2 # please put your help in in alphabetical order
4 # a string search is done in the command field (case is ignored)
5 # and all commands matching the asked for command are printed out
7 # the order of the fields in each header is
8 # privilege, command, Description
9 # if the command ends in a - then that line isn't printed, but any
10 # subsequent lines are
12 # Comment lines are indented before printing
14 === 0^ANNOUNCE <text>^Send an announcement to LOCAL users only
15 <text> is the text of the announcement you wish to broadcast
17 === 0^ANNOUNCE FULL <text>^Send an announcement cluster wide
18 This will send your announcement cluster wide
20 === 5^ANNOUNCE SYSOP <text>^Send an announcement to Sysops only
22 === 0^APROPOS <string>^Search help database for <string>
23 Search the help database for <string> (it isn't case sensitive), and print
24 the names of all the commands that may be relevant.
26 === 0^BYE^Exit from the cluster
27 This will disconnect you from the cluster
29 === 5^CONNECT <callsign>^Start a connection to another DX Cluster
30 Start a connection process that will culminate in a new connection to the
31 DX cluster <callsign>. This process creates a new 'client' process which will
32 use the script in /spider/connect/<callsign> to effect the 'chat' exchange
33 necessary to traverse the network(s) to logon to the cluster <callsign>.
35 === 9^CATCH <node call> All|[<msgno> ...]^Mark a message as sent
36 === 9^UNCATCH <node call> All|[msgno> ...]^Unmark a message as sent
37 When you send messages the fact that you have forwarded it to another node
38 is remembered so that it isn't sent again. When you have a new partner
39 node and you add their callsign to your /spider/msg/forward.pl file, all
40 outstanding non-private messages will be forwarded to them. This may well
41 be ALL the non-private messages. You can prevent this by using these
45 catch GB7DJK 300 301 302 303
47 and to undo what you have just done:-
50 uncatch GB7DJK 300 301 302 303
52 which will arrange for them to be forward candidates again.
54 === 0^DBAVAIL^Show a list of all the Databases in the system
55 Title says it all really, this command lists all the databases defined
56 in the system. It is also aliased to SHOW/COMMAND.
58 === 9^DBCREATE <name>^Create a database entry
59 === 9^DBCREATE <name> chain <name> [<name>..]^Create a chained database entry
60 === 9^DBCREATE <name> remote <node>^Create a remote database entry
61 DBCREATE allows you to define a database in the system. It doesn't actually
62 create anything, just defines it.
64 The databases that are created are simple DB_File hash databases, they are
65 therefore already 'indexed'.
67 You can define a local database with the first form of the command eg:
71 You can also chain databases with the addition of the 'chain' keyword.
72 This will search each database one after the other. A typical example
75 DBCREATE sdx_qsl chain sql_ad
77 No checking is done to see if the any of the chained databases exist, in
78 fact it is usually better to do the above staement first then do each of
79 the chained databases.
81 Databases can exist offsite. To define a database that lives on another
84 DBCREATE buckmaster remote gb7dxc
86 Remote databases cannot be chained; however, the last database in a
87 a chain can be a remote database eg:
89 DBCREATE qsl chain gb7dxc
91 To see what databases have been defined do:
93 DBAVAIL (or it will have been aliased to SHOW/COMMAND)
95 It would be normal for you to add an entry into your local Aliases file
96 to allow people to use the 'SHOW/<dbname>' style syntax. So you would
97 need to add a line like:-
102 '^sh\w*/buc', 'dbshow buckmaster', 'dbshow',
111 to work as they may be used to.
113 See DBIMPORT for the importing of existing AK1A format data to databases.
114 See DBSHOW for generic database enquiry
116 === 9^DBIMPORT <dbname> <filename>^Import AK1A data into a database
117 If you want to import or update data in bulk to a database you can use
118 this command. It will either create or update entries into an existing
119 database. For example:-
121 DBIMPORT oblast /tmp/OBLAST.FUL
123 will import the standard OBLAST database that comes with AK1A into the
124 oblast database held locally.
126 === 9^DBREMOVE <dbname>^Delete a database
127 DBREMOVE will completely remove a database entry and also delete any data
128 file that is associated with it.
130 There is no warning, no comeback, no safety net.
136 will remove the oblast database from the system and it will also remove
137 the associated datafile.
