SpotCollector is a freeware application that captures spots from up to 4
internet-accessible telnet clusters and the #CQDX IRC channel, which has
a spot feed from the DX Summit cluster. SpotCollector creates a single
database entry for each spotted station, merging both identical spots
from different sources and multiple spots of the same station at the
same frequency. It provides sophisticated real-time filtering and
sorting of the resulting database, and can optionally color the database
display to highlight stations with whom QSOs are needed to achieve your
Dxing objectives.
SpotCollector attempts to discern the location of the spotting station
from that station's callsign -- it uses this information to support
"origin filtering", e.g. "just show me 6m spots originating from the
west coast of North America". As you point out, callsigns are not
reliable indicators of location. A scheme such as the one you suggest,
if standardized and practiced widely, would eliminate this problem
without the more computationally-expensive "look up the spotting station
in a callbook, and determine his or her location from the postal code".
I suggest using Maidenhead Gridsquare as your position indicator.
To permit applications like SpotCollector to automatically parse the
information, I suggest enclosing your code in angle brackets, e.g.
<1.D.8.CM87.6> .
If there is serious interest in your approach, I will extend
SpotCollector to detect this code and appropriately utilize the spotting
station's location. I will also enable a user to specify his or her
information in a configuration dialog, and automatically append the code
to each spot the user posts without requiring the information to be
manually entered each time.
You might add a few more antenna designators: V for vertical, I for
inverted-V, L for longwire, H for horizontal loop, T for delta loop, and
P for log periodic.
Additional information about SpotCollector is available via
www.qsl.net/spotcollector .
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
Behalf Of Gary Stone
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 8:13 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [DX-NEWS] crazy idea for spots?
Hi,
Sorry if this is off topic but I don't think that it
is. I have often thought about some kind of code
system for the spots on clusters. It would be helpful
to know a little about the station reporting.
What about a simple 5 character code?
1st digit: number elements of your antenna
2nd digit: D-dipole Y-Yagi Q-quad O-other array
3rd digit: antenna meters high
4th digit: my prefix (actualy location)
5th digit: actual s-reading at my qth
So, if I make a spot for 12 meters it would be:
1.D.8.W5.6
(dipole up 8 meters - I'm in W5)
For a 20 meter spot:
3.Y.14.W5.9+
(3 element yagi up 14 meters)
A lot of the spots would be more useful (in my view)
if the above were known. I know that regardless of
the above if we need that station we go to the freq
and check but it could be useful.
Often I see a spot from a W5 and I can't hear a thing
and look up the call on qrz.com and see that W5 is
actually on the east coast.
Just a suggestion to kick around. If this should go
to DX Chat - just let me know. No flames please.
If you want to discuss privately send to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
73 de N5PHT, Gary
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