Sorry, changed my mind on the “asrgnsmt” (Edit: which was my first idea), it’s horrible. Let’s go with just “smt” as in:
http://sotamaps.wsstvc.org/index.php?smt=G/SE-005
Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Thanks Rob. Both of these are nice additions to the functionality of the system. I’ll bookmark a few selected regions.
73
Gerald
MW0WML
In reply to DM1CM:
Hi Rob and all,
I have been playing with SOTAMAPS especially with Activations. I know it is yet under test, just to inform, in my case, only shows up just one activation.
Best 73 and till next time.
CT1DRB
David Quental
In reply to CT1DRB:
Hi David, as you correctly point out, the activations page is (still!) in test-phase, which means only a very limited set of data is at the moment available to the page. These data are from September to mid-December 2013 only - in this period, it would appear you only made one activation (CT/AL-001 (Serra de Foia) with 15 QSOs), on 1st September 2013.
So, yes, only that one of your activations will appear at the moment while the page is in test.
Best regards, Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Hi Rob,
thanks for your explanation, let us keep informed about new developments with your tool.
Best 73 and till next email.
CT1DRB
David Quental
The SMP activations page has been updated, and now accesses data from a much larger data source than previously. Data are now available from a fairly large subset of records from the SOTA database activations and chasers tables, comprising a selection from early 2002, through February 2014. So, we’re much closer to the goal of presenting “live” data in the page.
Not all activations are present yet in this data set - nor are all activators included - but the count is nonetheless impressive: over 4300 activators are represented. Some additional work will have to be done to obtain as many chasers’ QTH locations as we can find online.
Apologies for the delay in publishing this update, but a lot of work was needed to rewrite the existing code to access the new data sources. Considerable work was also needed to get the data into a stable and accessible form.
Thanks, as ever, must go to Andy MM0FMF for his unfailing support in making the new data sources available.
Hope you, the users, find the update useful.
Best regards, Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Congratulations on this fantastic tool.
Your site is really impressive and useful.
Thank you again.
Christophe
ON6ZQ
In reply to DM1CM:
Wunderbar ! C’est SUPER !
Roger
In reply to DM1CM:
Thanks very much for this excellent tool. SMP is incredibly useful for planning and fun besides.
Malcolm VE2DDZ
HI Rob
Thank you for your continued work with Andy on the SMP. I like viewing the new display on the map of the QSOs made from summits.
A little off topic query - I have recently returned to our “little island” from a tour of EU mainland summits. During the trip I operated from several summits which involved a very short easy walk from the car (SOTA - but not as we know it in the UK, more like WAB operation in the outdoors). As a result of the short distance walked from the car to the operating point within the activation zone I was unable to collect the required number of 10 GPX points. As a result I am unable to upload my tracks, which in some cases contain between 5 and 10 points. This info however is useful for future activators in showing a possible parking place.
Therefore, could the number of points needed for the SMP to accept a track please be reduced from 10?
73 Phil
In reply to G4OBK:
Hi Phil, glad you can make use the activations page.
As to the minimum number of points permitted in a GPX track, ten was considered a good absolute minimum to discourage people from uploading tracks which might be considered by some users to be rather pointless. If the path from a carpark to a summit is so short, well-marked and obvious that a GPS unit can only manage to record a few points before the activator reaches the activation point or summit, one might ask what would be the point in uploading it?
The SMP tracks page is meant to be a repository of chosen or favourite routes to SOTA summits, where there may be a choice of routes on the ground, and where the route may, for instance, not immediately be obvious, or where the route avoids specific hazards, or offers a good view, or starts at the best car-park, etc. You yourself have made good and frequent use of this feature of the SMP.
In any case, if any user should wish to upload a very short track, for whatever reason, they might best be advised to use the track drawing tools available in the tracks page. They’re easy to use, and the user can draw/drag+drop/edit/add/delete track points on the map as he or she wishes. There’s still a minimum requirement of ten points, but the points can be placed arbitrarily close to each other. You might like to give that a try…
On another track, Phil, I was in Friedrichshafen on Saturday, and met a few SOTA people at the QSL wall at midday. While talking to Andy FMF, I saw you in a group of people close by, also Nick G4OOE, but before I could introduce myself, you had all drifted away. Ah, well, better luck next time!
Best regards,
Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Very good Rob - I will use the method you suggested to add a few points to the shorter tracks I have saved.
Yes - very sorry not to meet for a chat, as I really appreciate your work on the SMP - but after meeting around 10 other SOTAists at midday on the Friday and Saturday by the QSL wall we headed off to the eating and drinking area, but not everyone latched on to the idea. We needed to move off to eat as we were short on time. We did not want to miss activating and gathering some extra points on any of the days we were in mainland EU, so after lunch we went to OE/VB-512 on the Friday and DM/BW-349 and DM/BW-350 on the Saturday.
73 Phil
In reply to G4OBK:
I will use the method you suggested to add a few points to the shorter tracks I have saved.<<<
Ah. Well, no - positions/points in uploaded tracks are not editable, at least yet. GPS tracks are, after all, perfect and don’t need editing (wait for it…), and drawn tracks should already contain the necessary points, the user having been given sufficient chance to get their drawn tracks right before committing to Save. So, drawn tracks and uploaded GPS/GPX tracks are separate entities and never meet…
Texts for both types ARE editable after the event, so track descriptions can be polished over time. Tracks are immutable - this appeals to the mathematician in me, and I shall have a T-shirt made up with those words.
R
PS - I guessed them thar hills were a’calling…
In reply to ON6ZQ, F5LKW and VE2DDZ and others who contacted me off-reflector:
Thanks for the flowers, guys, glad you like the app!
Rob
Just wanted to say thanks for your work on SMP- it’s a great resource that I’m coming to use more and more!
Tim
K6TW
In reply to K6TW:
Thanks, Tim - it’s nice to know that some at least of the American SOTA enthusiasts appreciate the SMP.
Rob