Getting Started¶

This section will guide you through the initial setup of your DX Spotter device.

Unboxing and First Power-On¶

What's in the Box¶

Your DX Spotter package should contain:

DX Spotter device
USB power cable

Initial Power-Up¶

Connect the USB power cable to the DX Spotter's power port
Connect the other end to a USB power source (wall adapter, computer, or power bank)
The display will illuminate and show the TopBytes logo followed by a startup message

First Boot Sequence¶

When you power on the DX Spotter for the first time (or after a reset), the following will occur:

Boot Screen: The TopBytes name and "DX Spotter Starting..." message will display
Network Check: The device checks for saved WiFi credentials
Configuration Mode: Since no WiFi is configured, the device will automatically enter Configuration Mode

Configuration Mode Display¶

When in Configuration Mode, the display will show:

CONFIG MODE
WiFi SSID:
DXCluster AP

Open browser:
http://192.168.4.1

This indicates that the device has created its own WiFi access point and is ready for configuration.

Connecting to the Configuration Portal¶

Using a Computer or Mobile Device¶

Open WiFi Settings

On your computer, smartphone, or tablet, open the WiFi settings.
Find the Access Point

Look for a WiFi network named: DXCluster AP
Connect to the Network
- Select "DXCluster AP" from the available networks
- No password is required
- Your device will connect to the DX Spotter's access point
Open the Configuration Page
- Most devices will automatically open a captive portal
- If not, open a web browser and navigate to: http://192.168.4.1

Note

On some devices, you may see a notification that "This network has no internet connection." This is normal - the DX Spotter access point is only for configuration, not internet access.

Configuration Page Interface¶

Once connected, you'll see the DX Spotter configuration page with the following sections:

WiFi Configuration Section¶

WiFi Network (SSID): Select your home WiFi network from the dropdown or enter it manually.
WiFi Password: Enter your WiFi password.

Warning

The password field will be blank when loading the page. If you're reconfiguring and don't want to change the password, you can leave this field blank to keep the existing password.
Scan Networks Button: Click to refresh the list of available WiFi networks.

DX Cluster Configuration Section¶

Cluster Host

The hostname or IP address of the DX cluster server.

Default: dxc.g3lrs.org.uk

Cluster Port

The TCP port for the cluster telnet connection.

Default: 7300

Protocol

Currently only "TCP/Telnet" is supported.

Your Callsign

Your amateur radio callsign (required).

Important

You must enter a valid callsign. The device will not connect to the cluster if the callsign is blank or set to "NOCALL".

Display Configuration Section¶

Band Filter

Optional filter command to limit spots to specific bands.

Examples:

set/dx filter on 20 - Only 20 meter spots
set/dx filter on 40 - Only 40 meter spots
Leave blank for all bands

Display Title

The title shown at the top of the display.

If left blank, will auto-generate based on band filter (e.g., "20M", "40M")
Custom titles can be entered (e.g., "My Station", "Field Day")

Scroll Interval (ms)

How long each spot is displayed before scrolling to the next.

Default: 10000 (10 seconds)
Minimum: 5000 (5 seconds)
Maximum: 60000 (60 seconds)

Maximum Spots

How many spots to keep in the scrolling history.

Default: 5
Minimum: 1
Maximum: 15

Basic Configuration Example¶

Here's a typical first-time configuration:

WiFi Settings
- SSID: MyHomeWiFi
- Password: MySecurePassword123
DX Cluster Settings
- Cluster Host: dxc.g3lrs.org.uk (default)
- Cluster Port: 7300 (default)
- Protocol: TCP/Telnet
- Callsign: K3ABC (your actual callsign)
Display Settings
- Band Filter: set/dx filter on 20 (for 20 meters only)
- Display Title: (leave blank - will auto-generate as "20M")
- Scroll Interval: 10000 (10 seconds)
- Maximum Spots: 5
Save Configuration

Click the "Save Configuration" button at the bottom of the page.

Saving and Rebooting¶

After Clicking Save¶

The device will save all settings to non-volatile memory
If WiFi credentials changed, the device will display a confirmation message
The device will automatically reboot after 3 seconds
Your computer/phone will disconnect from the "DXCluster AP" network

Note

After saving, you can reconnect to your regular WiFi network.

Reconnecting to Your Network¶

After the DX Spotter reboots:

It will attempt to connect to the WiFi network you configured
The display will show connection progress
Once connected, it will connect to the DX cluster
Within a few seconds, you should see spots appearing on the display

Verifying Successful Setup¶

You'll know the setup was successful when:

The display shows the WiFi signal strength indicator (top left)
Your custom title or auto-generated band name appears (top center)
The current time displays (top right)
DX spots begin scrolling on the display

Example Display Layout:

[WiFi]        20M              12:34:56
-----------------------------------------
W1ABC              14.074 MHz
CQ DX FT8

Serial Monitor Messages¶

If you have the DX Spotter connected to a computer via USB serial, you can monitor the startup process:

DX Spotter Starting...
Attempting to connect to stored Wi-Fi: MyHomeWiFi
......................
Successfully connected!
IP Address: 192.168.1.100

Attempting to connect to DX Cluster: dxc.g3lrs.org.uk:7300
Telnet connected. Sending configuration commands...
Set Filter set/dx filter on 20

W1ABC 14.074 -> CQ DX FT8

What's Next?¶

Now that your DX Spotter is set up and running, you can:

Learn more about configuration options in the Configuration section
Understand display operation in the Operation section
Customize band filters and display settings
Set up OTA updates (see Advanced Features section)

If you encounter any issues during setup, refer to the Troubleshooting section.