Node Configuration
The node connect
configuration, Cfg>Nodes, allows the sysop to setup what nodes can connect
to the cluster and what protocol messages are exchanged with each node. The node configuration only needs to be done
for other nodes connect to you.
A combo box displays
nodes, which can connect to the node. A
new button allows for the entering of new connection nodes and the delete
button will remove existing nodes from the list.
Protocol exchange between
nodes is divided into four options. The
inbound group controls how the node responds to inbound protocol from the
connecting node. The outbound group
controls if protocol messages will be send to the connecting node. Certain protocol messages are bi-directional
and operate on both inbound and outbound protocol. The hop count group can be used to set the hop count on protocol
to the selected node.
External, -EXT protocol can be implemented by turning
off all outbound protocol except for DX messages. To enable –EXT protocol uncheck the “Report Nodes or uncheck for
–EXT” check box. Connections will be
made but will only exchange information about the two connection nodes in the
PC19 node connect message.
Note: If Report Users is
checked, the protocol also requires the reporting of nodes. If you uncheck the “Report Nodes or uncheck
for –EXT” option but fail to uncheck the Report Users, pressing the Apply
button will automatically re-check the “Report Nodes or uncheck for –EXT”
option.
The area qualifiers are
used to set up the qualifiers used to determine which of the area announcements
are send to the node. The concept allows you to set up qualifiers for each node
in one of more areas. For example, a
node could be listed as being in AUS, CTDXCC, STX, TX, and USA5 (Austin,
Central Texas DX and Contest Club, South Texas, Texas and US 5th call
area). The announcement qualifiers are
used to distribute announcements to qualifying nodes. Example ANN/CTDXCC Club
meeting tonight. Area qualifiers are
entered as AUS, CTDXCC, STX, TX, K5.
The concept and use of Area Qualifiers is discussed in more detail in
the Regional Announcement
section.
Version 2 of ARC
introduced the concept of advanced filtering where the filtering operations are
accomplished on the “upstream” node where you establish your connection. Selecting the Upstream Filters Configure
button sets upstream filters on the selected node. Upstream filters can be adjusted anytime. Upstream filters are based on the country
and/or state of the spotter. If the
state of the spotter cannot be resolved, the state filed is tagged with a
“??”. Selecting the Reject Unresolved
option will filter spots from calls in which the state cannot be resolved.