141 There is no warning, no comeback, no safety net.
143 You have been warned.
145 === 0^DBSHOW <dbname> <key>^Display an entry, if it exists, in a database
146 This is the generic user interface to the database to the database system.
147 It is expected that the sysop will add an entry to the local Aliases file
148 so that users can use the more familiar AK1A style of enquiry such as:
152 but if he hasn't and the database really does exist (use DBAVAIL or
153 SHOW/COMMAND to find out) you can do the same thing with:
157 === 9^DEBUG^Set the cluster program into debug mode
158 Executing this command will only have an effect if you are running the cluster
163 It will interrupt the cluster just after the debug command has finished.
164 === 0^DIRECTORY^List messages
165 === 0^DIRECTORY ALL^List all messages
166 === 0^DIRECTORY OWN^List your own messages
167 === 0^DIRECTORY NEW^List all new messages
168 === 0^DIRECTORY TO <call>^List all messages to <call>
169 === 0^DIRECTORY FROM <call>^List all messages from <call>
170 === 0^DIRECTORY SUBJECT <string>^List all messages with <string> in subject
171 === 0^DIRECTORY <nn>^List last <nn> messages
172 === 0^DIRECTORY <from>-<to>^List messages <from> message <to> message
173 List the messages in the messages directory.
175 If there is a 'p' one space after the message number then it is a
176 personal message. If there is a '-' between the message number and the
177 'p' then this indicates that the message has been read.
179 You can use shell escape characters such as '*' and '?' in the <call>
182 You can combine some of the various directory commands together eg:-
186 DIR SUBJECT IOTA 200-250
188 You can abbreviate all the commands to one letter and use ak1a syntax:-
194 Sysops can see all users' messages.
196 === 8^DISCONNECT <call> [<call> ...]^Disconnect a user or cluster
197 Disconnect any <call> connected locally
199 === 0^DX [BY <call>] <freq> <call> <remarks>^Send a DX spot
200 This is how you send a DX Spot to other users. You can, in fact, now
201 enter the <freq> and the <call> either way round.
207 will all give the same result. You can add some remarks to the end
208 of the command and they will be added to the spot.
210 DX FR0G 144600 this is a test
212 You can credit someone else by saying:-
214 DX by G1TLH FR0G 144.600 he isn't on the cluster
216 The <freq> is compared against the available bands set up in the
217 cluster. See SHOW/BANDS for more information.
219 === 9^EXPORT <msgno> <filename>^Export a message to a file
220 Export a message to a file. This command can only be executed on a local
221 console with a fully privileged user. The file produced will be in a form
222 ready to be imported back into the cluster by placing it in the import
223 directory (/spider/msg/import).
225 This command cannot overwrite an existing file. This is to provide some
226 measure of security. Any files written will owned by the same user as the
227 main cluster, otherwise you can put the new files anywhere the cluster can
228 access. For example:-
233 === 1^FORWARD/OPERNAME <call>^Send out information on this <call> to all clusters
234 This command sends out any information held in the user file which can
235 be broadcast in PC41 protocol packets. This information is Name, QTH, Location
236 and Homenode. PC41s are only sent for the information that is available.
238 === 0^HELP^The HELP Command
239 HELP is available for a number of commands. The syntax is:-
243 Where <cmd> is the name of the command you want help on.
245 All commands can be abbreviated, so SHOW/DX can be abbreviated
246 to SH/DX, ANNOUNCE can be shortened to AN and so on.
248 Look at the APROPOS <string> command which will search the help database
249 for the <string> you specify and give you a list of likely commands
250 to look at with HELP.
252 === 0^KILL <msgno> [<msgno..]^Delete a message from the local system
253 Delete a message from the local system. You will only be able to delete messages
254 that you have originated or been sent (unless you are the sysop).
256 === 5^KILL FULL <msgno> [<msgno..]^Delete a message from the whole cluster
257 Delete a message (usually a 'bulletin') from the whole cluster system.
259 This uses the subject field, so any messages that have exactly the same subject
260 will be deleted. Beware!
262 === 9^LOAD/ALIASES^Reload the command alias table
263 Reload the /spider/cmd/Aliases file after you have editted it. You will need to
264 do this if you change this file whilst the cluster is running in order for the
265 changes to take effect.
267 === 9^LOAD/BANDS^Reload the band limits table
268 Reload the /spider/data/bands.pl file if you have changed it manually whilst
269 the cluster is running.
