[Dxspider-support] Cluster Abuse and IP Addresses

[Lee Sawkins]

There was a bit of a discussion about sending IP addresses with DX
Spots.  I thought I would collect some data and take a look at it.

CC Clusters are now sending DX spots between themselves in a new format
that includes IP addresses.  This new format is a PC61 that is almost
the same as the regular PC11 for DX Spots.  However, in a new field
between the node call and the hops count I have inserted the dotted IP
address.  These spots are easily converted to PC11 spots when needed. 
DX Summit spots with the node call of OH8X-xx are coming from a spot
sucker which I am running.  These spots are also going out in the PC61
format to CC Clusters and PC11 format to everyone else.

I have been analyzing the data.  There are some very interesting groups
of spots.  For instance, I saw two spots from IP 217.20.189.247.  One
spotter was RW3DQC and the other JA1CLW.  I checked the spots.  JA1CLW
made one spot for UR5AS on 160 meters.  RW3DQC made one for another call
on 20 using PSK31. A sh/dx UR5AS gives many spots, most of which come
from the ON5DXK-5 node and most for 160 again.  There were a group of 5
spots for UR5AS in a row, all from the ON0DXK-5 node, from 4 different
callsigns.   Then I did a sh/dx by UR5AS and found a long list of them
only from node ON0DXK-5, mostly for 160.  I am not accusing UR5AS of
anything.  It could be anyone doing this.  The pattern of spots is
certainly interesting.  There are also spots by TX3A from various IPs. 
Many of these IPs match other calls as well.  There are 3 spots from an
ISPs proxy server in England.  These are all for a certain G call.  The
spots come from ZS4, UA9 and W1 calls.

What would be nice is if DX Spider would also send out DX Spots with
IPs, so we could all take a closer look at what is happening, and try to
cut down abuse of the system.  Then we can start locking out IPs.

How does registration work with DX Spider nodes?  Can I just log into a
cluster with any call I want and request registration and it will be
given, or is there some checking to verify that I really am who I say I
am?

Lee