D-RATS Mapping

1
D-RATS Mapping

• In this session we will examine the functions of
  the D-RATS mapping application.

2
Session Overview

• 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)

3
The Map Screen

• 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)

4
The Map Window

• The map window is comprised of three areas
• The Map itself
• The map zoom level
• The station window

5
The Map Window

• 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.

6
The Map Zoom Level

• You can zoom in or out by moving the slide bar.
  Zoom level 17 is maximum zoom with the highest
  level of detail.

7
The Map Zoom Level

• 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.

8
The Stations Window

• The stations window acts as your graphics display
  selector.
• 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)

9
Where do the maps come from?

• 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.

10
How are the maps rendered?

• 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.
  

11
How to add a marker to the map

• 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.

12
Add Marker Window

• 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

13

• 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.

14

• 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.

15
How to hide/recall a marker

• 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.

16
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.d-rats.com/wiki/MapDisplay
• You can download some of my csv files through
  D-RATS using the file get command at N4DIB on the
  Ratflector.

17
How to hide/recall an overlay

• 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.

18
How to track a station

• 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.

19

• This information is also transferred to the
  stations group in the map window

20
Pinpointing a Stations Location

• 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.

21
Tracking a Mobile Station

• 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.

22
Plotting a D-RATS Station

• 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.

23
Setting up to send your location from D-RATS

• 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

24
How to send your location

• 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.

25
Summary

• The mapping function is a very powerful and
  flexible tool. It can be used for many more
  things than just tracking a DSTAR or D-RATS
  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
  its 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.
  netref.d-rats.com9000