[Dxbase] Rotor Direction for VE3 in W4 Land Problem

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

At 16:48 03/16/06, Eric - VE3GSI wrote:

>I don't think this is a finger problem at my end, but just to be sure here
>is the problem.
>
>If I enter W4ABC in the entry window and tab, click the rotor it gets turned
>to 193 degrees, which is about where I would expect it to go from my QTH.
>Today during a sked with VE3ABC/W4 the rotor goes to 255 degrees. For the
>heck of it I tried W4/VE3ABC, same thing 255 deg.
>
>Did Florida move or is there a potential problem here? If not why does DXB
>map a /W4 as USA and W4 as Florida?

Looks as if a specific call is mapped correctly, but a mobile or 
portable call is mapped to the center of the country. If I plug in 
W4ABC is gives me 210 degrees (to St. Petersburg FL, where W4ABC 
actually lives). Anything else points to 268.5 degrees, or 
essentially dead-center of the country from here in NNJ.

What would make more sense, though, would be to point into the middle 
of the geographic area that is #4 if you put in /W4 (or a US call /4 
without the W). After all, in your example, VE3ABC/W4 could be in St 
Pete, Atlanta (considerably further west) or on the Atlantic coast of 
VA (about 160 degrees from you).




- Peter

W2IRT