If you are a webmaster of a DX group and want to build a node and to join the cluster, please visit CRX Facebook group.
Connected Nodes
Live DX Spot Tracker is a public tool from RCQSL, a node from the most advance 11m cluster : CRX Cluster.
Here is the list of nodes with their status. A node is considered active if at least one spot has been triggered recently.
RCQSL
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C446
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11DX
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IRDX
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LF11
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11MC
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CNL
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TCRX
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CDXTK
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AT
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CDK
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DX27
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CRX
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DXF
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AD
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SDPT
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LOG11
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If you are a webmaster of a DX group and want to build a node and to join the cluster, please visit CRX Facebook group.
Modes
Live DX Spot Tracker
MUF(3000 km) — current conditions
For 11 metres, areas at or above approximately 27 MHz indicate possible F2 propagation. The lowest MUF along a long multi-hop path is the limiting value. Data/map: prop.kc2g.com, based on GIRO ionosonde observations.
D-RAP — HF absorption at 25 MHz
Coloured areas indicate predicted D-region absorption near the 11-metre band. Stronger colours mean greater attenuation or possible HF blackout. NOAA SWPC D-RAP, 25 MHz.
Weather radar
Precipitation intensity / potential storm cells
LightSevere
This Radar data is a QRN risk indicator, not a lightning-strike feed.
This module lets you listen to the transceiver through your computer speakers or headset and use the computer microphone for transmission, instead of relying on the transceiver speaker and microphone.
Use the transceiver USB/data audio device as the radio input/output when available. Its name depends on the manufacturer and model; some radios may appear in Windows as USB Audio CODEC.
Transceiver — CAT USB / COM
Not connected.
Authorize your radio’s CAT port, then select its model. The browser cannot automatically identify every transceiver. Authorized ports may also belong to other devices.
USB, LSB, AM, FM and CW are supported. Reverse, narrow and data variants are read when possible but are normalized to the nearest basic mode.
Favorite frequencies
Up to 50 favorites, saved in this browser on this device. Save reads the actual radio frequency and mode. Recall applies both. Previous frequency restores the frequency only.
CAT v3: frequency/mode control plus protected push-to-talk for the Audio module. Transmission is never started automatically; DTR/RTS remain inactive.
Help and diagnostics
Requires desktop Chrome / Edge and HTTPS. The specific presets below apply protocol defaults, but baud rate and stop bits remain editable because radio menu settings can differ. Generic profiles are provided for compatible radios not listed. For Icom, enter the actual CI-V address configured in the radio. For Yaesu FT-817/857/897 family radios, the legacy five-byte binary CAT protocol is supported. DTR/RTS remain inactive for safety.
Transceiver setup guide
Before you start: Before using CAT, connect your transceiver physically to the computer. Recent radios usually provide CAT through a built-in USB port: use a DATA-capable USB cable that matches the connectors on your equipment (the computer may use USB-A or USB-C, while the radio may use USB-B, micro-USB or USB-C depending on the model). A charge-only USB cable will not work. Older transceivers may use a DB-9 RS-232 serial connector or a dedicated CAT socket; in that case, use the CAT cable/interface specified for your exact radio, often together with a USB-to-serial adapter. Install the driver for the radio or for that interface. Once everything is connected correctly, Windows should create a COM port that RCQSL can detect.
Choose your transceiver brand. This guide covers the Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood families currently supported by RCQSL CAT.
Install the USB / virtual COM driver before connecting the radio when the manufacturer requests it. After installation, reconnect the radio and restart Chrome or Edge if the COM port does not appear.
On Icom radios, open the CI-V settings menu and use the address shown below. For live spectrum / waterfall on supported Icom models, 115200 baud is strongly recommended.
Model
CI-V address
RCQSL baud
Menu / notes
IC-7300
94h
115200 / 8N1
For the IC-7300 and IC-7610, use MENU > SET > Connectors > CI-V. Set the USB CI-V port independently from REMOTE control, set USB baud to 115200, and keep USB echo back off. For safety, also set USB SEND and USB keying assignments to OFF.
IC-7610
98h
115200 / 8N1
For the IC-7300 and IC-7610, use MENU > SET > Connectors > CI-V. Set the USB CI-V port independently from REMOTE control, set USB baud to 115200, and keep USB echo back off. For safety, also set USB SEND and USB keying assignments to OFF.
IC-705
A4h
115200 / 8N1
For the IC-705 and IC-9700, use MENU > SET > Connectors > CI-V. Set the CI-V USB baud rate to 115200 and make sure the USB serial connection is assigned to CI-V rather than remote/network control.
IC-9700
A2h
115200 / 8N1
For the IC-705 and IC-9700, use MENU > SET > Connectors > CI-V. Set the CI-V USB baud rate to 115200 and make sure the USB serial connection is assigned to CI-V rather than remote/network control.
On recent Yaesu radios connected by USB, Windows normally creates Standard and Enhanced virtual COM ports. Use the Enhanced port for CAT when it is available.
Direct USB models
FT-991 / FT-991A: MENU 031 CAT RATE = 38400 and MENU 033 CAT RTS = DISABLE. Select the Enhanced COM port in RCQSL.
FTDX10 / FT-710 / FTDX101D-MP: open FUNCTION > OPERATION SETTING > GENERAL, set CAT RATE to 38400 and CAT RTS to OFF / DISABLE. Use the Enhanced CAT COM port.
FT-891: MENU 05-06 CAT RATE = 38400 and MENU 05-08 CAT RTS = DISABLE. Use the Enhanced COM port created by the USB driver.
Legacy / external-interface models
FT-450 / FT-950 / FT-2000 / FTDX1200 / FTDX3000 / FTDX5000: set the CAT baud rate to 38400 when available and select the matching RCQSL profile. If you use an SCU-17 or another USB interface, install the driver for that interface.
FT-817 / FT-857 / FT-897: these radios use the legacy five-byte CAT protocol and normally have no native USB CAT port. Set CAT RATE to 4800 baud and use the driver supplied for your USB-CAT interface cable.
TS-590S / TS-590SG: use the USB port, then MENU 68 (USB port baud rate) = 115200. RCQSL uses 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and no parity at this speed.
TS-890S: use the Virtual Standard COM port for CAT. Set MENU 7-01 Baud Rate (Virtual Standard COM) = 115200. Do not assign PTT / DATA SEND / keying to RTS or DTR for the port used by RCQSL.
TS-990S: use the USB virtual COM port and set MENU 7-01 Baud Rate (USB Port) = 115200.
TS-480 / TS-570 / TS-870 / TS-2000: these models normally use a physical RS-232/COM connection. RCQSL defaults to 9600 baud; if you use 4800 baud, select 2 stop bits. With a USB-to-serial adapter, install the driver supplied for that adapter.
General procedure
Connect the radio directly to the computer by USB for the first test, preferably without a USB hub.
Select the same baud rate in the transceiver and in RCQSL. RCQSL uses 8 data bits, no parity and no hardware flow control.
RCQSL never uses DTR or RTS to key the transmitter. Disable PTT, SEND, CW or RTTY assignments on those lines whenever the radio offers such an option.
Close any other radio-control program before connecting because a serial port can normally be opened by only one application at a time.
After configuring the radio, return to the CAT window, click Detect / authorize a port, choose the correct COM port and model, then click Connect and verify.