"G. Doughty" wrote in message
news:lidfd.79932$cJ3.34476@fed1read06...
Hello to all,

Looking to give DX a try. I have two attic dipoles for 20 and 40 meters.
I
have a ten-tec scout 555 that runs 50 watts wide open. Anyways, I am
trying
to find a "node" to use on my laptop but am unsure what I need. I think
all
I need is a 10m radio (I have an htx 10) antenna (easy enough for a dipole
in the attic) and a computer. Is that true? Also, with the computer, I
am
aware of Telnet, but how do I access a local node? I am probably talking
out of my arse, but I think it would be interesting to get it all hooked
up.
I use a computer logger but I think I can access the node through a phone
if
need be. If it sounds like I'm confused, I am. A little help will go a
long way.

Thanks so much



It might be easiest at this point in your learning curve to simply dial up
and down the band of interest and find the stations that way. You don't
have to have a computer or DX spotting aids or anything else to work DX.
The DX spots are from all over the country and thus the DX listed might not
be audible in your area due to band conditions. Even a "local node" has
listings from all over that you may or may not be able to hear. At least by
dialing, you will find stations that you can hear in your location.

There are several ways that you can use the DX spotting aids.

1. Connect your computer to the internet. The use a terminal program like
Hyperterm (free with windows) use the connect function to connect to the
system that you want. I happen to use www.dxspots.com. The first type you
connect, it will ask for your call sign, location and other info. After
that it will just ask for the call sign. Some of the logging programs allow
you to bring up the DX spotting sites without using a separate program.

2. Instead of using a terminal program, you can connect to the DX site
directly. Just bring up Internet Explorer and type in www.dxspots.com and
you can see the spots that way.

3. Instead of the internet, you can use 2m packet radio in some (but not
all areas). Here you need a TNC or interface to connect between radio and
computer. Once you have the hardware all hooked together (2m packet radio,
TNC or interface, and computer), you will need software to run it. If you
go with the TNC, you can just use a simple terminal program like Hyperterm.
If you go with just an interface between computer and radio, you will need
software to decode the packet info.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE