The DXClusters Panel is a complete Telnet client combined with a DX Spot interpreter.
The Telnet client in this panel can connect to any Telnet host but when connected to a Telnet DXCluster node it will allow you to automatically lookup and optionally tune to the spots being reported on the cluster.
The font of the Clusters and Spots displays can be changed by clicking on the text and then selecting Font/Show Fonts from the Edit menu.
The band and mode filter check boxes will include (filter) spots from each band and mode in the Spots List and for Auto Tune and Auto Lookup.
A list of default DX Cluster nodes is loaded into the pop up list in the DXClusters button from. If you wish to customize this list, Look in the downloaded "Sample Files" folder and edit the dxclusters.dat file and place it in ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs and restart MacLoggerDX.
Each list item has the following format:
[Call sign]<sp>[URL, with an option port number preceded by a colon]<sp>[description]
Example:
EA5ELX-5 ea5elx.sytes.net:8000 Elche, Spain
The port number is only required if the node is operating on a different telnet port from the default (23).
When an item from this pop up button is selected, MacLoggerDX attempts to start a Telnet session with the node.
The Auto Connect check box, if checked, will connect you to the DXCluster at startup and if the connection is dropped for a reboot of the node etc.
Your call sign is automatically sent to the node, but from then on, you may type in any command to the node in the scrollable session window. You may also select a command from the Commands pop up button. If you wish to customize this list, Look in the downloaded "Sample Files" folder and edit the dxcommands.dat file and place it in ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs and restart MacLoggerDX.
If you select Auto Tune, MacLoggerDX wil automatically atttempt to tune your radio to the frequency and mode of each filtered DX Spot as it is received. If you have the Schedules enabled, it will take over the radio after a short interval. If you want to stay with the DX Spot frequency, simply disable the schedules from the Shortcuts menu or disable the Schedules Enabled check box in the Schedules Panel untill you want to return to your schedule.
If you select Auto Lookup, the filtered DX Spots will automatically be looked up in MacLoggerDX's internal databases and your log files, and Call Book option. This data will be loaded into the edit fields of the DX/Contest Panels, ready to log, and the Map Panels will be centered about the location of the spot. The Spot will also be displayed in the Bands Panel. MacLogger DX will also attempt to calculate distance and bearing information. This information will only be as accurate as the information stored in MacLoggerDX's data bases and optional online Call Books.
The Commands popup button is loaded with a default list of DX Cluster commands or you can edit the sample dxcommands.dat file and place it in ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs/
The command syntax varies somewhat depending on what software the cluster you have connected to is running.
Pressing the Spot Button will bring up a spot window that will allow you to compose and send a spot to the connected cluster. The spotted Call Sign will be the one you have in the DX or Contest Panel Call Sign field. The frequency will be the one displayed in the DX or Contest Panel. Comments are optional and can be added before you send the spot. If you need to do a test spot , Look up the call TE1ST. That is a reserved call that will not be sent throughout the network. It will be echoed back to you for confirmation.
Colour Codes
The color codes are applied to the Spots Panel dynamically and you can see the effect of changing the Show Bands by DXCC Lookup Pref check box immediately while the color codes in the Clusters Panel are applied only at the moment that the spot is received or re-received with the sh/fdx command.
The Cluster Panel displays the actual Telnet session dialog in it's entirety without local client filtering.
Mouse Clicks
The list of spots will automatically scroll to the last spot received unless any text in the display window is selected. To resume auto-scrolling de-select all with a single click in the display area.
A Single click on a dxcluster spot will cancel any selected spots and resume auto-scrolling if a selection has suspended it.
Double clicking on a dxcluster spot will select the word and suspend auto-scrolling.
Triple clicking on a dxcluster spot will select the line, suspend auto-scrolling, look up and display the spot, tune the radio to the spot's frequency and mode and if Auto Rotate Beam is enabled in the Rotor Prefs, swing the beam around to the spot's location.
The band and mode filter check boxes will include (filter) spots from each band and mode in the Spots Panel.
The Spots Panel works with or without Auto Lookup enabled but the Grid will be less accurate without Auto Lookup and the Name field will be missing. The Mode field is based on your Band Plan and may not reflect the actual Mode in use. The Worked field displays the bands you have worked the station on or the bands that you have worked his DXCC country on based on the Show Bands by DXCC Lookup Prefs setting. Sometimes you want to know: "What bands have I worked this guy on before ?", Other times you want to know: "What bands have I worked Iceland on before ?". The Mode Dupes Only check box will determine if dupes are qualified by Mode.
Mouse Clicks
Double clicking on a spot will look up and display the spot, tune the radio to the spot's frequency and mode and if Auto Rotate Beam is enabled in the Rotor Prefs, swing the beam around to the spot's location.
Double clicking on the Flag or QSL Image portion of the entry will display the Flag or QSL Image full size in it's own window.