Ham Radio DX Monitor 📻
Monitor DX clusters in real-time, get notified of rare DX stations, and track active DX expeditions. Perfect for ham radio operators who want to catch rare contacts!
Features
📡 Live DX Spots - Connect to global DX cluster network
🌍 Rare DX Alerts - Notify when rare stations appear
📊 Daily Digest - Band activity summary
🗺️ DX Expeditions - Track active expeditions
⏰ Automated Monitoring - Run via cron for alerts
Quick Start
Watch Live Spots
# Get latest DX spots
python3 dx-monitor.py watch
# Specific cluster node
python3 dx-monitor.py watch --cluster ea7jxh
# Use your callsign
python3 dx-monitor.py watch --callsign KN4XYZ
# Only show NEW spots (filters duplicates)
python3 dx-monitor.py watch --new-only
Output:
📡 Latest DX Spots from EA7JXH
20m SSB 14.195 K1ABC - CQ Contest
40m CW 7.015 VP8/G3XYZ - Falklands
15m FT8 21.074 ZL2ABC - New Zealand
Daily Digest
python3 dx-monitor.py digest
Output:
# 📡 DX Digest - 2026-01-27
## Band Activity (last 100 spots)
20m ████████████ 24
40m ████████ 16
15m ██████ 12
10m ████ 8
## Rare DX Spotted
🌍 VP8/G3XYZ 40m 7.015 - Falklands Expedition
🌍 ZL2ABC 15m 21.074 - New Zealand
DX Cluster Nodes
Available clusters:
- ea7jxh - dx.ea7jxh.eu:7373 (Europe)
- om0rx - cluster.om0rx.com:7300 (Europe)
- oh2aq - oh2aq.kolumbus.fi:7373 (Finland)
- ab5k - ab5k.net:7373 (USA)
- w6rk - telnet.w6rk.com:7373 (USA West Coast)
Automated Monitoring
Real-Time Alerts (Check Every 5 Minutes)
# Add to crontab
*/5 * * * * cd ~/clawd && python3 skills/ham-radio-dx/dx-monitor.py watch --new-only --callsign YOUR_CALL >> /tmp/dx-alerts.log
This checks for new DX spots every 5 minutes and logs them.
Daily Digest (9am Every Day)
# Add to crontab
0 9 * * * cd ~/clawd && python3 skills/ham-radio-dx/dx-monitor.py digest >> ~/dx-digest-$(date +\%Y-\%m-\%d).txt
Telegram Notifications
Integrate with Clawdbot message tool:
# When rare DX appears, send Telegram alert
python3 dx-monitor.py watch --new-only | grep -E "(VP8|ZL|VK|ZS|P5)" && \
echo "🚨 Rare DX spotted!" | # Send via Clawdbot message tool
Example Prompts for Clawdbot
- "Check the DX cluster for new spots"
- "What's active on 20 meters?"
- "Show me today's DX digest"
- "Any rare DX on the air?"
- "Monitor for VP8 or ZL prefixes"
Rare DX Prefixes to Watch
Most Wanted:
- VP8 - Falkland Islands
- VK0 - Heard Island
- 3Y0 - Bouvet Island
- FT5 - Amsterdam & St. Paul Islands
- P5 - North Korea
- BS7 - Scarborough Reef
Other Rare:
- ZL - New Zealand
- VK - Australia
- ZS - South Africa
- 9G - Ghana
- S9 - São Tomé and Príncipe
DX Expedition Resources
Track active expeditions:
- NG3K Calendar: https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html
- DX News: https://www.dx-world.net/
- 425 DX News: http://www.425dxn.org/
Band Plans
Common DX frequencies:
- 160m: 1.830-1.840 (CW), 1.840-1.850 (Digital)
- 80m: 3.500-3.600 (CW), 3.790-3.800 (Digital)
- 40m: 7.000-7.040 (CW), 7.070-7.080 (Digital)
- 30m: 10.100-10.140 (CW/Digital only)
- 20m: 14.000-14.070 (CW), 14.070-14.100 (Digital)
- 17m: 18.068-18.100 (CW), 18.100-18.110 (Digital)
- 15m: 21.000-21.070 (CW), 21.070-21.120 (Digital)
- 12m: 24.890-24.920 (CW), 24.920-24.930 (Digital)
- 10m: 28.000-28.070 (CW), 28.070-28.120 (Digital)
Tips
- Use Your Callsign - Some clusters require valid callsigns
- Check Multiple Clusters - Coverage varies by region
- Filter by Band - Focus on bands you can work
- Track Rare Prefixes - Set up alerts for most-wanted
- Morning Check - Best DX often in early morning
Technical Details
- Protocol: Telnet to DX cluster nodes
- Format: Standard PacketCluster/AR-Cluster format
- State Tracking:
/tmp/dx-monitor-state.json - Dependencies: Python 3.6+ (stdlib only)
Future Ideas
- Band-specific filtering
- DXCC entity tracking
- Propagation prediction integration
- Log integration (check if you need that one)
- Contest mode (filter contest stations)
- FT8/FT4 integration via PSKReporter
73 and good DX! 📻🌍