DP Tool Club 12/CD_ASCQ_12_0294.iso/vrac/rxclu50.zip/RXC50ENG.TXT

Text File | 1993-12-18 | 16KB | 414 lines

          RXCLUS 5.0 - USER DOCUMENTATION (december 1993)


                     ***  1. INTRODUCTION  ***


1.0. PURPOSE


       This  program   RXCLUS  is   used  to   receive  informations
transmitted on  the PacketCluster system without having to establish
a connection  to a  cluster node.  It identifies  the frames sent to
cluster users,  and also  those exchanged  between two cluster nodes
with a  special protocol. This possibility is especially interesting
during  the   night  time  as  it  allows  you  to  receive  cluster
informations with  no connection even if no user is connected on the
local cluster node !

       DX, WWV  and ANN  informations are  recognised among  all the
frames heard  on the monitored frequency and are the only ones to be
displayed. Of  course, each information is displayed only once, even
if it  is repeated many times on the frequency because several users
are connected.  So you  get the  same result  as  if  you  would  be
connected to  the cluster, but without additional traffic on the air
and with  no link  failures problems.  It is  not a  problem if  the
monitored frequency  is shared  with other packet services (Mailbox,
and so on).

       There is  of course a limitation: if you are not connected to
the cluster,  you cannot send informations requests ! But RXCLUS can
attenuate strongly  this problem:  DX et  WWV  informations  can  be
stored in  databases on disk and you can recall them using different
search criterias. Furthermore, a world countries database allows the
program to  give many informations and make some calculations like a
cluster node:  prefix allocation,  WAZ and  ITU zones  of a country,
azimut and distance, local time.

       Maybe you  guessed that RXCLUS was first developed for the DX
oriented SWL's.  But it proved to be very useful also for a licensed
OM if  he doesn't  need all the features of the PacketCluster system
continuously. For  example, RXCLUS  can be  runned during  the  work
periods. When you are back home, you can find in your own PC all the
informations which  were transmitted  during the  day. In  case of a
poor link  to the  cluster, it  allows receiving  most  informations
without having to reconnect all the time.


1.1. RECENT IMPROVEMENTS :


V4.0 :  new search criteria in the DX database: in the comment field
and by  logger, choice of the bands you wish to receive the DX spots
on, support  added for  23 cm spots, more versatile structure of the
configuration file, screen saver.

V5.0 :  multilanguage support  (english, french and german provided,
translation in  other languages  by the  user  is  possible),  world
countries database.


                     ***  2. INSTALLATION  ***


2.1. HARDWARE REQUISITS.


- An IBM compatible computer (PC/XT/AT), monochrome or color.
  A harddisk is strongly recommended if you wish to store the
  informations.
- A TNC on the serial port of the PC. This TNC must make itself the
  frames assembly/desassembly (TNC-2, PK-88, PK-232, KAM, and so
  on). Internal cards (for example DRSI) or modems requesting a
  specific driver (like BayCom) are not supported.
- A receiver able to receive a frequency used for cluster traffic
  (to users or between two cluster nodes).


2.2. COMPATIBILITY WITH OLDER VERSIONS.


       You can  continue to  use the  databases  of  the  version  4
(DXINFO.DAT and  WWVINFO.DAT files), but those of older versions are
no more usable as their format is different.
       The configuration  file RXCLUS.CFG  has a  new format. If you
have one  from any older version, you shoud rename it and keep it to
help you customizing the new version.


2.3. INSTALLATION.


       Just copy  the self-extracting  archive  RXCLU50.EXE  in  the
wanted directory and execute it. You will get the following files:

RXCLUS50.EXE   program file
RXCLUS.CFG     configuration file
RXC50ENG.TXT   the explanations file in english
RXCLUS50.TXT   the explanations file in french
MESSAGES.TXT   texts in the current language (defaults to english)
MESSAGES.FRA   texts in french
MESSAGES.ENG   texts in english
MESSAGES.DEU   texts in german
COUNTRY.DAT    world countries database
DXINFO.DAT     DX database
WWVINFO.DAT    WWV database


2.4. MULTILANGUAGE SUPPORT.


       RXCLUS V  5.0 can  use (almost)  any language. Three language
files are  provided. All  have MESSAGES  as name  and  an  extension
identifying the language (FRA=french, ENG=english, DEU=german).
       A language  is chosen  by copying  (or renaming, but that's a
bit dangerous  !) the  wanted language  file  as  MESSAGES.TXT.  For
example, to choose german you have to type:

                   COPY MESSAGES.DEU MESSAGES.TXT

       You  can  edit  those  text  files  to  slightly  modify  the
sentences or to translate them. But you have to be very careful : if
you suppress or add any line, the program will not start or will not
work properly. Before any modification you should make a backup copy
of the original file !

       The author  would be pleased to receive text files translated
in other languages, so they could be included with later versions.


