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DX View Distances

g4gcl
 

Hi.
Apologies if this has been covered or answered before but I'm a newbie
to this program.

Could anyone tell me what use the Latitude/Longitude, Distance and Grid
values are in DXView?
I spent the first few days believing them & then I noticed that everyone
in England has the same location.

I realise that it's a problem with the fact that database says everyone
in a certain country which does not use a secondary locator character or
something similar is actually located in the same place but
If that is the case why bother showing it?

Am I missing something obvious, if so I apologise in advance.

73,
John G4GCL (About 137 miles north of London)
 

While it's true that Lat/Lon, distance and grid, and even beam heading, may not be accurate for distances within a few hundred miles. Most of us are working DX over distances of several thousand miles to other countries. Over those distances small inaccuracies of a few hundred miles are insignificant and the distance etc. calculations are plenty close enough. In order to eliminate these calculations for local contacts, Dave would first have to know somehow that the grid locators are inaccurate and then add additional code to eliminate the calculations. Since the name of the suite is "DXLab" this doesn't seem appropriate. Just know that the calculations for relatively local stations may be inaccurate.

73, Rich - W3ZJ

g4gcl wrote:

Hi.
Apologies if this has been covered or answered before but I'm a newbie
to this program.

Could anyone tell me what use the Latitude/Longitude, Distance and Grid
values are in DXView?
I spent the first few days believing them & then I noticed that everyone
in England has the same location.

I realise that it's a problem with the fact that database says everyone
in a certain country which does not use a secondary locator character or
something similar is actually located in the same place but
If that is the case why bother showing it?

Am I missing something obvious, if so I apologise in advance.

73,
John G4GCL (About 137 miles north of London)
g4gcl
 

Thanks very much for that Rich.

Obviously because I'm not a DX chaser I'm using the wrong program!

73,
John G4GCL

--- In dxlab@..., Rich - W3ZJ <rich@...> wrote:

While it's true that Lat/Lon, distance and grid, and even beam
heading,
may not be accurate for distances within a few hundred miles. Most of
us
are working DX over distances of several thousand miles to other
countries. Over those distances small inaccuracies of a few hundred
miles are insignificant and the distance etc. calculations are plenty
close enough. In order to eliminate these calculations for local
contacts, Dave would first have to know somehow that the grid locators
are inaccurate and then add additional code to eliminate the
calculations. Since the name of the suite is "DXLab" this doesn't seem
appropriate. Just know that the calculations for relatively local
stations may be inaccurate.

73, Rich - W3ZJ

g4gcl wrote:
Hi.
Apologies if this has been covered or answered before but I'm a
newbie
to this program.

Could anyone tell me what use the Latitude/Longitude, Distance and
Grid
values are in DXView?
I spent the first few days believing them & then I noticed that
everyone
in England has the same location.

I realise that it's a problem with the fact that database says
everyone
in a certain country which does not use a secondary locator
character or
something similar is actually located in the same place but
If that is the case why bother showing it?

Am I missing something obvious, if so I apologise in advance.

73,
John G4GCL (About 137 miles north of London)
 

AA6YQ comments below
-----Original Message-----
From: dxlab@... [mailto:dxlab@...]On Behalf Of
g4gcl
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 9:47 AM
To: dxlab@...
Subject: [dxlab] DX View Distances


Hi.
Apologies if this has been covered or answered before but I'm a newbie
to this program.

Could anyone tell me what use the Latitude/Longitude, Distance and Grid
values are in DXView?

DXView lets you select a "location" by
1. typing a prefix fragment or callsign into DXView's Main window; this
selects a location based on prefix and callsign analysis

1a. if the callsign was issued by the US Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and the USAP database is installed, the location is the center of the
zip code registered as the station location with the FCC

1b. if the station's country unambiguously associates call areas with
geographic regions, a representative location within the callsign's region
will be selected (e.g. Russia, Japan)

1c. otherwise, a representative location within the callsign's country will
be selected


2. clicking on a QSO in DXKeeper's Log Page Display; if the QSO specifies a
grid square then its location will be selected, otherwise callsign analysis
will be used to select a location as described in 1 above


3. double-clicking an entry in SpotCollector's Spot Database Display; if the
entry specifies a grid square then its location will be selected, otherwise
callsign analysis will be used to select a location as described in 1 above


4. specifying an IOTA tag (if the IOTA database is installed)


