If you’ve ever called CQ and wondered, “Who can hear me right now?”, our Realtime View answers that question with live reception reports—no models, no guesses. Watch great-circle arcs appear on the map within seconds of a spot being received, and adapt your strategy on the fly.
What You’ll See
- Live arcs from transmitter → receiver, color‑coded by band
- Receiver callsigns labeled at the destination
- Rolling time window that keeps the map current and readable
Typical latency is 1–2 seconds from reception to display. It’s ground truth, not a forecast.
Quick Start
- Select View Type: Realtime
- Open the app and choose “Realtime” from the View Type menu.
- Pick a filter
- Callsign: Focus on a single station (e.g., your own)
- Grid: Monitor a 4‑character grid (e.g., CM87)
- No Filter: Watch everything happening right now
- Choose direction (Callsign/Grid filters)
- Sent by: Who hears that callsign/grid
- Received by: What that callsign/grid hears
- Sent/Received by: Full picture in both directions
- Add a band filter (optional)
- Narrow to one band (e.g., 20m) to reduce noise and highlight patterns.
Time Windows (Why Spots “Disappear”)
- Callsign/Grid filters: Last 1 minute of activity
- No Filter: Last 10 seconds (to keep things responsive)
Older spots expire automatically so you’re always looking at the present.
Why It Helps You Make More Contacts
- Immediate feedback: Call once, adjust antenna or power, and see coverage change in seconds.
- Catch short openings: Grayline bumps or fleeting paths pop out instantly.
- Diagnose asymmetry: Compare “sent by” vs “received by” to see one‑way conditions.
- Operate smarter: Target regions that are actually open instead of hoping a model is right.
Practical Playbook
- Tune your station: While transmitting, watch where arcs land. Rotate the beam or change mode/power and confirm the effect live.
- Hunt DX: Enter the DX callsign to see where they’re being heard and whether your path is opening.
- Regional monitoring: Use a grid (contest area, home QTH, expedition site) to track real activity.
- Big‑picture check: Use No Filter + a single band to see if it’s worth spinning the dial.
Tips for Clear, Useful Maps
- Start narrow: Begin with Callsign or Grid; expand later.
- Filter by band: Simplifies the view and reduces data volume.
- Expect ebb and flow: Quiet maps happen—try another band or wait a minute.
- On mobile: Prefer Callsign/Grid to keep bandwidth light.
Data & Privacy
Realtime View visualizes publicly shared digital‑mode reception reports (via PSK Reporter’s live stream) for educational and operational use. If you prefer not to share reception data, disable reporting in your decoder/logging software.
Ready to Try It?
Open Realtime View, pick a filter, make a call, and watch your signal’s footprint form in front of you. Don’t predict the opening—see it.