Amateur radio operators often log hundreds or even thousands of contacts during activations, contests, and portable operations. But turning that log into something more visual and meaningful can be a challenge—especially after the original GMA/Adventure Radio QSO Map tool went offline. Fortunately, a new tool has emerged to fill that gap.

Introducing the MØTRT QSO Map Tool

The MØTRT QSO Map Tool is a modern, lightweight, and privacy-friendly web application that allows you to visualize your amateur radio QSOs on an interactive map—without sending your log data to any server.

Whether you’re logging contacts from POTA, SOTA, WWFF, or just operating from home, this tool makes it easy to showcase your reach around the world.

Key Features

• Supports ADIF, Cabrillo, and SOTA CSV: Load multiple files and combine them with ease.
• Customizable Maps and Icons: Choose from a variety of base maps and symbols, including SOTA and POTA styles.
• Worked Grid Overlays: Highlights Maidenhead locators, WAB squares, CQ zones, ITU zones, and more.
• Rich Filtering Tools: View contacts by date, band, or mode to drill down into your logs.
• Interactive Popups: Click on a QSO point to view history and details.
• Data Privacy by Design: All processing is done in your browser. No log data is uploaded or stored on any server.

Lookup Integration

Want to enrich your QSO points with additional data? The tool supports live lookups using:

• QRZ.com
• HamQTH
• POTA
• SOTA
• WWFF
• WWBOTA
• GMA

When credentials are used for lookups, they’re sent securely via HTTPS. There’s even an optional “remember passwords” feature that saves credentials locally—ideal for frequent users on trusted devices.

Privacy First

The tool stands out for its strong privacy principles:

• No user tracking or analytics
• No cookies or ads
• All QSO logs are processed locally in your browser
• Open source and public domain licensed

It’s a refreshing experience for those wary of web apps that rely on cloud storage or data mining.

Built With Trusted Libraries

The app runs using widely-used open-source technologies such as:

• Leaflet.js for maps
• jQuery for dynamic interactions
• Font Awesome (self-hosted) for icons

Thanks to contributions from developers like HA8TKS, additional overlays for grids and zones are included as well.

Looking for Alternatives?

If MØTRT’s tool doesn’t quite meet your needs, you might explore:

• GridTracker – full desktop app with logbook syncing
• M0NOM’s ADIF Processor – export KML files for Google Earth with HF path simulation
• sotamaps.org – stats and visualization for SOTA operators
• ON6ZQ Log2Map – another alternative for creating map views from logs

Try It Yourself

The tool is free, open, and easy to use. Just visit:

https://qsomap.m0trt.radio

Whether you want to analyze your portable activations or simply showcase your worldwide contacts, this tool offers a beautiful and practical solution—with no strings attached.

The post Visualize Your QSOs with the MØTRT QSO Map Tool appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

If you’re into park, summit, or other activations like—POTA, SOTA, WWFF, SIOTA—your APRS toolbox has just been supercharged. APSPOT is the most comprehensive self‑spotting gateway available, serving as a singular APRS endpoint that forwards your spot to numerous destinations. No more juggling multiple services or interfaces—just a single tap on your APRS transceiver or APRS software and app sends your activity to parksnpeaks.org, pota.app, SOTAWatch, and beyond.

What Makes APSPOT Exceptional?

• Unified Spotting Endpoint
  Whether you’re working WWFF, SOTA, POTA, or SIOTA, APSPOT simplifies your workflow: send one formatted APRS message and let APSPOT distribute it to all platforms seamlessly
• Smart Message Validation
  APSPOT guides you toward accuracy: if your spot misses a piece or misformats, it responds with precise feedback or usage tips—no guesswork
• Flexible Mode & Quantity Settings
  Recently added, the SPOTS command now supports filtering by mode—like FT8—and controlling how many spots (up to five) you receive

How It Works

1. Format Your Spot Correctly
   Using APRS, message APSPOT in the format: ! <Activity> <Reference> <Frequency> <Mode> <Optional Comment> Example: ! SOTA VK3/VN‑010 7.144 SSB AutumnFieldSummit
2. Receive Instant Feedback
   APSPOT confirms successful delivery—or explains why it didn’t. You’ll know right away.
3. Enjoy Cross‑Platform Spotting
   Your spot is posted automatically across all supported communities—no extra steps on your part