271 === 9^LOAD/CMD_CACHE^Reload the automatic command cache
272 Normally, if you change a command file in the cmd or local_cmd tree it will
273 automatially be picked up by the cluster program. Sometimes it can get confused
274 if you are doing a lot of moving commands about or delete a command in the
275 local_cmd tree and want to use the normal one again. Execute this command to
276 reset everything back to the state it was just after a cluster restart.
278 === 9^LOAD/MESSAGES^Reload the system messages file
279 If you change the /spider/perl/Messages file (usually whilst fiddling/writing new
280 commands) you can have them take effect during a cluster session by executing this
281 command. You need to do this if get something like :-
283 unknown message 'xxxx' in lang 'en'
285 === 9^LOAD/PREFIXES^Reload the prefix table
286 Reload the /spider/data/prefix_data.pl file if you have changed it manually whilst
287 the cluster is running.
289 === 5^MERGE <node> [<no spots>/<no wwv>]^Ask for the latest spots and WWV
290 MERGE allows you to bring your spot and wwv database up to date. By default
291 it will request the last 10 spots and 5 WWVs from the node you select. The
292 node must be connected locally.
294 You can request any number of spots or wwv and although they will be appended
295 to your databases they will not duplicate any that have recently been added
296 (the last 2 days for spots and last month for WWV data).
298 === 9^MSG <cmd> <msgno> [data ... ]^Alter various message parameters
299 Alter message parameters like To, From, Subject, whether private or bulletin
300 or return receipt (RR) is required or whether to keep this message from timing
303 MSG TO <msgno> <call> - change TO callsign to <call>
304 MSG FRom <msgno> <call> - change FROM callsign to <call>
305 MSG PRrivate <msgno> - set private flag
306 MSG NOPRrivate <msgno> - unset private flag
307 MSG RR <msgno> - set RR flag
308 MSG NORR <msgno> - unset RR flag
309 MSG KEep <msgno> - set the keep flag (message won't be deleted ever)
310 MSG NOKEep <msgno> - unset the keep flag
311 MSG SUbject <msgno> <new> - change the subject to <new>
312 MSG WAittime <msgno> - remove any waitting time for this message
313 MSG NOREad <msgno> - mark message as unread
314 MSG REad <msgno> - mark message as read
315 MSG QUeue - queue any outstanding bulletins
316 MSG QUeue 1 - queue any outstanding private messages
318 You can look at the status of a message by using:-
322 This will display more information on the message than DIR does.
324 === 8^PC <call> <text>^Send text (eg PC Protocol) to <call>
325 Send some arbitrary text to a locally connected callsign. No processing is done on
326 the text. This command allows you to send PC Protocol to unstick things if problems
327 arise (messages get stuck etc). eg:-
328 pc gb7djk PC33^GB7TLH^GB7DJK^400^
330 pc G1TLH Try doing that properly!!!
332 === 1^PING <node>^Send a ping command to another cluster
333 This command is used to estimate the quality of the link to another cluster.
334 The time returned is the length of time taken for a PC51 to go to another
335 cluster and be returned.
337 === 0^KILL <msgno> [<msgno> ...]^Remove or erase a message from the system
338 You can get rid of any message to or originating from your callsign using
339 this command. You can remove more than one message at a time.
341 === 5^KILL <from>-<to>^Remove a range of messages from the system
342 === 5^KILL FROM <call>^Remove all messages from a callsign
343 === 5^KILL TO <call>^Remove all messages to a callsign
344 === 5^KILL FULL <msgno> [<msgno]^Remove a message from the entire cluster
345 Remove this message from the entire cluster system as well as your node.
348 As a sysop you can kill any message on the system.
350 === 8^PC <call> <text>^Send arbitrary text to a connected callsign
351 Send any text you like to the callsign requested. This is used mainly to send
352 PC protocol to connected nodes either for testing or to unstick things.
354 You can also use in the same way as a talk command to a connected user but
355 without any processing, added of "from <blah> to <blah" or whatever.
357 === 1^PING <node call>^Find out the delays an a circuit to another node
358 This command will enable sysops to determine the speed of an inter-cluster
361 Any visible cluster node can be PINGed.
363 === 1^RCMD <node call> <cmd>^Send a command to another DX Cluster
364 This command allows you to send nearly any command to another DX Cluster
365 node that is connected to the system.
