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RXC50ENG.TXT
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1993-12-18
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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