| WinCAP Wizard - Enhanced VOACAP Toolset |
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SmartMap-Geographic View In addition to displaying hourly data for Beacon and Prediction Batch predictions the SmartMap-geographic view provides a world map with solar gray line. Major Features
The SmartMap-Geographic View provides two sets of controls similar to those found in the charts. The controls are frequency selection (#4) and prediction parameter (#7) selection. The SmartMap features bi-directional integration with the DX Gazetteer. To “find” a SmartMap target location in the DX Gazetteer hold the keyboard Ctrl key and click the desired target location on the SmartMap. 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 SmartMap for quick visual identification. The map can display prediction data for either beacon stations or prediction batch locations. 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 data to stay in "sync" with the current time. Alternatively the user can change the hour and day of displayed gray line and selected prediction data. The SmartMap-Geographic View always has a default "center" location, even with no beacon or prediction batch predictions 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. When beacon or prediction batch predictions are plotted, the "default station" - just described - is "overridden" with the beacon or prediction batch "station". To create a point-to-point prediction to a map target 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 “station” selected in the Circuit-Configuration Manager. When the map is displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" prediction sets the map title bar displays the "station" that was current when the prediction set was created.
#1 The window-title bar provides an important notice of the “Station” currently selected in the Circuit-Configuration Manager and Station-Parameters Manager – location name, geographic coordinates and grid sub-square. #2 Below the map window title bar, and time display, is the main controls tool bar. The Beacon and Batch buttons control plotting of the selected Beacon or Prediction Batch prediction set to the map. The Activate button - If a beacon or batch prediction set for the current month is displayed the Activate button is enabled. Click the activate button to keep the solar gray line and prediction in sync with the current time. If the displayed prediction set is for beacons the activate button causes a great-circle path to be drawn to the currently active beacon. The "altitude" control - Although similar to the “zoom” function the “altitude” control has some special characteristics. If no map “entity” is selected when moved to the maximum position – the far right – the altitude control behaves in a manor similar to a “reset” - the map display is resized to fit the available area. Unlike the reset control the center longitude remains unchanged. When a map “entity” is selected in the SmartMap and the altitude control is moved to the maximum position the map display is re-centered with the center longitude of the selected entity at the display center. Moving the altitude control lower – or left – zooms on the selected entity. To return the SmartMap to the original position – with center longitude on your station – click the “Reset Map” button. The Reset Map button - If the map is scrolled or zoomed clicking the reset map button will resize the map display to fit the available area and return the center longitude to that of your station. #3 Just below the controls tool bar is the current "prediction set" information and navigator. The "prediction set" information defines parameters that were used to create the prediction set and therefore help identify the currently displayed prediction set. The navigator control is used to move to other previously created prediction sets. Map Prediction View #4 When the map is displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" predictions, the area left of the map provides a list of locations. Each list item, or location, has a check box to its left. The check box is used to hide or show the location and any associated data. By clicking the list item, or location - instead of the check box - the great-circle path is drawn on the map. It can be either long or short great-circle path depending on which was used to create the prediction set. The map can at times appear crowded with locations and associated prediction data. The user can hide any locations and associated data. As long as the locations contained in a "prediction set" do not change, the map "remembers" which locations were visible and restores the state. For example the beacon locations don't often change, so the user could hide one or several locations and then change "prediction sets"- possibly looking at various months; the hidden locations would remain hidden. In contrast, each prediction batch "prediction set" could easily provide a different set of locations. However even the prediction batch map display remembers which locations to hide, as long as all the locations in the changed-to prediction set are the same as the previous prediction set. #5 The "frequency selector" tool bar - these buttons provide frequency control for the selected prediction set. When MUF is selected as the frequency the 20M-beacon time schedule is used. The MUF is not very useful for beacon monitoring but may provide an idea of the most likely band to hear each beacon. The last button in the group is labeled BUF and enabled for "batch" type predictions but not beacon predictions. Below is a closer look at the three panels in the bottom of the window. The information displayed in areas #6 and #7 is an example of the format used when the beacon "activate" button is enabled or the mouse cursor is over a beacon target or a beacon in the list of the left windowpane is clicked.
Extended Prediction Information #6 When the map is displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" target predictions the "propagation information panel" appears just above the standard status line (#7). The propagation information panel is used to display information for the currently active beacon station as well as prediction batch information - as appropriate. When the mouse cursor is over a beacon or prediction-batch target the cursor changes to a "hand" with the word "Prop" underneath and information for the target is shown on panels #6 and #7. For a brief explanation of the predicted parameters displayed on the panel see the chart values grid section. When the mouse cursor is over a map beacon station or prediction batch location, propagation information for the selected time is displayed - in the propagation information panel. #7 The status line on the map display is unique when compared to others and provides information about the world location currently under the mouse cursor together with grid sub-square, coordinates, distance and azimuth. User Station Placement If not displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" predictions, displayed distances and directions are "relative" to the current "station" in the Circuit-Configuration Manager. When the map is displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" predictions, displayed distances and directions are relative to the "station" used for the prediction set. As the "prediction set" is changed, using the navigator, these items change to match the selected prediction set. Please see the topic The Station Location. #8 The "prediction parameter" selection tool bar - this group of buttons control display of the specific "prediction parameter". Gray Line vs. Prediction Study When the map is displaying "Beacon" or "Prediction Batch" predictions, the map gray line changes to match the "Month" of the selected prediction. If a day-of-the month was entered for the prediction, the gray line display matches that day and the time defaults to the current hour. #9 The "hour and day" selection tool bar -- the displayed hour and day can be changed using the controls near the lower right corner of the map window. The displayed prediction data is changed to match the selected hour. The map can be zoomed to show less area and more detail. To zoom a map area left click and drag from upper left to lower right. To scroll the displayed map area, right click and drag. The map window size is adjustable to suit the user. For additional options please explore items on the "Menu" button. |
