default by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>reject/spots (0)
</tt>
<P>
-Create an 'reject this spot' line for a filter.
+Create a 'reject this spot' line for a filter.
-An reject filter line means that if the spot matches this filter it is
+A reject filter line means that if the spot matches this filter it is
dumped (not passed on). See HELP FILTERS for more info. Please read this
to understand how filters work - it will save a lot of grief later on.
You can use any of the following things in this line:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
freq <range> eg: 0/30000 or hf or hf/cw or 6m,4m,2m
on <range> same as 'freq'
call <prefixes> eg: G,PA,HB9
by_zone <numbers>
origin <prefixes>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
For frequencies, you can use any of the band names defined in
SHOW/BANDS and you can use a subband name like: cw, rtty, data, ssb -
some examples:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
rej/spot 1 on hf
rej/spot 2 on vhf and not (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
You can use the tag 'all' to reject everything eg:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
rej/spot 3 all
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
but this probably for advanced users...
This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
reject/spot db0sue-7 1 by_zone 14,15,16
reject/spot node_default all
set/hops node_default 10
reject/spot user_default by G,M,2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>reject/wcy (0)
It is unlikely that you will want to do this, but if you do then you can
filter on the following fields:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
origin_dxcc <numbers> eg: 61,62 (from eg: sh/pre G)
by_itu <numbers>
by_zone <numbers>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
There are no examples because WCY Broadcasts only come from one place and
you either want them or not (see UNSET/WCY if you don't want them).
It is unlikely that you will want to do this, but if you do then you can
filter on the following fields:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
by <prefixes> eg: G,M,2
origin <prefixes>
origin_dxcc <numbers> eg: 61,62 (from eg: sh/pre G)
by_itu <numbers>
by_zone <numbers>
channel <prefixes>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
for example
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
reject/wwv by_zone 14,15,16
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
is probably the only useful thing to do (which will only show WWV broadcasts
by stations in the US).
<P>This version allows a sysop to set a filter for a callsign as well as the
default for nodes and users eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
reject/wwv db0sue-7 1 by_zone 4
reject/wwv node_default all
reject/wwv user_default by W
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>reply (0)
You can have multiple qualifiers so that you can have for example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SEND RR COPY 123 PRIVATE G1TLH G0RDI
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
which should send a copy of message 123 to G1TLH and G0RDI and you will
receive a read receipt when they have read the message.
<P>
Set the node_call as an AR-Cluster type node
+<sect1>set/baddx (8)
+
+<P>
+<tt>
+<bf>set/baddx <call></bf> Stop words we do not wish to see in the callsign field
+of a dx spot being propagated
+</tt>
+
+<P>
+Setting a word as 'baddx' will prevent spots with that word in the callsign
+field of a DX spot from going any further. They will not be displayed and they
+will not be sent onto other nodes.
+
+The word must be wriiten in full, no wild cards are allowed eg:-
+
+<tscreen><verb>
+ set/baddx FORSALE VIDEO FR0G
+</verb></tscreen>
+
+To allow a word again, use the following command ...
+
+<tscreen><verb>
+ unset/baddx VIDEO
+</verb></tscreen>
+
<sect1>set/badnode (6)
<P>
The call can be a full or partial call (or a prefix), eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
set/badnode K1TTT
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
will stop anything from K1TTT (including any SSID's)
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
unset/badnode K1TTT
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
+
+will allow spots from him again.
+
+Use with extreme care. This command may well be superceded by FILTERing.
+
+<sect1>set/badspotter (8)
+
+<P>
+<tt>
+<bf>set/badspotter <call></bf> Stop spots from this callsign being propagated
+</tt>
+
+<P>
+Setting a callsign as a 'badspotter' will prevent spots from this callsign
+going any further. They will not be displayed and they will not be
+sent onto other nodes.
+
+The call must be written in full, no wild cards are allowed eg:-
+
+<tscreen><verb>
+ set/badspotter VE2STN
+</verb></tscreen>
+
+will stop anything from VE2STN. If you want SSIDs as well then you must
+enter them specifically.
+
+<tscreen><verb>
+ unset/badspotter VE2STN
+</verb></tscreen>
will allow spots from him again.
to you will normally find their way there should you not be connected.
eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SET/HOMENODE gb7djk
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/hops (8)
This command allows you to set up special hop counts for a node
for currently: announce, spots, wwv and wcy broadcasts.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
eg:
set/hops gb7djk ann 10
set/hops gb7mbc spots 20
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
Set SHOW/HOPS for information on what is already set. This command
creates a filter and works in conjunction with the filter system.
You can set your latitude and longitude manually or alternatively use the
<em>set/qra</em> command which will do the conversion for you.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
set/location 54 04 N 2 02 E
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/sys_location (9)
what your latitude and longitude is. If you have not yet done a SET/QRA
then this command will set your QRA locator for you. For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SET/LOCATION 52 22 N 0 57 E
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/logininfo (0)
<P>
Tell the cluster what your name is, eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
set/name Dirk
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/node (9)
From version 1.41 you can also set the following types of cluster
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
set/spider
set/dxnet
set/clx
set/arcluster
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
To see what your nodes are set to, use the <em>show/nodes</em> command.
of output from a command is more than this. The default is 20. Setting it
explicitly to 0 will disable paging.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SET/PAGE 30
SET/PAGE 0
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
The setting is stored in your user profile.
done a SET/LOCATION then your latitude and longitude will be set roughly
correctly (assuming your locator is correct ;-). For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SET/QRA JO02LQ
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/qth (0)
<P>
Tell the system where your are. For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
set/qth East Dereham, Norfolk
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>set/talk (0)
Allow WX information to be seen at your console. You can switch off
WX messages with the <em>unset/wx</em> command.