5. specifying a latitude and longitude


5. specifying a grid square


6. clicking on a location in DXView's world map


The primary uses of a selected location are to
a. aim a directional HF antenna (including the determination of whether
short-path or long-path propagation is more likely)

b. assess the signal path's likely interaction with the auroral zone, the
position of which is estimated based on the K-index provided by
SpotCollector

c. generate an HF propagation forecast using PropView


When presented with a callsign (scenario #1 above), DXView does not
currently perform a callbook lookup or inspect previously logged QSOs with a
specified callsign in order to determine a more accurate location.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ
 

re "When presented with a callsign (scenario #1 above), DXView does not
currently perform a callbook lookup or inspect previously logged QSOs with a
specified callsign in order to determine a more accurate location."

However, if you type a callsign into DXKeeper's Capture window and strike
the Enter key, then DXKeeper will inspect previous QSOs (if enabled),
perform a callbook lookup (if enabled), and direct DXView to select that
station's location. In determining the station's location, DXKeeper gives
information extracted from logged QSOs precedence over information obtained
by callbook lookup, and gives information extracted from more recent logged
QSOs precedence over information extracted from less recent logged QSOs.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

-----Original Message-----
From: dxlab@... [mailto:dxlab@...]On Behalf Of
Dave AA6YQ
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 2:44 PM
To: dxlab@...
Cc: john.g4gcl@...
Subject: RE: [dxlab] DX View Distances


AA6YQ comments below
-----Original Message-----
From: dxlab@... [mailto:dxlab@...]On Behalf Of
g4gcl
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 9:47 AM
To: dxlab@...
Subject: [dxlab] DX View Distances


Hi.
Apologies if this has been covered or answered before but I'm a newbie
to this program.

Could anyone tell me what use the Latitude/Longitude, Distance and Grid
values are in DXView?

DXView lets you select a "location" by
1. typing a prefix fragment or callsign into DXView's Main window; this
selects a location based on prefix and callsign analysis

1a. if the callsign was issued by the US Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and the USAP database is installed, the location is the center of the
zip code registered as the station location with the FCC

1b. if the station's country unambiguously associates call areas with
geographic regions, a representative location within the callsign's region
will be selected (e.g. Russia, Japan)

1c. otherwise, a representative location within the callsign's country will
be selected


2. clicking on a QSO in DXKeeper's Log Page Display; if the QSO specifies a
grid square then its location will be selected, otherwise callsign analysis
will be used to select a location as described in 1 above


3. double-clicking an entry in SpotCollector's Spot Database Display; if the
entry specifies a grid square then its location will be selected, otherwise
callsign analysis will be used to select a location as described in 1 above


4. specifying an IOTA tag (if the IOTA database is installed)


5. specifying a latitude and longitude


5. specifying a grid square


6. clicking on a location in DXView's world map


The primary uses of a selected location are to
a. aim a directional HF antenna (including the determination of whether
short-path or long-path propagation is more likely)

b. assess the signal path's likely interaction with the auroral zone, the
position of which is estimated based on the K-index provided by
SpotCollector

c. generate an HF propagation forecast using PropView


When presented with a callsign (scenario #1 above), DXView does not
currently perform a callbook lookup or inspect previously logged QSOs with a
specified callsign in order to determine a more accurate location.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ







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07:49:00
g4gcl
 

Hello Dave.
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an interesting and
informative reply to my question.
As I mentioned in my previous reply I'm not interested in chasing DX, &
never have been, although most people I'm sure will find that strange,
but I am starting to enjoy digital modes because my poor hearing rules
out SSB most of the time.
I used to work AX25 Packet on VHF but that was over 25 years ago, this
is very different!

Thanks again.

73,
John G4GCL
 

AA6YQ comments below
-----Original Message-----
From: dxlab@... [mailto:dxlab@...]On Behalf Of
g4gcl
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 3:54 PM
To: dxlab@...
Subject: [dxlab] Re: DX View Distances

Hello Dave.

Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an interesting and
informative reply to my question.

As I mentioned in my previous reply I'm not interested in chasing DX, &
never have been, although most people I'm sure will find that strange,

Not at all, John. While DXLab's mission is "better DXing through
software", its support for other amateur radio activities has broadened over
the years in response to suggestions posted here.


but I am starting to enjoy digital modes because my poor hearing rules out
SSB most of the time. I used to work AX25 Packet on VHF but that was over 25
years ago, this is very different!

The digital modes are great fun, but take care; they could lead to
DXing...

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

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