Coverage-Analysis View

The Coverage-Analysis View is powerful and feature packed. This view has many features in common with the SmartMap-Geographic View.

Major Features

• Global coverage real-time prediction display
• Mouse-over prediction information
• Point-to-point predictions - using shift click
• DX List and plot to map with two way location and identification
• Prefix search with plot to map and quick point-to-point analysis
• Canadian and US call search and plot to map
• Grid square, coordinates, location name, distance and bearing for mouse cursor location
• Hour and Day browsing
• Best Usable Frequency with band "quality indicator" display
• Short/Long great-circle path display
• Contest log plot to map with filtering
• Create animated picture views of predictions and contest logs
• Save labeled map image displays easily

The Coverage-Analysis View provides two sets of controls similar to those found in the charts - the controls are frequency selection (#5) and prediction parameter (#8) selection.

Like the SmartMap the Coverage-Analysis View features bi-directional integration with the DX Gazetteer. To “find” a Coverage-Analysis View target location in the DX Gazetteer hold the keyboard Ctrl key and click the desired target location in the Coverage-Analysis View map area. If necessary the DX Gazetteer is automatically opened when you use the Ctrl-click function. The DX Gazetteer “Locate” button “plots” a target prefix and the great-circle path to the Coverage-Analysis View for quick visual identification. Unlike the SmartMap the DX Gazetteer does not automatically open the Coverage-Analysis View. If both the SmartMap and Coverage-Analysis View are open when the DX Gazetteer “Locate” button is clicked the target prefix and great-circle path are plotted on the Coverage-Analysis View and not on the SmartMap.

This Coverage-Analysis View can display, previously created, prediction data for each "grid field" or each "grid square". The map "knows" when a prediction is for the current month and so provides an "Activate" function. The "Activate" function causes the gray line and "prediction set" to stay in "sync" with the current time. Alternatively the user can randomly change the hour and day (#9) of displayed gray line and selected "prediction set".

For more information about WinCAP Wizard and "grid fields" or "grid squares", please see the What Are Grid Fields and Squares topic. Also see Tutorial - Preparing a Coverage-Analysis Prediction Set

The Coverage-Analysis View always has a default "center" location, even with no predictions and no log plotted. When first accessed, the "center" location is that of the "default station". The "default station" - for a "forward" circuit is selected on the Circuit-Configuration Manager "Station" page; when the circuit is "reversed" the "Station" page is replaced with a "Receiver" page and the "Reversed-Circuit Receiver". In either case the "Station-Parameters Manager" always shows the current default station. For more information see The Station Location.

To create a point-to-point prediction to a map location, hold the keyboard shift key and click the desired target location. The "station" for "your end" of the circuit is the one specified on the Circuit-Configuration Manager "Station" page. Please see the topic The Station Location.

The map window title bar shows the current "station" selected in the Circuit-Configuration Manager. When the map is displaying "grid field" or each "grid square" predictions, the map title bar displays the "station" that was current when the predictions were created.

#1 This tool bar holds controls to enable display of the "prediction set" and related functions. See Tutorial - Using the Coverage-Analysis View for a detailed description of these controls.

#2 Just below the controls tool bar is the "prediction set" information and navigator.

#3 These buttons select either the "Bands Key" - displayed prediction colors to values key - or the DX (prefix) List.

#4 The "Bands Key" information changes according to the display type and selected parameter (#8). The above screen capture shows the key information for the BUF display. Note the small rectangular colored items near the top of the area is the "quality indicator" key.

#5 This is the "frequency selection" tool bar - these buttons provide frequency control for the selected prediction set. Note the button labeled BUF, for Best Usable Frequency. With the BUF display, the transmit mode (CW or SSB) can be selected, using the controls in #8. The transmit mode affects the calculated quality and therefore the "quality indicator" values. For more information on quality indicators, see the Signal Quality Selections topic.

#6 The prediction information "panel" is just above the standard status line (#7). The propagation information panel is used to display information for the map area under the mouse cursor and also when a location is selected in the DX list. The DX list is discussed below.

#7 The status line on the map display is unique when compared to most others. The map status line provides information about the world location currently under the mouse cursor. Information is typically grid sub-square, geographic coordinates, distance and azimuth. Depending on a displayed prediction set the distance and azimuth may be either short or long great-circle path.

#8 This is the "prediction parameter" selection toolbar - these buttons control display of the specific "prediction parameter".

#9 The "hour and day" toolbar - the displayed hour and day can be changed using the controls near the lower right corner of the window. The displayed prediction data is changed to match the selected hour.

The "quality indicator key", and BUF to band, and color key is shown below.

#4A This is the "quality indicator key". Note the colors that relate to the quality levels have been changed for easier explanation in the example below. These colors relate to quality as follows, noise, poor, fair, good and excellent. These quality levels are of course relative to the transmit mode and user adjustable.

Below is a portion of a "grid square" prediction set view.

