WAP access to GB7BAA

The GB7BAA DX-Cluster can be accessed via your mobile phone using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) from where you can access a sub-set of the system's functionality - basically see DX spots.

When connecting via WAP you do not actually 'login' to the cluster in the conventional sense, instead you 'query' information held on the cluster. Since you do not actually 'login' your callsign is not visible on the network, nor is it possible to send DX spots or announcement messages.

Considering the limited user interface on most mobile phones we do not consider these limitations a problem... the WAP access facility provided is intended to be used as a aide to allow quick checks to ensure that you're not missing important DX rather than as a full/permenenant client connection.

Connecting via WAP

Depending on the make and model of your mobile phone the exact configuration may vary. On my Nokia 6210 I added a bookmark as follows:

1. From the main menu select Services
2. Choose Bookmarks and press select
3. Select Options
4. Select Add Bookmark
5. At the Enter Address prompt: http://wap.gb7baa.com
6. At the Enter Title prompt: GB7BAA
7. Select Ok and the bookmark is saved

Now that the site is configured you can connect to the WAP service and access GB7BAA. On my Nokia I would do:

1. From the main menu select Services
2. Choose Bookmarks and press select
3. Choose GB7BAA and press select
4. Choose Goto and press select

which causes the phone to place a call and connect to GB7BAA.

Using GB7BAA via your WAP phone

Use of GB7BAA's WAP interface is similar to other WAP services - information is displayed on a set of screens or 'cards'. You navigate up and down through the system selecting information. Generally as you get more information as you 'drill down' layers.

The start screen

When you connect to the service you should receive the start screen:

     ------- GB7BAA --------
         Welcome to the 
       GB7BAA DX Cluster
     About GB7BAA
     How to Use
     Get DX Spots
     WWV information
     -----------------------

Items that are underlined may be selected by using the navigation buttons on your phone. The item that you are likely to use most often is 'Get DX Spots'.

Get DX Spots

In order to view DX spots use the 'Get DX Spots' option, from which you can select a frequeny/band:

     ------ GB7BAA --------
     Select a frequency
     band:
     Any band
     6m/50MHz
     2m/144MHz
     70cm/432MHz
     HF/Shortwave
     How to use
     ----------------------

Once you have selected a band you will get a 'Spot Summary' which shows a list of frequencies and callsigns, for example:

     ---- Spot Summary ----
     50110.0 JA1VOK
     50146.5 ON9BGP
     50136.7 G6YIN
     50115.0 PY5CC
     50118.5 ZD7DC
     50123.0 5B4FL
     50166.3 EA7KW
     ----------------------

Normally seven DX spots are shown in summary mode. Select one of these spots to reveal the full detail about the DX spot:

     ------- EA7KW --------
     Freq: 50166.3 MHz
     Call: EA7KW
     Date: 29-SEP-2001
     Time: 2241Z
     Info: Wkg piles of LUs
     and PYs again!
     From: G6YIN
     ----------------------

Use the 'Back' button on your phone to return up one or more levels to view different DX spots.