Platial is a service that lets you make your own maps. It accepts all kinds of input, including tab-delimited text files. I think this could be a very cool service for mapping stations that you’ve contacted. With enough data, you could even get an idea of the radiation pattern of your antennas.
For example, I just created a map of the 15 80m contacts I’ve made with my 80m random wire antenna:
I don’t think there’s quite enough data yet to get a good picture of the pattern, but if I keep adding to it, I should come up with a good indication.
What I did to enter the data was to create a tab-delimited file from a template they have on their website. For some reason, two of the entries could not be entered that way—AA9IK in Ft. Atkinson, WI and 8P6JD in Barbados. I entered these two manually by inputting the latitudes and longitudes from the QRZ.Com database. You can enter any point that way.
Andy Bullington says
Hey, thats me, W1AWB, out in the ocean off Ma! Really enjoyed the QSO Dan. Funny thing is…your satellite map has me living at the post office, near as I can tell. Where I ACTUALLY live is on Jennifer Lane. If you click on the up pointing arrow on the map, you will see Clifton, and above that is Jennifer Lane, a one block long cul de sac. See you on the air!
Andy W1AWB
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Andy–
The reason the map points to you living at the post office is that your address in the FCC database is a PO Box! I’ve moved you to Jennifer Lane. You didn’t say whether you lived on the north side of the street or the south side, so I just guessed the north side. Hope to work you again soon.
73, Dan KB6NU
Alan VA3STL says
Hi Dan,
I started using the Platial mapper in Dec. 2007. I was interested to see if there was any other users out there and so far have only come across your map. You can see my map on my blog http://va3stl.wordpress.com/ or at http://www.platial.com/va3stl/map/72493 I use QRP and log all HF contacts made since starting the map.
Seems to me a great way to look at how your contacts are distributed. I tag by band, mode and antenna so I can filter the locations on the map, to see how the contact distribution varies.
Great blog Dan!
73
Alan, VA3STL