Built-in DX Cluster Server

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From version 1.23, KST4Contest includes a built-in DX cluster server. It sends spots directly to the logging software whenever a direction warning is triggered.

(Idea by OM0AAO, Viliam Petrik – thank you!)

What is the Built-in DX Cluster Server For?

When KST4Contest detects that a station is requesting a sked from your direction and a QRG is known, it automatically generates a DX cluster spot and feeds it directly to the logging software's cluster client / band map.

The logging software then displays the spot in the band map. Clicking the spot sets the transceiver's frequency and mode directly – without any manual typing.

Setup

In KST4Contest

In Preferences → DX Cluster Server Settings:

Enter the port of the internal server (e.g. 7300 or 8000 – must match the logging software).
Enter a spotter callsign – this must be a different callsign than your contest callsign!
- Reason: Logging programs filter spots from your own callsign as "already worked". If the spotter uses the same callsign, the spots will not be displayed.
Enter the assumed MHz: For frequency references like ".205" in the chat, KST4Contest needs to decide whether 144.205, 432.205 or 1296.205 is meant. For single-band contests, simply enter the corresponding band centre. Full frequency references like "144.205" or "1296.338" in the chat are always correctly identified.

In UCXLog

Configure a DX cluster server connection:
- Host: 127.0.0.1 (or IP of the KST4Contest computer)
- Port: As configured in KST4Contest
- Password: can be left empty
Use the "Send a test message to your log" button to test the connection.

In N1MM+

Similar settings:

Host: 127.0.0.1 (or IP of the KST4Contest computer)
Port: As configured in KST4Contest

Testing the Connection

After the logger's DX cluster client has connected, use Send test spot to generate the following entry:

Spotted callsign: DO5AMF
Comment: Testing DXC-Spot: Congrats, you donated $100!
Frequency: .300 on the configured fallback band

With 144 MHz selected as the fallback band, the spot appears at approximately 144.300 MHz.

The comment is a deliberately retained Easter egg. It makes the test entry easy to identify but has no other function. In particular, no donation or other external action is triggered.

Three conditions must be met before running the test:

KST4Contest is connected to the ON4KST chat.
The local DX cluster server is enabled.
The logging software's DX cluster client is connected to KST4Contest.

If no client is connected, KST4Contest displays a corresponding message. A successful test therefore confirms that at least one connected client received the generated spot.

How It Works

A spot is generated when both conditions are met:

A direction warning has been triggered (station is making a sked in your direction).
The station's QRG is known (read from the chat or manually entered).

The generated spot contains:

Station's callsign
Frequency
Spot time

The logging software can then display the spot in the band map and tune the TRX to that frequency with a mouse click.

Multi-Computer Setup

If KST4Contest runs on a separate computer (not the logging computer):

Host in the logging software: IP of the KST4Contest computer (not 127.0.0.1)
Same configuration as for the QSO UDP broadcast packets (see Log Synchronisation)

Tested Logging Software

UCXLog ✓
N1MM+ ✓

Further test reports are welcome – please send by email to DO5AMF.

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