Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

[Joshua Arritt]

The Twitter analogy inspires a thought: suppose it were possible to build
algorithmic server-side or client-side filtering for DX cluster data to
could parse out spots for which you may not be interested.  And vice
versa...  we can do this kind of selective handling at the display level
and the digipeater/i-gate level with APRSIS.

example:
Key on the comment line -- if the filter catches any 3-digit RST (say, if
we are only interested in CW DX), then grab that spot and display it...
ignore others.  Or hunt common FT8 signal reports and ignore (or display if
that interests you).

 Key the DX callsign -- if it is from countries in array "DXIWANT",
display... or build other relationships that include or exclude.


I don't think it is terribly difficult to do this at the private LAN or
client level with some basic code skill, minimal hardware, and time.
Funding and maintaining a public http host for such a filter may be a
challenge.


VY 73 DE KF4YLM DIT DIT

On Tue, May 12, 2020, 20:36 Roger Kennedy <roger at wessexproductions.co.uk>
wrote:

> Mike the DX Cluster I use only shows 160m spots anyway !
>
> Roger G3YRO
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: Michael Walker [mailto:va3mw at portcredit.net]
>
> Because they can.  The DX cluster is like bragging on Twitter.   :)
>
> May I suggest that you run some filters that are related to your cluster
> login that only allow spots for those bands you are interested in.
>
> Mike va3mw
> ______________________________________________________________
>
>  On Tue, May 12, 2020 at 7:58 PM Roger Kennedy
> <roger at wessexproductions.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Why oh why do some people post on the DX Cluster every FT8 station they
> have
> heard?
>
> One GM station this evening posted 21 stations . . . none of them were even
> DX !
>
> I don't even see why you would post ANY on the DX Cluster . . . I thought
> the whole point of FT8 is that you leave your computer listening on the
> same
> frequency, so surely any stations will just come up on the screen?
>
> Whereas posting the frequency of a CW or SSB DX station on the Cluster is
> really useful to help people find those stations, and attempt a QSO.
>
> Also . . . as others have said, DX propagation is still pretty good on 160m
> most nights . . . but despite lots of CQ calls by myself and other EU
> stations, we're often getting no replies!  (despite RBN reports being good)
>
> 73 Roger G3YRO
>
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