Connecting to the Cluster

Once you feel you are comfortable and somewhat competent with the packet equipment, have tried out several packet QSOs, have the basics of adjusting your timing parameters down, and have read your manual, you're ready to tackle the network. The main frequency of the network is 144.93. Put your 2 meter radio on that frequency, make sure your radio is in simplex mode. Put your TNC in COMMAND mode and type:

CONNECT W4NS carriage return.

If you are close enough to connect direct (10 or 12 miles) you'll get an immediate response. If you cannot reach W4NS directly, you will have to use the repeater atop Monte Sano Mountain. This repeater is called a NET/ROM and is a Store-and-Forward type of system. Many of our more remote users utilize this resource and this repeater also assists our communication with the other nodes of the network. To utilize the NET/ROM, put your TNC in COMMAND mode, type:

CONNECT HSVDX carriage return

When your screen shows that you are connected successfully, just type:

CONNECT W4NS

and the NETROM will complete the connection for you and give you access to the network. We also utilize 145.73 as a Cluster frequency for local users. Most people who use this frequency connect to W4NS directly, or use one of the private store-and-forward systems (called a KA-Node) in order to connect. In addition, we have a NET/ROM available on this frequency also, for users from Southern Tennessee. This NET/ROM is located in Elora, TN, and the call is STDX. Users in the area of Fayetteville, Winchester, Tullahoma, etc. may use this path by connecting first to STDX, and having STDX then connect you to W4NS. In addition, we have a 9600 baud port on 147.53, however connections are local only, and there is no repeater on that frequency. When the PacketCluster responds, you will be given a welcoming message from the North Alabama DX Packet Network and told to type a ? or an H for additional help. If you do this, the system will respond with a menu of commands and a very brief description of each, that will allow you to use the network. For starters, try a SHOW/USERS. When you type this in, the system will respond with a little table that lists all of the users who are connected to the local node at the moment.

After you try this, you can then type in SHOW/DX. The system will respond with the 5 latest entries from the DX log--these contain the Call, Frequency, Date and Time of the entry and the call letters of the DXer who entered it. After this, you can just sit back awhile and peruse the list--but stay connected. If things are normal, the others on the system will be entering DX periodically, and this will flash immediately onto your screen along with a 'BEEP' from your terminal to alert you that there is new DX data coming in. This data is being entered in real-time by the other users of the system and you are able to enter it also when you feel a little more comfortable.

Early on, you should do a SET/NAME and put your name into the user file. Also do a SET/QTH followed by your city and state and a SET/LOCATION in which you specify your latitude and longitude--help is available on this so you can get the format right--this data is used for the on-line Heading and MUF calculations you'll find out about in the following sections.

There are a whole repertoire of instructions--a list of them and a description of each is contained in Section 3 of this manual. If you are on-line and forget the details of one of the commands, simply type HELP followed by a space and the command you're having trouble with, and a help file will appear on your screen. To save you time, we recommend you keep this manual handy for reference.

Using the network is like anything else--it takes practice--and we understand that. There are so many things available here, that it takes time to learn them all. Bear in mind that, though there a lot of things the system will do, the MAIN FUNCTION is as an alerting tool--and what makes this valuable, is the fact that a lot of the folks doing the alerting are DXers in other parts of the South that are not available to us on the voice repeater--they are far away, hearing different things than we can hear here at different times and different propagation conditions. They talk to different people every day than we do and propagate different rumors. Typically, the Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta users hear things a little earlier than we do--particularly on the low bands. They have sunrise and sunset an hour earlier than we do at certain times of the year, so they are excellent help as to previewing what you'll hear in a little while.