+<sect1>show/baddx (1)
+
+<P>
+<tt>
+<bf>show/baddx</bf>Show all the bad dx calls in the system
+</tt>
+
+<P>
+Display all the bad dx callsigns in the system, see SET/BADDX
+for more information.
+
<sect1>show/badnode (6)
<P>
Display all the bad node callsigns in the system, see SET/BADNODE
for more information.
+<sect1>show/badspotter (1)
+
+<P>
+<tt>
+<bf>show/badspotter</bf>Show all the bad spotters in the system
+</tt>
+
+<P>
+Display all the bad spotter's callsigns in the system, see SET/BADSPOTTER
+for more information.
+
<sect1>show/date (0)
<P>
In addition you can add any number of these options in very nearly
any order to the basic SHOW/DX command, they are:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
on <band> - eg 160m 20m 2m 23cm 6mm
on <region> - eg hf vhf uhf shf (see SHOW/BANDS)
qra [<locator>] - this will look for the specific locator if
you specify one or else anything that looks like a locator.
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
e.g.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/DX 9m0
SH/DX on 20m info iota
SH/DX 9a on vhf day 30
SH/DX iota
SH/DX iota eu-064
SH/DX qra jn86
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/dxcc (0)
The options for SHOW/DX also apply to this command.
e.g.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/DXCC G
SH/DXCC W on 20m info iota
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/files (0)
available on the system. To see the contents of a particular file
area type:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/FILES <filearea>
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
where <filearea> is the name of the filearea you want to see the
contents of.
You can also use shell globbing characters like '*' and '?' in a
string to see a selection of files in a filearea eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/FILES bulletins arld*
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
See also TYPE - to see the contents of a file.
For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/MOON
SH/MOON G1TLH W5UN
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/muf (0)
can specify anything up to 24 hours worth of data by appending the no of
hours required after the prefix. For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/MUF W
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
produces:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
RxSens: -123 dBM SFI: 159 R: 193 Month: 10 Day: 21
Power : 20 dBW Distance: 6283 km Delay: 22.4 ms
Location Lat / Long Azim
UT LT MUF Zen 1.8 3.5 7.0 10.1 14.0 18.1 21.0 24.9 28.0 50.0
18 23 11.5 -35 mS0+ mS2 S3
19 0 11.2 -41 mS0+ mS2 S3
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
indicating that you will have weak, fading circuits on top band and
80m but usable signals on 40m (about S3).
inputing:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/MUF W 24
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
will get you the above display, but with the next 24 hours worth of
propagation data.
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/MUF W L 24
SH/MUF W 24 Long
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
Gives you an estimate of the long path propagation characterics. It
should be noted that the figures will probably not be very useful, nor
given on the command line) the distance and beraing from your station
to the locator. For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/QRA IO92QL
SH/QRA JN06 IN73
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
The first example will show the distance and bearing to the locator from
yourself, the second example will calculate the distance and bearing from
using this command with a latitude and longitude as an argument, for
example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/QRA 52 41 N 0 58 E
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/qrz (0)
and returns any information available for that callsign. This service
is provided for users of this software by http://www.qrz.com
+<sect1>show/route (0)
+
+<P>
+<tt>
+<bf>show/route <callsign></bf> Show the route to <callsign>
+</tt>
+
+<P>
+This command allows you to see to which node the callsigns specified are
+connected. It is a sort of inverse sh/config.
+
+<tscreen><verb>
+ sh/route n2tly
+</verb></tscreen>
+
<sect1>show/satellite (0)
<P>
So for example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/SAT AO-10
SH/SAT FENGYUN1 12 2
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/sun (0)
For example:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
SH/SUN
SH/SUN G1TLH K9CW ZS
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>show/time (0)
with others to obscure your reply for any watchers. For example (and
these values are for explanation :-):
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
password = 012345678901234567890123456789
> sysop
22 10 15 17 3
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
you type:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
aa2bbbb0ccc5ddd7xxx3n
or 2 0 5 7 3
or 20573
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
They will all match. If there is no password you will still be offered
numbers but nothing will happen when you input a string. Any match is
If you want to do something (such as send a spot) you precede the normal
command with a '/' character, eg:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
/DX 14001 G1TLH What's a B class licensee doing on 20m CW?
/HELP talk
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
To leave talk mode type:
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
/EX
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
<sect1>type (0)
filearea 'bulletins' you want to look at file 'arld051' you would
enter:-
-<verb>
+<tscreen><verb>
TYPE bulletins/arld051
-</verb>
+</verb></tscreen>
See also SHOW/FILES to see what fileareas are available and a
list of content.