Since 7 April 2000, 11m online notification system cluster.dk has provided 11m DX enthusiasts with what most agree to be an exceptional hobby resource. This includes our very own Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC), which has utilized cluster.dk to publicize DXpeditions and relevant QSL information since its inauguration in 2008.
Described by some in the Club as the hobby’s meeting place, cluster.dk provides Registered Users with valuable info that facilitates both success and enjoyment in 11m band comms. Prime examples here are the Spot Board (scripted onto the DA-RC website [See below]) where details about active stations can be exchanged between radio operators all around the world, the Message Board where many DA-RC members enjoy a chat, and the Archive — an online data base listing QSO information for DXpedition and individual radio operators on the 11m band which dates back to 2000.
The reality that cluster.dk is privately owned and not related to any radio club or organisation, however, means that it does not have incoming membership subscriptions to sustain it. Instead, it relies on private funding by owners, propped up by donations from members of the 11m DX Fraternity to pay for costly web hosting and technical functions.
On this note, DA-RC members are encouraged to continue their support of cluster.dk by becoming what’s known as a ‘Lounge Member’. Established in 2002, the cluster.dk Lounge is for all those cluster.dk members that support cluster.dk by making an annual donation to the site.
To have cluster.dk as an online system operating 24 hours a day is expensive but for just 18 Euro per year, you can enjoy the comforts of being a Lounge Member, with additional permissions to access archives, as well as remain logged on to the site for longer periods without having to log back in.
Payment can be made by credit card, Paypal, bank transfer, cash via mail, cheque or money order.
For more information on Lounge Membership and to add your name and callsign with other DA-RC members on the Lounge Membership list, log into the cluster.dk site at http://www.cluster.dk , click on Info in the left hand side menu, then scroll down to Lounge.
One correction : cluster.dk has STRONG ties with the DeltaXray DX group.
One thing they should do once a year : write a newsletter to Lounge members with detailled information on how the lounge members money was used during the year. This would be welcome.