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DX Cluster – Quick User Guide

screenshot

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Setup
  3. Interface
  4. Filters
  5. Spots
  6. CAT Control
  7. Shortcuts
  8. Tips
  9. FAQ

Overview

The DX Cluster Bandmap shows live DX spots from cluster networks and integrates with your radio via CAT control. It filters and highlights only the most relevant spots.

Features

  • Real-time DX spots
  • Smart filtering (band, mode, DXCC, worked, continent)
  • CAT tracking and click-to-tune
  • Visual badges for worked/confirmed, contests, and POTA/SOTA/IOTA/WWFF
  • Interactive map with propagation paths
  • One-click logging to QSO form
  • “My Favorites” quick filter

Setup

1. DX Cluster Connection (admin needed)

  • Go to Global Options → DXCluster
  • “Provider of DXClusterCache”: Enter the suggested url (e.g. https://dxc.wavelog.org/dxcache) there, or - if you want to use your own DXCluster-Cache - you can download/install a copy from here
  • Adjust “Max age”
  • Set the “de” filter (only spots reported by stations on this continent are taken into account) and save

Config of DXCluster-Cache

2. (Optional) CAT Control

  • Go to Settings → Hardware Interfaces
  • Add your radio and enable CAT connection

Interface

  • Help → opens this wiki
  • Fullscreen toggle
  • CAT Toggle / Radio Selector / de Continent
  • Advanced Filters / My Favorites / Clear / Band / Mode
  • Quick Filters / DX Map toggle

DX Map

Shows your location, DX stations, paths, day/night, zoom.
Colors: - Green – worked+confirmed
- Orange – worked not confirmed
- Red – new

Main Table

  • Columns (auto-fit screen): DX, Freq, DXCC, Mode, de, Time, Comment
  • Purple marker (when CAT enabled): marks your current position at the band
  • Spot colors:
  • green - added less than a minute ago
  • red - will be gone at next data fetch (within a minute)
  • blue - row highlighted by the mouse pointer

Filters

Click Advanced Filters for details.

Worked Status - Not Worked / Worked / Confirmed / Worked not Confirmed

Extras - LoTW users only
- Contest only
... and more!

Use Apply or Clear buttons.

Spots

Logging

  • Click → open QSO form (auto-filled)
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Click → tune radio via CAT

CAT Control

  • Auto Band Tracking: follows your radio band
  • Click-to-Tune: Ctrl/Cmd + click frequency
  • Toast message confirms action

Shortcuts

Action Keys
Tune radio Ctrl/Cmd + Click
Multi-select filters Ctrl/Cmd + Click
Close popup Esc
Toggle fullscreen F11
My Favorites Click “My Favorites”
Clear filters Click “Clear Filters”

Tips

Performance - Use few active bands/modes
- Enable CAT only when needed
- Adjust “Max Age” in settings

Contest Use - Use “Contest Only” filter
- Sort by frequency

Award Hunting - “New Countries” + “Not Worked” filters
- Medal colors show new entities

Refresh - Auto-refreshes; “Last fetched” shown
- Manual: reload page

Text search - You can easily filter the Spots by typing in search-terms a the searchfield on top of the cluster. There's even an enhanced syntax available. E.g.: Type in !POTA and you won't see POTA Spots. You can also combine terms like !FT8 Italy -> Shows all Spots with DXCC Italy, but no FT8-Spots and so on.

Checking history - Click on the DXCC-Column, and you'll see where you've already worked the DXCC and where it may be missing. Same goes with CQ zone and continent columns.

FAQ

No spots?
→ Check DXCluster settings, filters, and server status.

CAT required?
→ No, works manually too.

Band keeps changing?
→ Disable CAT tracking toggle.

Map missing?
→ Enable JavaScript, set gridsquare, disable ad-blocker, refresh.

Report issues:
→ GitHub Issues

More help:
- Radio Interface Guide