Skip to content
Long Lines

The relay's DX cluster

The relay can run a small DX cluster on your computer. Your logging software connects to it through its Telnet (DX cluster) window, as it would to a DXSpider node on the internet, and gets each spot that one of your Long Lines connections matches for a Local DX cluster destination.

Why you’d use it

Section titled “Why you’d use it”

You hunt parks from N1MM Logger+. Instead of a full cluster feed, your bandmap shows only POTA activators on 40m and 20m, because that’s what your connection passes.

How it works

Section titled “How it works”
  • It only receives. Nothing your logger sends through the cluster reaches Long Lines, and spots you enter in the logger go nowhere (“Spots can’t be sent through Long Lines Relay.”). Nothing tunes your radio.
  • Nothing listens until you turn it on. Then it listens at 127.0.0.1 on port 7373. If another program has 7373, the relay uses the next free port up to 7399 and shows that one. A port you pick with Change port is always used.
  • Any callsign logs in. The relay asks login:, accepts any callsign, and greets the logger. There is no password.
  • No backlog. Spots arrive as they are spotted, only while the relay is running and connected. A spot already shown isn’t shown again within 10 minutes.
  • Other computers can connect only while Let other computers on this network connect is ticked. Anyone on your network can then read your spots.

The tab’s chip says Off, Listening (on, no spot sent yet), Running (spots have gone out), Port in use or Sign in again. Below the switch it shows “Last spot sent 3 minutes ago · 12 spots today” and how many programs are connected. Once spots flow, Spots sent lists the last 50, such as K4ABC · 14062.0 kHz CW with “POTA K-0039 · from POTA states, CW”.

Each spot reaches your logger as one line:

DX de W4DOG:     14062.0  K4ABC        CW POTA K-0039                 2114Z

The relay answers bye and quit by closing the connection, and ignores the commands loggers send on connect, such as set/page 0 or sh/dx.

Set it up

Section titled “Set it up”

You need the relay signed in with permission to receive spots, and a Local DX cluster destination for this relay linked to at least one connection.

  1. In Long Lines, add a Local DX cluster destination and choose this computer’s relay. Add destination on the relay’s DX cluster tab opens that page.

  2. Link the destination to the connections whose spots you want in the bandmap.

  3. In the relay, open the DX cluster tab and turn on Local DX cluster.

  4. Note the Address and Port for This computer, such as 127.0.0.1 and 7373. Set up logging software shows them with copy buttons and the steps for N1MM Logger+ or Other software.

  5. In N1MM Logger+, open Window > Telnet. Add a new cluster with address 127.0.0.1 and port 7373. (N1MM keeps its cluster list behind the Edit button next to the cluster drop-down.)

  6. Select the cluster and Connect. Answer login: with your callsign if N1MM doesn’t. You’ll see:

    Hello KK4PWJ, this is Long Lines Relay on SHACK-PC. Spots from your Long Lines connections appear here.
    KK4PWJ de LONGLINES 28-Oct-2026 2114Z >

  7. Select Send test spot in the relay. A spot for LLTEST on 14050.0 kHz CW should show up in the Telnet window and the bandmap:

    DX de KK4PWJ:    14050.0  LLTEST       CW Long Lines Relay test spot  2102Z

For other logging software, open its DX cluster or Telnet settings, add a cluster with the relay’s address and port, connect, and send a test spot.

Common setups

Section titled “Common setups”

One shack computer. Relay and N1MM Logger+ on the same PC. Address 127.0.0.1, port 7373.

Logger on a second computer. Tick Let other computers on this network connect. The tab adds Other computers with this computer’s network address, such as 192.168.1.42. Use that address and port 7373 in the other computer’s logger, and allow the relay through this computer’s firewall.

Another program on port 7373. Select Change port, enter 7380, and use port 7380 in your logger.

When it doesn’t work

Section titled “When it doesn’t work”

“No destination sends spots to this computer yet.” Add a Local DX cluster destination for this relay in Long Lines and link it to a connection.

“Sign in again to use the DX cluster”. This computer was signed in before the relay could receive spots. Select Sign in again and select Allow in your browser.

“Port 7373 is in use by another program”. Another program has the port you chose, or on the default port, every port from 7373 to 7399. Choose another port in the relay and in your logger.

“Couldn’t reach Long Lines for spots. Trying again in 0:30.” The relay retries by itself. Your logger stays connected and gets spots again once the relay is back. Spots that matched meanwhile are not replayed.

The test spot shows in the Telnet window but not the bandmap. N1MM Logger+ applies its own spot filters and band limits. The test spot is on 20m CW.

Spots show under “Spots sent” but not in the logger. Check that the logger is connected (the tab counts programs connected), then its spot filters and band limits.

“Couldn’t send the test spot. Check that the DX cluster is on.” Turn on Local DX cluster first. Send test spot works only while it’s listening.