Route Plans
CQ/X provides a means of developing the files needed to post your
route as a Google Map for distribution on the
Internet either as a simple sequence of counties or as a sequence of
counties along with the sequence of county line crossing points. In
both cases the county boundaries will be shown and in the latter case a
marker will be shown at each county line crossing point. Both of these
methods are explained in the documentation referenced below.
Developing the file for posting as a simple sequence is quick. However,
including the county line crossing points, of course, requries the user
to define the latitude and longitude of the crossing points. This
information is useful in order for CQ/X to show the distance and
estimated time to
the next county.
If this functionality is desired, part of the trip planning process
will include the development of a file containing each planned
crossing point. Once this crossing point data has been
prepared the program has the capability of converting
this
file into a so-called KML file
that can be placed on a web-server for processing by Google Maps
providing a cool way of distributing your trip plan to other
participants. The CQXClient
Help File explains how to do this. Post a Route
Using Google Maps
is a separate document that collects the various steps in one place
with detailed instructions. In order to carry out these steps using
CQ/X you'll need the following:
- Version 1.7.4 of CQ/X available from the Downloads
page
- Patch 174-01 also available from the Downloads page
- Patch 174-04 also available from the Downloads page. (Adds
county boundaries.)
- A web server to store the KML file on
Here are some examples from the 2007 Texas QSO Party. Also shown are the counties not activated in the 2007 Texas QSO party.
Here is our planned route for the 2008 Louisiana QSO Party.
Here are a couple of routes for the 2008 Mississippi QSO Party. NO5W, KS5A.
Here's our route plan for the 2008 Oklahoma QSO Party. NO5W.
In the 2008 Florida QSO Party we'll be following this route.
Note: The
addition of county boundaries slows down the presentation of these
maps, especially those involving a large number of counties and/or
counties with a lot of coast line and most noticeably when changing
zoom levels. If you receive a message that a
script is busy, just click continue. Not recommended for older machines
and/or dial-up connections.
Copyright: C.W. Sanders, NO5W
Last Updated: 28-March-2008