D-RATS Mapping
In this session we will examine the
functions of the D-RATS mapping
application.
Session Overview
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Explanation of the Map Screen
Where do the maps come from?
How are the maps rendered?
How to add a marker to the map
How to hide/recall a marker
How to build and load an overlay (a marker set)
How to hide/recall an overlay
How to track a station (mobile)
The Map Screen
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The map screen is displayed
by selecting map from view
menu in the main chat
screen, This will bring up the
map window centered the
last marker selected when the
map window was last shut
down. If no value for last
marker was found it will
default to your location
(assuming you have entered
your location in the main
settings)
The Map Window
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The map window is
comprised of three areas:
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The Map itself
The map zoom level
The station window
The Map Window
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The map window is the
graphical display of
information you select in
the other 2 windows. It
provides a workspace to
display the criteria you
have selected. It also
provides a map scale in
the lower right corner.
The Map Zoom Level
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You can zoom in or out
by moving the slide bar.
Zoom level 17 is
maximum zoom with the
highest level of detail.
The Map Zoom Level
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Zoom level 2 is the
minimum. NOTE: When
zooming out, wait until
the tiles load for your
zoom level selection
before changing the level
again. D-RATS has a
tendency to get confused
when you ask it to
display different zoom
levels at the same time.
The Stations Window
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The stations window acts
as your graphics display
selector.
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It displays the lat and lon
of every station
It displays the distance
and direction to that
station (note that in this
example N2MFT is 20.28
miles at a bearing of
315.92 degrees from me)
Where do the maps come from?
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The maps are provided by openstreetmap.org
OpenStreetMap is a free editable map of the whole
world. It is made by people like you.
 OpenStreetMap allows you to view, edit and use
geographical data in a collaborative way from
anywhere on Earth.
 OpenStreetMap's hosting is kindly supported by the
UCL VR Centre and bytemark.
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How are the maps rendered?
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When the map window is opened it will be centered on the last
marker selected when the map window was last shut down. If no
value for last marker was found it will default to your location
(assuming you have entered your location in the main settings)
It will first look in the map cache on your PC. Local maps are
store in your application data folder under DRATS. If a map is
not found it will go to openstreetmap.org and download a level
14 map for your location. This map will be permanently stored
on your pc and future instances will not require downloading.
This procedure is replicated each time a change is made in the
location or zoom level. Alternatively, you may choose to use the
map downloader to download a complete set of maps for your
area of interest. This is accomplished through the map
downloader utility within D-RATS.
How to add a marker to the map
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Openstreetmap provides
some high level landmarks as
they have been entered by
users into the openstreemap
database. You may choose to
ad some of your own
markers to your D-RATS
mapping application. To add
a marker select “set marker”
from the map pull down
menu. You will be presented
with a window asking that
will allow you to generate a
new map marker.
Add Marker Window
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This window will allow you to add a marker to an existing overlay or create a
new overlay. Either select from the pull down list of groups (overlays) or type
in the name of a new group (overlay).
Next you will have to give your new marker a name. Each marker must have
a unique name.
Now you will need to indicate a location for your new marker. Either enter
the lat and lon or use the lookup by address feature. If you use the address
lookup, D-RATS will automatically geocode your entry and return the
location in a decimal lat/lon format. Follow the prompts and it will enter this
info in the appropriate fields for you.
Next step is to select an APRS icon for you marker from the pull down
window. This marker will be displayed on your map as well as the map of
anyone else you should send this marker to.
The final step is to add a comment if you choose. This can be any text you
choose and will be displayed when you roll the mouse over the marker on the
map.
Click OK and you new marker will be permanently stored in the group
(overlay) you selected
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This marker shows the
location of the
Hillsborough County
EOC located in Tampa,
Florida. It was generated
using the address lookup
feature. Note the
comment use.
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Once you
click okay the
marker is
generated and
will show up
in the Station
window on
the map
screen.
Double
clicking on it
will center the
map on this
marker.
How to hide/recall a marker
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By clicking on
the checkbox
to the left of
the station
marker you can
hide or display
the marker.
You will not
want to view
all markers at
all times as the
map can get
quite cluttered.
How to build and load an overlay
Markers are stored in groups (overlays).
These groups can be built in D-RATS
via the previous method or bulk loaded
from a comma separated value (csv)
file. To load a csv overlay file click on
load static overlay from the map menu.
Locate the overlay file you wish to load
from your pc and click open. This will
open the csv file and load it a a
separate group (overlay). NOTE: The
format for this must be exact. The csv
file must be correct or the overlay will
not load. For more information on the
correct format go to the D-RATS Wiki
support page
http://www.drats.com/wiki/MapDisplay
You can download some of my csv files
through D-RATS using the file get
command at N4DIB on the
“Ratflector”.
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How to hide/recall an overlay
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The process for hiding
or displaying an overlay
is very similar to a
marker. Just click on the
check box to the left of
the overlay.
How to track a station
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D-RATS will look at the
data string of any
received DSTAR
transmission ( station
does not need to be
running D-RATS) and
add it to the stations
database. This will show
up under the stations tab
in the main chat window.
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This information is also
transferred to the
stations group in the
map window
Pinpointing a Stations Location
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By selecting the station
with the check box and
double clicking on the
station, the map will
center on that station.
You can zoom in or out
as desired.
Tracking a Mobile Station
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This is very similar to
pinpointing a station with the
only difference being that we
need to tell D-RATS to
FOLLOW the station. This is
accomplished by checking
the “Track Center “
checkbox. D-RATS will keep
the station in the center of
the map and move the map
instead of the station in
order for you to follow the
movement.
Plotting a D-RATS Station
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D-RATS can send your location information as
an autoqst or from a gps device. This is set up in
the main setting menu options. CAUTION:
Setting up an autoqst with a short interval
should be avoided except in specific situations.
If you station is stationary, a 60 min interval is
sufficient.
Setting up to send your location from
D-RATS
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To send you location information
you will need to set up an autoqst.
From the chat menu select “Auto
QST Settings”
Click on “add”
Select either GPS or GPS-A mode
Select the interval with which you
want to send
Add a message if you want
To select you icon click on DPRS
and choose from the list
Click save then close
How to send your location
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You can send your
location automatically as
you set it up in the
autoqst or manually fire
the autoqst by Double
clicking on the blue
countdown bar in the
autoqst tab of the chat
screen. This will fire the
autoqst and reset the
timer.
Summary
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The mapping function is a very powerful and flexible tool. It can
be used for many more things than just tracking a DSTAR or DRATS station. A reflector has been established for D-RATS
training and practice. This allows users to perfect their skills with
the program before attempting D-RATS communications via RF,
with Gateways, and Reflectors. It is open to all and it’s use is
encouraged. It also serves as a gathering place for D-RATS
junkies and provides a good place to get questions answered in
real time. To connect to the “Ratflector” just enter the following
in your serial port window instead of selecting a com port.
net:ref.d-rats.com:9000