2.5. PARAMETER SETTING AND CUSTOMIZATION.


       With its  new format,  the file  RXCLUS.CFG contains  command
lines and  comment lines  which make  this file self-explaining. The
allowed values  are mentioned for each parameter. Almost all you may
wish  to   change  in   RXCLUS  can   be  customized  in  this  file
(communication parameters  but also  colors, bands  to receive,...).
The following rules are used in this file :

- Comment lines (which must start with a "#") and blank lines are
  ignored by the program.
- Command lines must always state a parameter name, an "=" and the
  value assigned to this parameter.
- Comments are not allowed at any place in the command lines.
- The sequence in which the commands appear in the file is not
  important.

       To test  the program as simply as possible, you don't need to
modify this  file IF  your TNC is connected to COM 1 at 9600 Bd. You
can customize the program later if you like it and would like to use
it.


2.6. TNC SETTINGS :


Most TNC settings are not critical with the following exceptions :

- MONITOR must be ON (VERY important !)
- If lines are displayed on the top of each other in Monitor mode,
  set AUTOLF to ON.
- If you use MFILTER to reject some ASCII codes, be sure that
  Ctrl-G (ASCII 7) is NOT in the reject list.



                     ***  3. USING RXCLUS  ***


3.1 RECEIVE MODE :


       This is  the default mode when you start the program. In this
mode, RXCLUS  displays the DX, WWV and ANN (according to the choices
you made  in RXCLUS.CFG)  transmitted on the monitored frequency. DX
and WWV  informations are  written to the databases if this function
was activated in the configuration file.
Available functions are :

F1    : displays a short form of the commands (help).
F2    : displays the DX spots database (DXINFO.DAT file).
F3    : displays the WWV database (WWVINFO.DAT file).
F4    : searches in the DX database for a DX call or a portion of a
        DX call. You'll be prompted for a string to search for. This
        string is searched for at the beginning of the calls, unless
        you added "*" as first or last character (like *HB or HB*);
        in this case, the string will be searched for at any place
        in the callsigns.
F5    : DX search by band. You'll be prompted for the band (in MHz).
        For the bands which are more then 1 MHz wide (10, 6, 2 m and
        70 cm), each MHz segment is considered as a separate band.
        For example, "145" means 145.000 to 145.999 MHz, which
        allows to separate the satellite DX spots from the tropo
        ones.
F6    : Search in the comment fields of the DX spots. You'll be
        prompted for the string to search for (for example: QSL,
        IOTA, AO-13,...).
F7    : Search in the logger field of the DX spots (full call or
        part of a call).
F9    : DOS-Shell. If the screen saver was activated, it is disabled
        until you come back to RXCLUS by typing "EXIT" at the DOS
        prompt.
F10   : Display informations about a country. You'll be prompted for
        a prefix, then the programm displays the prefix allocation,
        ITU and WAZ zones, latitude/longitude and calculates the
        distance, azimut and local time in this country (summer
        times are not taken into account).
Up    : Switches to Review mode and displays the more recent
        received informations.
PgUp  : Switches to Review mode and scrolls one page up.
Home  : Switches to Review mode and displays the first
        informations received during the current session.
Alt-G : Toggles the sounds on/off. Sounds can be used for example
        when informations are received, or to confirm changes to
        a database.
Alt-M : Switches to Monitor mode.
Alt-P : Toggles the printer on/off (printer must be connected
        to LPT1)
Alt-X : Quit the program.

       All those  functions can  also be  called with  the mouse  by
clicking left  on the  function's name or abbreviation on the top or
bottom line.  Clicking right has almost the same effect as using the
"Esc" key.


3.2. REVIEW MODE :


       In this  mode, you  can scroll  back to  see all informations
received since  you started the program. Those informations (maximum
400) are  kept in  RAM so  they can be accessed very quickly and are
available even if the writing to disk is not activated.

       You can scroll up or down as usual with the Up, Down, PageUp,
PageDn and Home keys, or by clicking left on the corresponding words
or symbols on the bottom line.

       This mode  is left  by pressing  the  Esc  or  End  keys,  by
clicking left on FIN:ESC or by clicking right at any place.


3.3. DATABASE MAINTENANCE MODE (DX or WWV) :


       When you  enter this mode (with F2 or F3), the most recent 23
informations in  the database  are  displayed,  one  of  them  being
displayed in  inverted video. This is the selected information, that
means the one on which a command issued at this time would apply.

       You can scroll up or down as usual with the Up, Down, PageUp,
PageDn, Home  and End keys, or by clicking left on the corresponding
symbols on  the  bottom  line.  You  may  also  select  directly  an
information by clicking on its line.

