K1TTT AR-Cluster

Purpose

The K1TTT AR-Cluster went on the air in December 1999 as an alternative to the overloaded RF network. My intention is to bring world wide DX and contest information to the YCCC by operating a node with the best software and user access methods I can provide. I will also provide technical support and planning assistance to others who are interested in providing similar access.

The AR-Cluster software I am using looks similar to the old DOS based PacketCluster software, but it contains many more methods for filtering DX spots to suit each user's preferences, and other interesting features. It also provides internet access both for node to node connections and for users without need to use other protocol conversion gateways. This makes it much simpler to set up and use as no special login procedure is required. The databases used to maintain the node data are also easily accessible from Microsoft Access so it is easy for the sysop to maintain and customize.

Access

My node is open to anyone with telnet access without prior registration requirements. It is available on 145.690Mhz in way western Mass. It can be accessed from western Mass, eastern NY, and parts of CT, VT, and NH.

Hardware

Celeron 566Mhz, 128 Meg ram, 15G hard drive, 56k modem. RF access is provided by a KPC-3+ tnc, Kenwood TM-261 radio, and a vertical antenna at 180'.

User Manuals

Version 3 Users Manual on AR-Technology web site.

CT User Note

On the new versions of ARCluster there is extra information added after the timestamp on dx spots. This will cause CT to mess up the spots in the spot window and in the band map. To disable this use the ARCluster command:

Set/NODXSQTH

This only has to be done once, the node should remember it the next time you connect.

DXTelnet on ARCluster

These are the instructions from Fabrizio (IK4VYX) on how to setup a new connection to get to an ARCluster node using DXTelnet.

First of all the DXTelnet version should not be earlier than 4.6. This because old versions of DXTelnet waited for a "login:" from the server, before keeping on with the connection, while AR cluster uses a different login sentence.
To upgrade to the latest DXTelnet version just download DXT 4.7 from:

http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/telnet.htm

These are the parameters required to create add a new site into the DXTelnet's site list:

Press the "New" button on the site list

Type K1ttt as site name

The network address should be set to k1ttt.net

the port as Telnet

the service type as DXCluster

press OK to save, quit and restart DXTelnet.

Now click k1ttt in the site list

DXTelnet should connect and you should type your callsign at the login prompt.

David Robbins, K1TTT K1TTT@arrl.net