The map shows activity from the past hour. Paths are smoothed to create a color-coded footprint indicating the distance VHF signals are likely to be traveling. Packet stations typically run low power into small vertical antennas. Better equipped stations should exceed the the distances these stations report. The map is updated automatically, up to several times per minute.
The map is created using positions (latitude and longitude) reported by nodes in the packet radio system and the hops that are recorded as the packet travels from node to node. The distance between each end of a hop is the basis for the display drawn on the map.
The following is a typical packet that illustrates the process:
STJOHN>APN391,K0SUN-10,AI4GI-3,N5ALC-3*,qAS,KE5NOB:!3916.93N/09454.35WhPHG7330 ...In this packet, station STJOHN reports its position as 39°16.93' north and 94°54.35' west. The packet took the path STJOHN, K0SUN-10, AI4GI-3, N5ALC-3. If we previously received and recorded the locations of each of these stations, then we know the distance it traveled between each of the station pairs: (STJOHN, K0SUN-10), (K0SUN-10, AI4GI-3), (AI4GI-3, N5ALC-3).
Errors can be present in the data used to create the map. Some stations operate on HF frequencies, which result in much longer distances than VHF typically supports. Occasionally a packet radio station on a high altitude balloon or satellite appear. Some stations incorrectly report their position, often by hundreds of miles, causing local communication to be misrepresented.
Javascript must be enabled to use see the real-time graphics. A text based interface is available.
An HF Propagation Map shows real-time propagation on the HF+ bands.