367 Whether you get any output is dependant on a) whether the other system knows
368 that the node callsign of this cluster is in fact a node b) whether the
369 other system is allowing RCMDs from this node and c) whether you have
370 permission to send this command at all.
372 === 0^READ^Read the next unread personal message addressed to you
373 === 0^READ <msgno>^Read the specified message
374 You can read any messages that are sent as 'non-personal' and also any
375 message either sent by or sent to your callsign.
378 As a sysop you may read any message on the system
380 === 0^REPLY^Reply (privately) to the last message that you have read
381 === 0^REPLY <msgno>^Reply (privately) to the specified message
382 === 0^REPLY B <msgno>^Reply as a Bulletin to the specified message
383 === 0^REPLY NOPrivate <msgno>^Reply as a Bulletin to the specified message
384 === 0^REPLY RR <msgno>^Reply to the specified message with read receipt
385 You can reply to a message and the subject will automatically have
386 "Re:" inserted in front of it, if it isn't already present.
388 You can also use all the extra qualifiers such as RR, PRIVATE,
389 NOPRIVATE, B that you can use with the SEND command (see SEND
392 === 0^SEND <call> [<call> ...]^Send a message to one or more callsigns
393 === 0^SEND RR <call>^Send a message and ask for a read receipt
394 === 0^SEND COPY <msgno> <call>^Send a copy of a message to someone
395 === 0^SEND PRIVATE <call>^Send a personal message
396 === 0^SEND NOPRIVATE <call>^Send a message to all stations
397 All the SEND commands will create a message which will be sent either to
398 an individual callsign or to one of the 'bulletin' addresses.
400 SEND <call> on its own acts as though you had typed SEND PRIVATE, that is
401 it will mark the message as personal and send it to the cluster node that
402 that callsign is connected to.
404 You can have more than one callsign in all of the SEND commands.
406 You can have multiple qualifiers so that you can have for example:-
408 SEND RR COPY 123 PRIVATE G1TLH G0RDI
410 which should send a copy of message 123 to G1TLH and G0RDI and you will
411 receive a read receipt when they have read the message.
413 SB is an alias for SEND NOPRIVATE (or send a bulletin in BBS speak)
414 SP is an alias for SEND PRIVATE
416 === 0^SET/ADDRESS <your address>^Record your postal address
418 === 0^SET/ANNOUNCE^Allow announce messages to come out on your terminal
419 === 0^UNSET/ANNOUNCE^Stop announce messages coming out on your terminal
421 === 0^SET/BEEP^Add a beep to DX and other messages on your terminal
422 === 0^UNSET/BEEP^Stop beeps for DX and other messages on your terminal
424 === 9^SET/DEBUG <name>^Add a debug level to the debug set
425 === 9^UNSET/DEBUG <name>^Remove a debug level from the debug set
427 === 0^SET/DX^Allow DX messages to come out on your terminal
428 === 0^UNSET/DX^Stop DX messages coming out on your terminal
430 === 0^SET/ECHO^Make the cluster echo your input
431 === 0^UNSET/ECHO^Stop the cluster echoing your input
432 If you are connected via a telnet session, different implimentations
433 of telnet handle echo differently depending on whether you are
434 connected via port 23 or some other port. You can use this command
435 to change the setting appropriately.
437 The setting is stored in your user profile.
439 YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THIS COMMAND IF YOU ARE CONNECTED VIA AX25.
441 === 0^SET/HERE^Tell the system you are present at your terminal
442 === 0^UNSET/HERE^Tell the system you are absent from your terminal
444 === 0^SET/HOMENODE <node> ^Set your normal cluster callsign
445 Tell the cluster system where you normally connect to. Any Messages sent
446 to you will normally find their way there should you not be connected.
450 === 9^SET/ISOLATE^Isolate a node from the rest of the network
451 Connect a node to your system in such a way that you are a full protocol
452 member of its network and can see all spots on it, but nothing either leaks
453 out from it nor goes back into from the rest of the nodes connected to you.
455 You can potentially connect several nodes in this way.
457 === 9^UNSET/ISOLATE^Stop Isolation of a node from the rest of the network
458 Remove isolation from a node - SET/ISOLATE
460 === 0^SET/LANGUAGE <lang>^Set the language you want to use
461 You can select the language that you want the cluster to use. Currently
462 the languages available are en (english) and nl (dutch).