Following maintenance functions are available :

F2 : EDIT : used to edit the selected information, usually to
     correct a mistake, and writes the changes to the disk (asks
     for a confirmation).
F3 : MARK : marks the selected information for deletion.
     This mark can be removed by using the same command a second
     time.
F4 : PURGE : erases all records having a deletion mark (asks for a
     confirmation). A backup copy of the original database is
     created, with .BAK as extension.
F5 : TRIM : trunks the database (asks for a confirmation). All
     records older then the selected information are erased.
     A backup copy of the original database is created, with .BAK
     as extension.

Those four functions may be accessed using the mouse, by clicking
left on their names. During the EDIT procedure however, the use of
the keyboard is required.

This mode is left by pressing the Esc key, by clicking left on
FIN:ESC or by clicking right at any place.


3.4. MONITOR MODE :


       In this  mode you  are connected directly to the TNC, without
any filtering,  so you  see all  what is  received on the frequency.
However, cluster  information which  could come  at  this  time  are
processed normally.  This mode was implemented to allow checking the
serial link  to the TNC or changing TNC parameters without having to
use another  program first,  but no facilities like scroll buffer or
sending/receiving files are offered. RXCLUS is a specialised program
which handles  cluster informations;  its goal is not to be one more
general purpose terminal program (there are already quite many!).

       This mode  is left  by pressing the Esc key, by clicking left
on "R" (short for Receive) or by clicking right at any place.



                  ***  4. IN CASE OF TROUBLE  ***


4.1. PROBLEMS AT PROGRAM START.


4.1.1.  Message   :  "Configuration  file  RXCLUS.CFG  not  found...
                     program aborted".

Check that  the file  RXCLUS.CFG is  in the  same directory  as  the
program file.


4.1.2. Message  :  "Configuration  file  MESSAGES.TXT  not  found...
                    program aborted".

Check that  the file  MESSAGES.TXT in  the  same  directory  as  the
program file.  If this  file is  missing, copy the file MESSAGES.ENG
(or any other language file) in MESSAGES.TXT (see chapter 2.4).


4.1.3  Message  :  "Missing  line(s)  in  MESSAGES.TXT,  cannot  run
                    RXCLUS".

The language  file MESSAGES.TXT  is not complete. Perhaps you made a
mistake while editing this file, or it was damaged by any other way.
Copy  the   file  MESSAGES.ENG  (or  any  other  language  file)  in
MESSAGES.TXT (see chapter 2.4).


4.1.4 Message: "COM x not found".

The COM  port  specified  in  RXCLUS.CFG  does  not  exist  on  your
computer. Change  the "PORT  ="  statement  in  your  RXCLUS.CFG  to
specify an existing port.


4.1.5 Message starting with: "*** RXCLUS.CFG :...".
The value  you specified  for the  parameter mentioned at the end of
this message is not allowed. Correct the line setting this parameter
in RXCLUS.CFG.


4.2. RECEIVE PROBLEMS.


4.2.1 No  information comes  in Receive  mode, but  all is normal in
      Monitor mode.

- no cluster traffic on the monitored frequency
- the TNC parameter MFILTER is set to filter out the Ctrl-G
  (ASCII code)


4.2.2. Communication with the TNC is normal (in Monitor mode) but no
traffic at all is displayed

Set the TNC parameter MONITOR to ON.


4.2.3. No communication at all with the TNC.

- Incorrect  parameters for  the serial communication in RXCLUS.CFG.
  Check the settings for PORT, SPEED, PARITY, STOPBITS, DATABITS and
  HANDSHAKE.
- You  TNC is  not supported  by  RXCLUS  (BayCom,  DRSI,...),  see.
  chapter 2.1.


4.2.4. In Monitor mode, all lines are displayed over each other.

Set the TNC parameter AUTOLF to ON.



4.3. DATABASE PROBLEMS.


4.3.1. Unexpected message "database empty".

- you didn't start RXCLUS from the directory where the databases are
  located (the DOS PATH has no effect for the data files !).
- you did erase or rename erroneously the database.



                  ***  5. UTILISATION RIGHTS  ***


       This software  belongs to  the "Freeware" category. It may be
used at  no charge  and copies may be made as long as the copies are
complete, with  all files  and documentation, and the mention of the
author is not removed nor modified.

       The author  is not  seeking a  financial profit  with RXCLUS.
However, the  users in the region of Geneva are encouraged to become
members of  the IAPC  (International Amateur  Packet Club,  P.O. Box
2435, 1211  Geneva 2, Switzerland), which established the DX-Cluster
HB9IAC-8 and its access digipeaters.

       Proposals for  improvements of  this program and translations
of the text file in other languages are always welcome !

       Wishing you  good reception  of the  DX spots  and,  for  the
licensed OMs,  don't loose  the good  habit connecting  from time to
time to your prefered cluster node !

                                      Robert CHALMAS, HB9BZA
                                           P.O.Box 1225
                                          1227 Carouge/GE
                                            SWITZERLAND

                                           MYBBS: HB9IAP
                                     Sysop DX-Cluster HB9IAC-8