Jump to content

SimTX Guide/Map and coverage

From SimTX Wiki
User guidesGetting startedTransmittingReceivingStationsSatellitesRotators and trackingMap and coverageCatalog and add-onsHealthSettings and shortcutsTroubleshooting

The Stations tab shows a globe with the stations and satellites on the server, and a station list beside it.

Station lists[edit | edit source]

World list with a search field, the filters All, Ground, Satellites and On air, four public stations such as Demo harbour club on 14.2650 MHz USB, and ad-hoc sessions such as DEMO10 on 5.3570 MHz FT8.
The World list with public stations and ad-hoc sessions, each showing what it is running.
List Shows
Mine Your ground stations and satellites, with New station and Launch satellite.
World Public stations, Ad-hoc sessions and satellites In orbit.

In World, search by callsign, owner or frequency, and filter by All, Ground, Satellites or On air. Each row shows what is running, for example 2 on air or RX, and for satellites the next pass. Select a row or a marker to open the station's details; Show on globe moves the globe to it.

The globe[edit | edit source]

Drag to turn the globe and scroll to zoom.

Marker or line Meaning
Your station One of your stations.
On air A station with a transmission running.
Listening A station with a receiver running.
Satellite A satellite at its current position.
New satellite The satellite you are designing.
Your RX Your ad-hoc receive location.
Dashed line from a station A satellite above that station's horizon.
Line along a heading A rotator antenna's heading; see Rotators and tracking.

The legend in the lower left also shows the simulation time in UTC. Day and night shading follows that clock. Selecting a satellite draws its ground track.

Button What it does
Refresh Reloads the station list.
Coverage Shows the coverage of your Transmit station (see below).
Orbits Shows or hides the orbit rings of all satellites.
Fit button Zooms out to show all stations.

Coverage maps[edit | edit source]

Stations tab with green coverage shading on the globe, a Coverage legend reading Demo hilltop, Roof Yagi at 300°, 14.225 MHz, 100 W with an S1 to S9 scale, and the Coverage map panel with From, Antenna, Heading, Frequency, Power and Update.
A coverage map for the Yagi at Demo hilltop, with the coverage panel and the signal strength legend.

A coverage map shades the parts of the world where your Transmit station can be heard right now. Brighter shading means a stronger signal.

  1. In the Transmit tab, choose a ground station under Transmit from and set the frequency, power and mode.
  2. In the Stations tab, press Coverage. The button reads Computing… until the map arrives.
  3. Press Hide coverage to remove it.

The map uses the station's location and antenna, the rotator heading, the power up to the radio's cap, the frequency, mode and bandwidth, and the current propagation conditions. It is approximate. After changing any of these, press Hide coverage and Coverage again. Coverage maps work for ground stations only.

Passes and satellites[edit | edit source]

Pass predictions are in a satellite's details; see Satellites.

Map quality[edit | edit source]

Settings rows Theme set to Dark and Map quality set to Auto, with the note Auto uses Full on this computer.
The Map quality setting in Settings, General.

Settings, General, Map quality sets how much the globe draws.

Setting Globe
Auto Chooses Full or Light for this computer.
Full Atmosphere, terrain, sharp detail and smooth camera flights.
Light A simpler globe that stays smooth on slow computers.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.simtx.net/index.php?title=SimTX_Guide/Map_and_coverage&oldid=2514"