464 === 0^SET/LOCATION <lat & long>^Set your latitude and longitude
465 === 9^SET/SYS_LOCATION <lat & long>^Set your cluster latitude and longitude
466 In order to get accurate headings and such like you must tell the system
467 what your latitude and longitude is. If you have not yet done a SET/QRA
468 then this command will set your QRA locator for you. For example:-
469 SET/LOCATION 52 22 N 0 57 E
471 === 0^SET/LOGININFO^Inform when a station logs in locally
472 === 0^UNSET/LOGININFO^Inform when a station logs out locally
474 === 9^SET/LOCKOUT <call>^Stop a callsign connecting to the cluster
475 === 9^UNSET/LOCKOUT <call>^Allow a callsign to connect to the cluster
477 === 0^SET/NAME <your name>^Set your name
478 Tell the system what your name is eg:-
481 === 9^SET/NODE <call> [<call>..]^Make the callsign an AK1A cluster
482 Tell the system that the call(s) are to be treated as AK1A cluster and
483 fed PC Protocol rather normal user commands.
485 === 9^SET/OBSCOUNT <count> <nodecall>^Set the 'pump-up' obscelence counter
486 From 1.35 onwards neighbouring nodes are pinged at regular intervals (see
487 SET/PINGINTERVAL), usually 300 seconds or 5 minutes. There is a 'pump-up'
488 counter which is decremented on every outgoing ping and then reset to
489 the 'obscount' value on every incoming ping. The default value of this
492 What this means is that a neighbouring node will be pinged twice at
493 (default) 300 second intervals and if no reply has been heard just before
494 what would be the third attempt, that node is disconnected.
496 If a ping is heard then the obscount is reset to the full value. Using
497 default values, if a node has not responded to a ping within 15 minutes,
500 === 0^SET/PAGE <lines per page>^Set the lines per page
501 Tell the system how many lines you wish on a page when the number of line
502 of output from a command is more than this. The default is 20. Setting it
503 explicitly to 0 will disable paging.
507 The setting is stored in your user profile.
509 === 9^SET/PINGINTERVAL <time> <nodecall>^Set ping time to neighbouring nodes
510 As from release 1.35 all neighbouring nodes are pinged at regular intervals
511 in order to determine the rolling quality of the link and, in future, to
512 affect routing decisions. The default interval is 300 secs or 5 minutes.
514 You can use this command to set a different interval. Please don't.
516 But if you do the value you enter is treated as minutes up 60 and seconds
517 for numbers greater than that.
519 This is used also to help determine when a link is down at the far end
520 (as certain cluster software doesn't always notice), see SET/OBSCOUNT
521 for more information.
523 === 9^SET/PRIVILEGE <n> <call> [<call..]^Set privilege level on a call
524 Set the privilege level on a callsign. The privilege levels that pertain
525 to commands are as default:-
527 1 - allow remote nodes normal user RCMDs
528 5 - various privileged commands (including shutdown, but not disc-
529 connect), the normal level for another node.
530 8 - more privileged commands (including disconnect)
531 9 - local sysop privilege. DO NOT SET ANY REMOTE USER OR NODE TO THIS
533 If you are a sysop and you come in as a normal user on a remote connection
534 your privilege will automatically be set to 0.
536 === 9^SET/PASSWORD <callsign> <string>^Set a users password
537 The password for a user can only be set by a full sysop. The string
538 can contain any characters but any spaces are removed (you can type in
539 spaces - but they won't appear in the password). You can see the
540 result with STAT/USER.
542 === 9^SET/SPIDER <call> [<call>..]^Make the callsign an DXSpider node
543 Tell the system that the call(s) are to be treated as DXSpider node and
544 fed new style DX Protocol rather normal user commands.