In the screen capture above, first note the colored rectangles; these are grid squares. Notice each grid square has a different color "border" or "outline". These borders, or outlines, are the "quality indicators" for the band represented by the square color. Refer to the band and color key discussed above for amateur band and quality identification.

Note - when drawing rectangles with "borders", or outlines, windows draws only the left and bottom sides, because they would overlap anyway. This bit of insight should be helpful in interpreting these displays.

Again, the default quality level, or "quality indicator", colors were changed for the display above. For more information on quality indicators, see the Signal Quality Selections topic.

Prediction Information Panel

It can be difficult to decipher the band and quality indicator values. The prediction information panel introduced above is helpful.

Above is an example of prediction information panel (#6) and status line (#7) display with the mouse cursor over the "JX" DX target shown in the previous screen capture. The "mouse over cursor" actually changes - to a hand with "DX" - to indicate when it's over a DX target, but that isn't visible in a screen capture.

Prefix Search

The screen capture below is similar to the one above (although displaying MUF), but shows special features.

#1 The DX list provides several additional features.

First, the DX list is "sort-able" on prefix - pfx - or country by clicking the appropriate "header label" and "Incremental search" on prefix occurs if the DX List is the active control and you begin typing in the prefix column. We highly recommend using the "search box", described below for prefix searches instead of the incremental search. The search box is much more powerful, as it can handle "alternate prefixes" while the incremental search can only handle those prefixes actually included in the DX list.

Secondly, clicking any location in the DX List draws the great-circle path - either short or long depending on which was used to create the prediction set - and extended information on the location is displayed in area #2. When you "double click" a DX List entity – or click and press the enter key - the map will scroll to center that location and also "zoom" in for a closer view.

Thirdly, if the DX List is “plotted” on the map - moving the mouse cursor over the “plotted target” causes the mouse cursor to change into a “hand” with the word “DX” underneath – and you click, the target is selected in the DX List, the great-circle path is drawn and extended information about the target location is displayed in area #2.

Fourth, when you hold the keyboard Ctrl key and click an entity on the DX List that target is plotted on the map, the great-circle path is drawn, extended information about the target location is displayed in area #2 and the target location is selected in the DX Gazetteer. If necessary the DX Gazetteer is automatically opened.

Finally, when you simply click an entity in the map area the target entity is selected in the DX List – if the target entity name is included in the DX List.

Refer to the close up screen capture below for a continued discussion of the DX list, search box features and additional button controls.

#1 A DX List entity is highlighted as a result of a "search" using the search box described next in area #2. The highlight "color" used to select the DX List entity is an aqua or light blue color. This is a color specified with the Location-Certitude Indicators and means a specific prefix-call area was located, versus just a default entity and location.

When you "double click" a DX List entity the map scrolls to center that location and also "zooms" in for a closer view.

#2 This small control panel is always visible and available for use. There are three buttons and the search box on the control panel.

The first button is "R", or Reset. Clicking the R button causes three actions. If the map is scrolled or zoomed it is returned to the default standard view with the station longitude at the map center. The R button also clears any previously typed prefix or call and makes the search box the currently active control.

The second button is "C", for Clear. The C button performs the same as the “R” button, except it does not change the map view.

The third control on the small panel is the prefix/call search box. In the search box you can type any prefix or a US or Canadian call – as you type a prefix or call the searched for target is plotted on the map and the great-circle path is drawn. After typing a prefix or call, press the keyboard enter key to scroll the map so the prefix or call longitude is in the map center and "zoomed" in for a closer view.

The last button control is "A", Analyze. The A button is used after a DX List entity is selected or a prefix/call search is done – the A button causes the VOACAP engine to execute and a point-to-point propagation prediction to be created for that entity or target.

#3 This is the "prediction information panel" described above in #6. This panel also shows information about the entity clicked in the DX list or typed in the search box. See the second example and screen capture below.

The screen capture below is similar to the previous capture, but illustrates an important feature. A US call sign was typed in the search box. Note the highlight selection is a green color. This is a color specified with the Location-Certitude Indicators and means a specific call was located, versus just a call area or default entity and location.

The information panel display is "specific" to the located target call sign - meaning the information is from the call sign station license address.

The Coverage-Analysis View Menu

This view provides a few additional options, accessible from the menu. Lesser-used items are on "sub-menus" to help simplify the menu.

Contest-Log Manager - display the Contest-Log Manager, same as if accessed from the Master-Control Palette Menu.

Plot Contest Log - display, "plot", the current "contest log" on the map. This menu item is available only when the Contest-Log Manager is visible. When you move the mouse over a plotted contact the mouse cursor changes to a “hand” with the word “QSO” underneath - then if you click the contact will be selected in the Contest-Log Manager.

Filtered Log - This menu item is available only when the Contest-Log Manager is visible and the log is "plotted" on the map. Certain conditions must also be met before you can filter a plotted log - see the Contest-Log Manager topic.

