Been following this thread for a few days and was wondering when someone
would tout the advantages of using CC User by VE7CC. Terry is absolutely
correct in his praises of Lee's software. I'm just a humble user and have
no desire to dig into the bowels of ISP addresses, connection glitches,
remembering arcane line commands, etc. Lee's software solves all of these
problems in spades. Not only is it rock solid in DXBase, it does a terrific
job connecting to my WriteLog contest logger and passing along spots with
never a drop out. The filtering possibilities are seemingly endless, yet
very easy to do. Lee has from time to time had his electric utility go
AWOL on him up in BC. He has now got his node set up to automatically
transfer you another CC Cluster node (N5IN-2 I think) should his go down for
some reason. It is completely seamless and if you have the same filter
options set up on both nodes you probably won't even notice the switch over.
The only thing Terry omitted was the URL to find this great program. It's
at http://www.bcdxc.org/ve7cc/. There is also a reflector user group
through Yahoo Groups to get support questions answered. Check it out.
You'll like it!
73,
Gary AL9A
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: August 09, 2008 9:09 AM
Subject: [Dxbase] Re: Internet Cluster Question
Maybe the following will help some of you.
I've run a node since DX-PacketCluster was introduced. I started with
DX-Packet Cluster, tried some of the freebies, then AR-Cluster and then
switched to CC Cluster when VE7CC introduced it. At first nothing went
through the Internet, everything was RF connected and just keeping the
node going for over two days was a treat. When backbones started through
the Internet and RF was still in used with AR-Cluster things improved a
lot, Internet connections were still lost for many reasons I'll go into
later, but with the decrease of RF USERs many of them would stay connected
solid for months.
But even I finally decided over a year ago to drop all of the RF and
strictly only run an Internet connected node, I was down to 4 RF USERs and
3 of them had 24/7 Internet. Sysops have always exchanged information on
the Node reflectors about many different problems, lost connections was
always at the top of the list.
Before I continue I should mention I've been a DXbase user since it was
DOS and currently now run 2007.
Internet connections can be lost for many different reasons here are
several I can think of:
First realize that each node has it's own usually unique set up, some are
on networks like business or schools, some are on cable systems, some yet
on phone line connections, some on T-1s or better and more. Each has to
connect to the Internet through many different devices, I won't go through
them all but I will take you through what happens here and indicate where
possible problems can happen. Also keep in mind that some Nodes use
Static IP addresses usually the case with those that have their own Domain
like mine, you can usually tell this if the node can be connected to with
a static IP address, in my case 69.2.20.5.
I'm connected to my ISP through a Wide Spectrum RF link directly from my
QTH to the ISP office. We have to start some place so lets start at my
Node computer. Since I have my own network all my computers are behind a
router. So here we go with a path to the Internet, from node computer to
router, then to ISPs switch, then through ISPs spread spectrum radio on my
end to ISP office, to ISPs server to Internet. What route it takes
through the Internet is totally dictated by all of the different
connections through out the world. You could be in the same state and
have 7 or 8 different hops through the Internet, you could have 20 or more
from east to west coast or as little as 5 or 6. Same could happen from
country to country, you just never know. A lot also depends on the size of
the pipe to the Internet from the ISPs, some may not have a big enough pip
to handle everything at high usage times. So keeping this all in mind any
place could have a break down. Your connection this month may be
different next month to the same node.
Each Sysop has his own set of problems to deal with, three weeks ago
Mother Nature zapped my tower and got router and all of the ISPs equipment
on my end, about 20 hours of down time until all equipment was replaced.
So lets get to the best possible scenario to keep you connected realizing
that any of the above pieces of equipment or connections could be at fault
causing your connection to time out.
Guess I should put in a disclaimer here: "I have no pecuniary interest in
CC Cluster or VE7CC's programs, I only use them"
After all these years I have found that CC Cluster is the best performer,
you can go to his web site and read all about it or find more information
on my Web Pages at k8smc.com.
If one uses Lee's FREE CC USER program which will work on other nodes you
can make your connection problems take care of them selfs. You can have
CC USER connect to the node you wish and then connect your DXbase logging
program to CC USER. This allows CC USER to maintain a connection, takes
care of everything including auto reconnect. Your DXbase will then always
stay connected to CC USER unless you have a computer problem. CC USER
allows you to make filter changes and so much more very easy compared to
running commands from your DXbase window.
CC Cluster has made my Sysop duties almost nonexistent. The node doesn't
even have to be shut down to update data files, I get a screen that tells
me new stuff is available and I just execute. USERs never disconnected to
update program, only if the Winsock program is updated, and that hasn't
been needed for about a year. Almost all nodes in the world are connected
together, so it doesn't mater which node you connect to you should get the
same spots. Many Sysops boast or pride them selfs with the amount of
USERs they have, I'm not the biggest node and here on a Saturday at noon
time I have only 31 USERS and 12 Nodes connected. I've had well over a
100 during contests, but this is not important to me, just that I can
serve them the best I can. VE7CC has hundreds of USERs.
So if you haven't done so, go check out VE7CC's CC USER program, you'll
like it, and remember it's FREE !!!!
Terry, K8SMC . . .
Above for comments below...................
--------------------------------------------
I believe you are correct in that it takes either an Internet problem or
the cluster itself to drop you. But if the Internet connection "blinks",
it will not reconnect - I have to reboot DXbase to reconnect.
regardless.
............................................
I have a PC running Windows XP Service Pack 3 with DX Base 2007. I have
used to connect to our club's cluster without failure for three years now.
We had a "keep alive" function activated on our cluster that prevented
connection drops. My connection has only dropped when there was a problem
with my Internet service. It sounds doubtful that it is a DX Base
problem, at least on my end....
............................................
I'm not so sure. There are several cluster sites I use. One will drop me
6-7 times in a day consistently. Another will let me go for the better
part of a week. I am computer illiterate but this seems to point to
something on the other end.
............................................
I almost wonder if the "comatose connection" problem isn't a Windows bug.
I used to see my DXSpider node drop it's connections like this when I had
it running under Windows 2000, but my connections have been rock-solid
since I switched to the Linux operating system a couple of years ago. My
Windows PC (which I have DXB running on) continues to momentarily lose
connectivity in the manner described. I should check to see what happens
if I connect to the node from the Windows PC without going out over the
Internet, but I'm lazy.
--------------------------------------------
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