546 === 9^SET/SYS_QRA <locator>^Set your cluster QRA locator
547 === 0^SET/QRA <locator>^Set your QRA locator
548 Tell the system what your QRA (or Maidenhead) locator is. If you have not
549 done a SET/LOCATION then your latitude and longitude will be set roughly
550 correctly (assuming your locator is correct ;-). For example:-
553 === 0^SET/QTH <your qth>^Set your QTH
554 Tell the system where you are. For example:-
555 SET/QTH East Dereham, Norfolk
557 === 0^SET/TALK^Allow TALK messages to come out on your terminal
558 === 0^UNSET/TALK^Stop TALK messages coming out on your terminal
560 === 0^SET/WCY^Allow WCY messages to come out on your terminal
561 === 0^UNSET/WCY^Stop WCY messages coming out on your terminal
563 === 0^SET/WWV^Allow WWV messages to come out on your terminal
564 === 0^UNSET/WWV^Stop WWV messages coming out on your terminal
566 === 0^SET/WX^Allow WX messages to come out on your terminal
567 === 0^UNSET/WX^Stop WX messages coming out on your terminal
569 === 0^SHOW/DATE [<prefix>|<callsign>]^Show the local time
570 This is very nearly the same as SHOW/TIME, the only difference the format
571 of the date string if no arguments are given.
573 If no prefixes or callsigns are given then this command returns the local
574 time and UTC as the computer has it right now. If you give some prefixes
575 then it will show UTC and UTC + the local offset (not including DST) at
576 the prefixes or callsigns that you specify.
578 === 0^SHOW/DX^Interrogate the spot database
579 If you just type SHOW/DX you will get the last so many spots
580 (sysop configurable, but usually 10).
582 In addition you can add any number of these commands in very nearly
583 any order to the basic SHOW/DX command, they are:-
585 on <band> - eg 160m 20m 2m 23cm 6mm
586 on <region> - eg hf vhf uhf shf (see SHOW/BANDS)
588 <number> - the number of spots you want
589 <from>-<to> - <from> spot no <to> spot no in the selected list
591 <prefix> - for a spotted callsign beginning with <prefix>
592 *<suffix> - for a spotted callsign ending in <suffix>
593 *<string>* - for a spotted callsign containing <string>
595 day <number> - starting <number> days ago
596 day <from>-<to> - <from> days <to> days ago
598 info <text> - any spots containing <text> in the info or remarks
600 by <call> - any spots spotted by <call> (spotter <call> is the
603 qsl - this automatically looks for any qsl info on the call
604 held in the spot database.
606 iota [<iota>] - If the iota island number is missing it will look for
607 the string iota and anything which looks like an iota
608 island number. If you specify then it will look for
611 qra [<locator>] - this will look for the specific locator if you specify
612 one or else anything that looks like a locator.
617 SH/DX on 20m info iota
618 SH/DX 9a on vhf day 30
624 === 0^SHOW/DXCC <prefix>^Interrogate the spot database by country
625 This command takes the <prefix> (which can be a full or partial
626 callsign if desired), looks up which internal country number it is
627 and then displays all the spots as per SH/DX for that country.
629 The options for SHOW/DX also apply to this command.
633 SH/DXCC W on 20m info iota
635 === 0^SHOW/FILES [<filearea> [<string>]]^List the contents of a filearea
636 SHOW/FILES on its own will show you a list of the various fileareas
637 available on the system. To see the contents of a particular file
640 where <filearea> is the name of the filearea you want to see the
643 You can also use shell globbing characters like '*' and '?' in a
644 string to see a selection of files in a filearea eg:-
645 SH/FILES bulletins arld*
647 See also TYPE - to see the contents of a file.
649 === 1^SHOW/ISOLATE^Show list of ISOLATED nodes
651 === 9^SHOW/LOCKOUT^Show the list of locked out or excluded callsigns
653 === 0^SHOW/MOON [<prefix>|<callsign>]^Show Moon rise and set times
654 Show the Moon rise and set times for a (list of) prefixes or callsigns,
655 together with the azimuth and elevation of the sun currently at those
658 If you don't specify any prefixes or callsigns, it will show the times for
659 your QTH (assuming you have set it with either SET/LOCATION or SET/QRA),
660 together with the current azimuth and elevation.
662 In addition, it will show the gain or loss dB relative to the nominal
663 distance of 385,000Km due to the ellipsoidal nature of the orbit.
665 If all else fails it will show the Moonrise and set times for the node
666 that you are connected to.
673 === 0^SHOW/MUF <prefix> [<hours>][long]^Show the likely propagation to a prefix
674 This command allow you to estimate the likelihood of you contacting
675 a station with the prefix you have specified. The output assumes a modest
676 power of 20dBW and receiver sensitivity of -123dBm (about 0.15muV/10dB SINAD)
678 The result predicts the most likely operating frequencies and signal
679 levels for high frequency (shortwave) radio propagation paths on
680 specified days of the year and hours of the day. It is most useful for
681 paths between 250 km and 6000 km, but can be used with reduced accuracy
682 for paths shorter or longer than this.