Animator Preview - access the Coverage-Analysis-Animator Preview window

Prediction Display Options - provides a sub menu with related items as follows:

• Show BUF Quality - enable the display of the BUF quality indicators.
• Show FOT is "Frequency Optimum Transmission and is enabled when the prediction is display of MUF.
• Show Band Name is related to the tool bar button labeled "Values". When clicked, and the display is frequency - as in MUF or BUF, the Values function displays a frequency. This option switches that to band designator in wavelength.
• Fixed-Signal Levels - when displaying dB > µV on the map, use Fixed-Signal Levels and ranges instead of the standard gradient colors and ranges.
• Amateur Band Selections allows customization of frequency ranges and related colors.
• Contest Band Selections allows customization of frequency ranges and related colors.

Map Options is a second sub menu as shown below.

Prediction Display Options - provides a sub menu with related items as follows:

• Projections the first three items all select a specific type of map "projection".
• Short Circle is enabled when neither grid type prediction is displayed. When grid type predictions are displayed, this item is set to match the one used, short or long great circle, when the prediction set was created.
• Gray Line enables the display of the solar terminator and twilight.
• Save as GIF allows you to save a labeled GIF image of the current display. The GIF results in a much smaller file size than either BMP or JPG and has a slightly higher quality than JPG.
• Save as JPG allows you to save a labeled JPG image of the current display. The JPG results in a much smaller file size but provides an image of poorer quality.
• Save as BMP allows you to save a labeled BMP image of the current display. A reasonably good quality but a large file is the result of this option.

  All three Save functions store the folder where you save pictures and “offer you” that folder next time you access the save picture function. Additionally when you use a "Save as" function a file name is provided that attempts to briefly describe the picture file contents for easier recognition later. Change the provided file name any way you wish.

  Shown below, smaller to fit help file, is an image saved using the above options. This one happens to use the Fixed-Signal Levels option; see that topic for a comparison between fixed and gradient type ranges.

   

  

  Color selection for all the map elements becomes difficult. It seems no single color is suitable for a particular item in every case.

• Night-Twilight Colors - change the color used to paint the map area in "darkness" and the map area in the "gray line".
• Political Boundary Color - select the color used for coastlines and borders when a grid prediction is displayed. This item is not enabled when the selected frequency for the prediction set is MUF or BUF and the Amateur Bands or Contest Bands option is selected.
• Alternate Boundary Color - select the color used for coastlines and borders when a grid prediction MUF is displayed using the options Amateur Bands or Contest Bands. If the selected frequency for the prediction set is not MUF or BUF and neither the Amateur Bands nor Contest Bands option is selected this item is not enabled.
• DX List Plot Location Colors - change the color used to plot the DX List entities to the map. Depending on other color selections, you may need to select a color for these that is more easily visible.
• Contest-Log-Plot Colors - change the color used to plot contest-log "contacts" to the map.
• Variable-Level Colors - change the color used to paint the gradient levels for coverage-prediction sets.
• Fixed-Signal-Levels Colors - change the color used to paint the dB > µV parameter for coverage-prediction sets. This option is only relevant when the menu Prediction Options, Fixed-Signal-Levels item is checked.
• Save and Restore View temporarily store the area currently displayed on the map, and restore the view respectively.

Plot DX List enables the DX List to be plotted on the map. By default the DX list is not shown as it adds lots of targets to the map and can be very congested and difficult to easily use. When the DX list is plotted on the map several tools become available. When you move the mouse cursor over a DX target the cursor changes to a “hand” with a label that says “DX” and the target “prefix” is shown in the window status line - this is useful to indicate you are in fact over a target. While over a DX target you can click the target to draw the great-circle path between your station and the target. If the “DX List” is visible when you click a target the location is plotted on the map and highlighted in the DX List. Finally – while over a DX target – you can hold down the keyboard shift key and click the target to create a point-to-point prediction to the target.

DX List / Bands Key shows or hides a control area of the window. When a grid fields or grid squares prediction set is visible on the map the control becomes a “page control” with two tabs. See the screen capture below.

#1 The "page control" has two buttons or tabs - the Bands Key previously described - and the DX List.

#2 Is the DX List "header" label area and "sort order" control. By "Prefix" is the default sort order for the DX List - as noted by the delta or triangle mark beside the "Pfx" label. Changes in sort order are not saved and the default is always used when the Coverage-Analysis View is accessed.

Having the DX List visible makes available additional tools. When you click a location in the DX List the great-circle path between your station and the target location is drawn – if you then press the keyboard enter key the map display is re-centered as necessary and the view is “zoomed”. Alternatively you can double click a DX List target and both actions occur. To restore the full-map view click the “R” or “Reset” button described above. The DX List also works in conjunction with the “Prefix Search” function described above.

The Bands Key page of the control provides “key” information that relate the map colors to appropriate values.

Zoom In, Zoom Out and World provide a way to enlarge the map. Note the "Altitude" control on the tool bar provides similar functionality with more convenience and sensitivity.

This is only a brief introduction to the features of the Coverage-Analysis View.

See Tutorial - Using the Coverage-Analysis View