Key Details You Should Know

• Supported Activities: WWFF, SOTA, POTA, SIOTA.
• Syntax Requirements: Include frequency as a decimal (e.g., “7.144”), mode (SSB, CW, FM, DATA), and optional comments
• Activity Verification: For parksnpeaks.org (WWFF), you must be a registered user—APSPOT will check before posting
• Message Limits: Over APRS, you can request 1–5 spots at a time—no more

How to send a SPOT:

POTA

SOTA

WWFF

Beyond APRS: SMS Integration

No APRS radio? No problem. Send a text like this:

!MYCALL POTA US‑1234 14.060 CW CQ_TEST

to the APSPOT SMS gateway, and it handles the rest.

Australia: +61 4 89 905 884
Canada: +1 867 877 2605
United States: +1 866 870 5797

Why APSPOT Matters

• Simplicity: One message, all platforms—APRS, SMS, Winlink.
• Precision: Built‑in validation prevents posting errors.
• Coverage: Supports all major amateur activation programs.
• Community‑Focused: Designed by a ham radio operator for ease and reliability.

What’s on the Horizon?

Developer Josh is expanding APSPOT’s cloud infrastructure—moving it to a Docker‑based service on AWS Fargate. The next milestones include direct SOTAWatch integration (beyond parksnpeaks.org) and broader API support for more spotting systems.

Get Started Today

• Visit https://apspot.radio to explore usage instructions, FAQs, and examples.
• Format and send your first APRS message to APSPOT, or use SMS if APRS isn’t available.
• Ready for on‑the‑road or off‑grid use, APSPOT ensures you stay visible—no matter where your amateur radio adventures take you.

The post APSPOT: Your All-in-One APRS Self‑Spotting Solution appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

Why Choose VK Port-a-Log?

Developed with the needs of portable operators in mind, VK Port-a-Log provides a feature-rich experience to simplify logging in the field. The latest version, released on 14 November 2021, offers a range of powerful features, including:

Seamless QSO Logging: Log contacts effortlessly with entries for time, call sign, operator name, location, signal reports, mode, rig, antenna, and power.

SOTA and WWFF Integration: Supports logging in formats compatible with SOTAwatch3, SOTAdata CSV, and WWFF ADIF files, making it easier to upload activation and chase logs.

SPOT Integration: View real-time SOTAwatch and ParksnPeaks SPOTs with six different alert sounds and easy QSO data entry by copying SPOT details directly to your log.

Customizable and User-Friendly: Choose between dark or light themes, set up hotkeys for quicker logging, and use an external keyboard with shortcut support.

Works on Most Android Devices: Compatible with Android 5.0 and above, making it accessible for a wide range of tablets and smartphones.

Automatic Location Tracking: Uses your device’s GPS to determine Maidenhead locators, nearby SOTA summits, VKFF/ZLFF areas, and VK shires.

Smart QSO Management: Enter QSOs live during operation or after your activation and easily review/edit your contacts using the scroll list.

Multiple Export Options: Save logs in various formats, including:

• SOTA V2 CSV for SOTA database uploads
• ADIF (Amateur Data Interchange Format) 3.0.4 for mainstream logging software
• CSV format for Excel import

Experience VK Port-a-Log in Action

Wade, VK1MIC, has demonstrated VK Port-a-Log in a home setup, showcasing its efficiency and ease of use. You can watch his video demonstration on YouTube to see the app in action.

For iPhone users, VK5AYL has developed a similar logging app. More details are available at www.vk5ayl.com.

Download and Join the Community

VK Port-a-Log is available in the files section of the vk3zpf-logger groups.io group. By joining, you can download the app, report bugs, provide suggestions, and share ideas with other users.

Download the VK Port-a-Log User Guide

Explore VK Port-a-Log Settings Screens

View VK Port-a-Log Version Info

If you’re serious about logging your portable QSOs with ease and accuracy, VK Port-a-Log is the app you need. Give it a try and streamline your portable operations today!

Reference https://vk3zpf.com/vk-port-a-log

The post VK Port-a-Log: The Ultimate Logging App for Portable Operators appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.