PacketCluster Alerts

When a PacketCluster sends a DX spot it also sends a beep to make you come running. XMLog can filter these spots so that you only receive alerts for the countries, bands, and modes that you need. When XMLog sees a Cluster spot it does two things:

The PacketCluster alert feature uses a file named "totals" to determine if a spot is of interest. This file is created by choosing DX/Update Packet DXCC Status from the Log or the Packet windows. You should choose this menu item whenever you make log changes that would affect your DXCC status. See DXCC Status for more information.

XMLog can also display incoming spots in two other formats - as a band map (see Show Packet Spots Map) or as a spreadsheet (see Show Packet Spots History).

New Mail Alerts

XMLog recognizes the PacketCluster message "You have new mail from xxx". If CW alerts are enabled mail messages will give an CW alert of the form:

. Mail de xxx

DX Status Line Displays

DX spots from the PacketCluster can optionally include a status line to be displayed after the spot. This line contains DXCC status information for the country being spotted. Each unconfirmed band or mode is listed and may flagged with a * or + to indicate the QSL status:

* QSL in the mail
+ Worked but no QSL sent

Here's an example spot and the resulting status line:

DX de KA1LBW:      7001.3     A5ABC
A5ABC (Bhutan, 18) - Phone RTTY 160 80+ 10*

In this case we've confirmed all modes except Phone and RTTY. We've also confirmed all bands except 160, 80 and 10. We've worked A5 on 80 and 10 and the QSL for 10 is in the mail.

The beam heading follows the country name and is displayed if you've set your location. For information on setting your location see Options/Station Info.

If you don't want these status lines displayed choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the PacketCluster Alerts tab, and set Don't Display QSL Status Lines.

DX Alerts - CW

To receive CW alerts for spots that refer to needed countries, bands, or modes:

The specific CW alerts sent by XMLog are:

! Country needed this band/mode
!! Country needed on all bands/modes
? Unknown prefix

Since XMLog will be giving alerts for interesting spots, you may want to ignore the normal beep sent along with PacketCluster spots. Choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the Options tab and set Beep to "Off".

DX Alerts - Voice

To receive voice alerts for spots that refer to needed countries, bands, or modes:

You can also record your own announcements and put them in the voice folder. You will need to create a wave file for each letter, number, and a few words. Here's the complete list of files required:

0.WAV, 1.WAV ... 9.WAV
11.WAV, 12.WAV ... 19.WAV
10.WAV, 20.WAV ... 90.WAV
160.WAV
A.WAV ... Z.WAV
SLASH.WAV, ON.WAV, METER.WAV, METERS.WAV
CW.WAV, PHONE.WAV, DATA.WAV

To get a more consistent sound it's best to record all the words at once and use a wave file editor to clip the file into individual letters, etc.

Inhibiting Alerts - New Bands/Modes

Alerts are normally given for countries that haven't been confirmed for the band or mode being spotted. If you aren't interested in alerts for new bands or modes choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the PacketCluster Alerts tab, and set Inhibit Alerts for New Bands or Modes.

Inhibiting Alerts - Confirm Status

If you aren't interested in alerts for unconfirmed countries that you've already worked or have a QSL outstanding choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the PacketCluster Alerts tab, and set Inhibit Alerts for Status = Worked or Inhibit Alerts for Status = Outstanding.

Inhibiting Alerts - "Ignore spots for:"

If you aren't interested in alerts for certain bands, modes, or countries choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the PacketCluster Alerts tab, and set fields in the Ignore spots for: box:

You can also set Bands to Novice, Advanced, General, or Extra to ignore spots for frequencies corresponding to U.S. license classes. For example:

Extra Phone Ignore spots in the extra and phone bands
Extra Advanced General Novice only
160m vhf 80-10 only

Inhibiting Alerts - "Allow spots from:"

You can also limit alerts to those made by certain spotters. This can be especially useful when you are using an Internet PacketCluster and you only want alerts that originate from "local" stations.

To filter spots based on the callsign of the station making the spot choose Options/Packet Options and Port Select, pick the PacketCluster Alerts tab, and set fields in the Allow spots from: box:

Countries Use prefixes from View/Show DXCC Country List
Zones Use CQ zones
W1 W2 ... Use U.S. callsign regions W0 W1 etc