You might not think that there is a lot of point of including a +section on how to log in and out of DXSpider. However, you would be +suprised at the difficulties some people have in simply getting in +and out of the cluster! +
There are several ways a login might be achieved, dependant on how +the sysop has DXSpider configured. It is impossible for me to cover all +variations but here are the basic ones. +
+
Simplicity itself. The usual CONNECT command will log you straight +into the cluster and you will not have to do anything else. +Obviously, you will have to connect to the correct callsign. Some +nodes use an SSID with their call so you would have to add that. +
Examples: +
+
+
+connect GB7MBC
+connect GB7MBC-1
+
++
There are several possibilities here, dependant on how the sysop has +configured his system. If you are connecting via netrom then you are +most probably connecting from another station. Listing the nodes in +that station with the NODES command will tell you what callsign +or netrom alias to connect to. Then just issue the connect command +from there. It is possible that the netrom alias may connect you to +a node with an alias for the cluster, such as DXC. Just type this +and you will be connected. +
Example: +
+
+connect MBCDX
+
++
Because DXSpider runs under the Linux operating system, it is possible to +make a direct telnet connection into the cluster. With telnet +connections, the source callsign is not seen by DXSpider, so you will be +asked to login with your callsign. +To telnet to DXSpider, you would connect to a specific port. There is no +standard at the moment for a cluster telnet port but ask the sysop if +you are unsure. +
Example: +
+
+
+telnet gb7mbc 8000
+
+All the above are possible ways of connecting to a DXSpider cluster. You +may have some or all of these available to you. There may be one or +two additional ways to connect dependant on the network local to you. +However I am sure you get the idea. +
+
Logging out can be done by simply issuing the standard BYE +command. +
You could also send a disconnect if you are using AX25, or a CLOSE +command if you are connected via telnet. +If you do not log out gracefully using one of the above commands, +you may find you are unable to get a full connect next time. This +may also happen if a NETRom connection drops. You may get connected, +but nothing else will happen because the program thinks you are still +connected and will not let you connect twice under the same call. +However you could reconnect by adding a number to the end of your call, +for example G0YLM2. +This can be done by either altering your MYCALL setting in the TNC or +by altering your program configuration. +
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