There
are several ways to connect into a cluster depending on its specific setup and
configuration. During your first login,
you will be asked to enter and verify your Name, Location. If your callsign
is issued by the USA or Canada, AR-Cluster will automatically populate your
name and location based on information from the AR-Technology callsign database.
You simplify have to verify the data and make changes as needed.
The
AX25 protocol, or packet communications, requires the use of a Terminal Node
Controller, TNC. The CONNECT
command issued to your TNC will connect you into the cluster. Configuration of the TNC involves setting up
parameters for operation with packet.
Consult your TNC manual for details.
Make sure you have set up your callsign in the
TNC. To connect into your local cluster
tune your radio to the cluster operating frequency and than
issue the connect command to the cluster callsign. Some nodes use a SSID on the end of their callsign as K5HOG-5.
Example:
connect K5NA
connect AB5K-2
On a machine connected to the
Internet, simply start a Telnet client session and open a connection to the IP
address of the Cluster you are connecting to.
Example:
telnet dxspots.com
You will see a login message similar
to:
*** Connected to: N5IN
Welcome to the N5IN
AR-Cluster node Telnet port!
Please enter your
call:
Enter your callsign to complete the connection.
According to Fabrizio,
IK4VYX, DX Telnet works with the AR-Cluster with the following DX Telnet
script:
/T 5
/S
!!!$$$$
/W de
/P de
Logging out is done by issuing
either the BYE or QUIT command.
If connected by Telnet, you can exit your Telnet
client and automatically be disconnected.
If connected using packet, you can also use the TNC Disconnect command.