en DX Cluster Server - praktimarc/kst4contest GitHub Wiki

Built-in DX Cluster Server

🇬🇧 You are reading the English version | 🇩🇪 Deutsche Version

From version 1.23, KST4Contest includes a built-in DX cluster server. It sends spots directly to the logging software whenever a direction warning is triggered.

(Idea by OM0AAO, Viliam Petrik – thank you!)

What is the Built-in DX Cluster Server For?

When KST4Contest detects that a station is requesting a sked from your direction and a QRG is known, it automatically generates a DX cluster spot and feeds it directly to the logging software's cluster client / band map.

The logging software then displays the spot in the band map. Clicking the spot sets the transceiver's frequency and mode directly – without any manual typing.

Setup

In KST4Contest

In Preferences → DX Cluster Server Settings:

  1. Enter the port of the internal server (e.g. 7300 or 8000 – must match the logging software).
  2. Enter a spotter callsign – this must be a different callsign than your contest callsign!
    • Reason: Logging programs filter spots from your own callsign as "already worked". If the spotter uses the same callsign, the spots will not be displayed.
  3. Enter the assumed MHz: For frequency references like ".205" in the chat, KST4Contest needs to decide whether 144.205, 432.205 or 1296.205 is meant. For single-band contests, simply enter the corresponding band centre. Full frequency references like "144.205" or "1296.338" in the chat are always correctly identified.

In UCXLog

  • Configure a DX cluster server connection:
    • Host: 127.0.0.1 (or IP of the KST4Contest computer)
    • Port: As configured in KST4Contest
    • Password: can be left empty
  • Use the "Send a test message to your log" button to test the connection.

In N1MM+

Similar settings:

  • Host: 127.0.0.1 (or IP of the KST4Contest computer)
  • Port: As configured in KST4Contest

How It Works

A spot is generated when both conditions are met:

  1. A direction warning has been triggered (station is making a sked in your direction).
  2. The station's QRG is known (read from the chat or manually entered).

The generated spot contains:

  • Station's callsign
  • Frequency
  • Spot time

The logging software can then display the spot in the band map and tune the TRX to that frequency with a mouse click.

Multi-Computer Setup

If KST4Contest runs on a separate computer (not the logging computer):

  • Host in the logging software: IP of the KST4Contest computer (not 127.0.0.1)
  • Same configuration as for the QSO UDP broadcast packets (see Log Synchronisation)

Tested Logging Software

  • UCXLog ✓
  • N1MM+ ✓

Further test reports are welcome – please send by email to DO5AMF.