684 The command uses a routine MINIMUF 3.5 developed by the U.S. Navy and
685 used to predict the MUF given the predicted flux, day of the year,
686 hour of the day and geographic coordinates of the transmitter and
687 receiver. This routine is reasonably accurate for the purposes here,
688 with a claimed RMS error of 3.8 MHz, but much smaller and less complex
689 than the programs used by major shortwave broadcasting organizations,
690 such as the Voice of America.
692 The command will display some header information detailing its
693 assumptions, together with the locations, latitude and longitudes and
694 bearings. It will then show UTC (UT), local time at the other end
695 (LT), calculate the MUFs, Sun zenith angle at the midpoint of the path
696 (Zen) and the likely signal strengths. Then for each frequency for which
697 the system thinks there is a likelihood of a circuit it prints a value.
699 The value is currently a likely S meter reading based on the conventional
700 6dB / S point scale. If the value has a '+' appended it means that it is
701 1/2 an S point stronger. If the value is preceeded by an 'm' it means that
702 there is likely to be much fading and by an 's' that the signal is likely
705 By default SHOW/MUF will show the next two hours worth of data. You
706 can specify anything up to 24 hours worth of data by appending the no of
707 hours required after the prefix. For example:-
713 RxSens: -123 dBM SFI: 159 R: 193 Month: 10 Day: 21
714 Power : 20 dBW Distance: 6283 km Delay: 22.4 ms
715 Location Lat / Long Azim
716 East Dereham, Norfolk 52 41 N 0 57 E 47
717 United-States-W 43 0 N 87 54 W 299
718 UT LT MUF Zen 1.8 3.5 7.0 10.1 14.0 18.1 21.0 24.9 28.0 50.0
719 18 23 11.5 -35 mS0+ mS2 S3
720 19 0 11.2 -41 mS0+ mS2 S3
722 indicating that you will have weak, fading circuits on top band and
723 80m but usable signals on 40m (about S3).
729 will get you the above display, but with the next 24 hours worth of
735 Gives you an estimate of the long path propagation characterics. It
736 should be noted that the figures will probably not be very useful, nor
737 terrible accurate, but it is included for completeness.
739 === 1^SHOW/NODE [<callsign> ...]^Show the type and version number of nodes
740 Show the type and version (if connected) of the nodes specified on the
741 command line. If no callsigns are specified then a sorted list of all
742 the non-user callsigns known to the system will be displayed.
744 === 0^SHOW/PREFIX <callsign>^Interrogate the prefix database
745 This command takes the <callsign> (which can be a full or partial
746 callsign or a prefix), looks up which internal country number
747 it is and then displays all the relevant prefixes for that country
748 together with the internal country no, the CQ and ITU regions.
752 === 5^SHOW/PROGRAM^Show the locations of all the included program modules
753 Show the name and location where every program module was load from. This
754 is useful for checking where you think you have loaded a .pm file from.
756 === 0^SHOW/QRA <locator> [<locator>]^Show distance between locators
757 === 0^SHOW/QRA <lat> <long>^Convert latitude and longitude to a locator
758 This is a multipurpose command that allows you either to calculate the
759 distance and bearing between two locators or (if only one locator is
760 given on the command line) the distance and beraing from your station
761 to the locator. For example:-
766 The first example will show the distance and bearing to the locator from
767 yourself, the second example will calculate the distance and bearing from
768 the first locator to the second. You can use 4 or 6 character locators.
770 It is also possible to convert a latitude and longitude to a locator by
771 using this command with a latitude and longitude as an argument, for
774 SH/QRA 52 41 N 0 58 E
776 === 0^SHOW/SATELLITE <name> [<hours> <interval>]^Show tracking data
777 Show the tracking data from your location to the satellite of your choice
778 from now on for the next few hours.
780 If you use this command without a satellite name it will display a list
781 of all the satellites known currently to the system.
783 If you give a name then you can obtain tracking data of all the passes
784 that start and finish 5 degrees below the horizon. As default it will
785 give information for the next three hours for every five minute period.
