[Dxbase] Re: Internet Cluster Question

Sat Aug 9 17:54:37 EDT 2008

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: <Terry at k8smc.com>
To: <dxbase at mailman.qth.net>
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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