DX Cluster contest filters

This page contains a number of useful DX Cluster filters for HAM radio contesting. The filter format is specifically targeted towards DX-Spider clusters, used by our local DX cluster.

DX Cluster commands

Show current active filters:

sh/filter

Remove all active filters:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all

Filter slots (Line Numbers)

In DXSpider, appending a line number to filter commands (e.g., reject/spots 1 or accept/spots 2) chains rules sequentially from lowest to highest. Omitting a slot number defaults to line 1 and overwrites existing line 1 rules. Explicit slot numbering prevents accidental overwrites and allows layered logic.

Sequential Evaluation: Spots trigger sequentially. If a spot hits a reject rule on line 1, it’s discarded immediately—line 2 is never evaluated.

Layered Logic: Use line 1 to block unwanted traffic (e.g., digital modes) and line 2 to allow specific traffic (e.g., CW/SSB).

clear/spots all
reject/spots 1 on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2
accept/spots 2 on hf/cw or on hf/ssb

Line 1 instantly drops digital traffic; line 2 then filters the remaining spots for CW and SSB.

(Note: Examples in this guide use line 1 for simplicity, but feel free to build multi-slot filters.)

Using skimmer spots

Use the set/skimmer and unset/skimmer commands to enable/disable skimmer spots, optionally for a specific mode:

set/skimmer cw
set/skimmer rtty
set/skimmer FT8
set/skimmer cw rtty

This will show/hide ALL skimmer spots:

set/skimmer
unset/skimmer

Filter by band

To see only spots on contest bands use contesthf or a list of bands:

accept/spots on contesthf
accept/spots on 160m,80m,40m,20m,15m,10m
accept/rbn on contesthf
accept/rbn on 160m 80m 40m 20m 15m 10m

To see only spots on specific bands:

accept/spots on 10m
accept/rbn on 10m

Filter by CQ zone

To see only spots from spotters in CQ zones 14 and 15 (Western Europe):

accept/spots by_zone 14,15
accept/rbn by_zone 14,15

To find your own CQ zone, go to (mapability.com)[https://www.mapability.com/ei8ic/maps/cqzone.php] where EI8IC is doing an amazing job in providing all kind of maps.

Filter out FT8 and other data modes

By rejecting all data subbands:

reject/spots on hf/data

Or more detailed by rejecting all data subbands and info containing data modes:

reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty

Practical examples

CW contest

Accepts only CW spots and RBNs from zones 14 and 15 but wide enough to also show contest stations outside CW segments:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty
accept/spots on contesthf and by_zone 14,15
accept/rbn on contesthf and by_zone 14,15
set/skimmer cw
sh/filter

Or more specifically on the HF CW subbands:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty
accept/spots on contesthf/cw and by_zone 14,15
accept/rbn on contesthf and by_zone 14,15
set/skimmer cw
sh/filter

Or only use RBN spots:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on all
reject/rbn not on contesthf
set/skimmer cw
sh/filter

CW contest on 20m

Accepts only 20m CW spots and RBNs from CQ zones 14 and 15:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty
accept/spots on 20m and by_zone 14,15
accept/rbn on 20m and by_zone 14,15
set/skimmer cw
sh/filter

RTTY contest

Accepts only RTTY spots and RBNs spotted worldwide

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
accept/spots on contesthf and info rtty
accept/rbn on contesthf
set/skimmer rtty
sh/filter

Or only use RBN spots:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on all
accept/rbn on contesthf
set/skimmer rtty
sh/filter

SSB contest

Accepts only SSB spots from CQ zones 14 and 15:

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty
accept/spots on contesthf/ssb and by_zone 14,15
unset/skimmer
sh/filter

Mixed CW and SSB contest

Accepts only spots from CQ zones 14 and 15 (replace with your own CQ zone):

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on hf/data or on hf/rtty or info ft8,ft4,ft2,rtty
accept/spots on contesthf and by_zone 14,15
accept/rbn on contesthf and by_zone 14,15
set/skimmer cw
sh/filter

DXpedition

Accepts only spots from zones 14 and 15 but no WARC bands for specific DXpeditions

clear/spots all
clear/rbn all
reject/spots on warc
accept/spots call 3Y0K,TX5EU and by_zone 14,15
reject/rbn on warc
accept/rbn call 3Y0K,TX5EU and by_zone 14,15
set/skimmer
sh/filter