787 You can alter the number of hours and the step size, within certain
790 Each pass in a period is separated with a row of '-----' characters
797 === 0^SHOW/SUN [<prefix>|<callsign>]^Show sun rise and set times
798 Show the sun rise and set times for a (list of) prefixes or callsigns,
799 together with the azimuth and elevation of the sun currently at those
802 If you don't specify any prefixes or callsigns, it will show the times for
803 your QTH (assuming you have set it with either SET/LOCATION or SET/QRA),
804 together with the current azimuth and elevation.
806 If all else fails it will show the sunrise and set times for the node
807 that you are connected to.
814 === 0^SHOW/TIME [<prefix>|<callsign>]^Show the local time
815 If no prefixes or callsigns are given then this command returns the local
816 time and UTC as the computer has it right now. If you give some prefixes
817 then it will show UTC and UTC + the local offset (not including DST) at
818 the prefixes or callsigns that you specify.
820 === 0^SHOW/WCY^Show last 10 WCY broadcasts
821 === 0^SHOW/WCY <n>^Show last <n> WCY broadcasts
822 Display the most recent WCY information that has been received by the system
824 === 0^SHOW/WWV^Show last 10 WWV broadcasts
825 === 0^SHOW/WWV <n>^Show last <n> WWV broadcasts
826 Display the most recent WWV information that has been received by the system
828 === 5^SHUTDOWN^Shutdown the cluster
829 Shutdown the cluster and disconnect all the users
831 === 5^STAT/DB <dbname>^Show the status of a database
832 Show the internal status of a database descriptor.
834 Depending on your privilege level you will see more or less information.
835 This command is unlikely to be of much use to anyone other than a sysop.
837 === 5^STAT/CHANNEL [<callsign>]^Show the status of a channel on the cluster
838 Show the internal status of the channel object either for the channel that
839 you are on or else for the callsign that you asked for.
841 Only the fields that are defined (in perl term) will be displayed.
843 === 5^STAT/MSG <msgno>^Show the status of a message
844 This command shows the internal status of a message and includes information
845 such as to whom it has been forwarded, its size, origin etc etc.
847 === 5^STAT/USER [<callsign>]^Show the full status of a user
848 Shows the full contents of a user record including all the secret flags
851 Only the fields that are defined (in perl term) will be displayed.
853 === 0^SYSOP^Regain your privileges if you login remotely
854 The system automatically reduces your privilege level to that of a
855 normal user if you login in remotely. This command allows you to
856 regain your normal privilege level. It uses the normal system: five
857 numbers are returned that are indexes into the character array that is
858 your assigned password (see SET/PASSWORD). The indexes start from
861 You are expected to return a string which contains the characters
862 required in the correct order. You may intersperse those characters
863 with others to obscure your reply for any watchers. For example (and
864 these values are for explanation :-):
866 password = 012345678901234567890123456789
870 aa2bbbb0ccc5ddd7xxx3n
874 They will all match. If there is no password you will still be offered
875 numbers but nothing will happen when you input a string. Any match is
878 === 0^TALK <call> <text>^Send a text message to another station
879 === 0^TALK <call> > <node> <text>^Send a text message to another station via a node
880 Send a short message to any other station that is visible on the cluster
881 system. You can send it to anyone you can see with a SHOW/CONFIGURATION
882 command, they don't have to be connected locally.
884 The second form of TALK is used when other cluster nodes are connected
885 with restricted information. This usually means that they don't send
886 the user information usually associated with logging on and off the cluster.
888 If you know that G3JNB is likely to be present on GB7TLH, but you can only
889 see GB7TLH in the SH/C list but with no users, then you would use the
890 second form of the talk message.
892 === 0^TYPE <filearea>/<name>^Look at the contents of a file in one of the fileareas
893 Type out the contents of a file in a filearea. So, for example, in
894 filearea 'bulletins' you want to look at file 'arld051' you would
896 TYPE bulletins/arld051
898 See also SHOW/FILES to see what fileareas are available and a
901 === 0^WHO^Show who is physically connected
902 This is a quick listing that shows which callsigns are connected and
903 what sort of connection they have
905 === 0^WX <text>^Send a weather message to local users
906 === 0^WX FULL <text>^Send a weather message to all cluster users
907 === 5^WX SYSOP <text>^Send a weather message to other clusters only
908 Weather messages can sometimes be useful if you are experiencing an extreme
909 that may indicate enhanced conditions