[Lowfer] Calculating reception distance accurately

[Andy - KU4XR]

Hey Everyone:

I'm hoping that many operators will find this information useful. I have found that trying to use even 6 digit grid square locaters, that the airmiles can be off considerably. The ARRL website shows the typical 4 digit grid square to cover from 70 to 100 miles, and the locaters measure from center to center of the Grid Square. I have found internet based services that can pinpoint ANY !! geographical location. They are very simple to use. #1: go to:
    http://mapper.acme.com/  
On this site you can type in any physical address, and it will pull it up on a map, and give the Lat. / Long. down to the millisecond. After you have this information in hand; then #2; go to:  
    http://www.waypoint.org/gps1-calc.html
On this site, just type in your QTH coordinates in one field, and the other QTH coordinates in the other field. Click " Compute " and it will give you the GPS distance in Nautical miles, as well as bearing headings. I have used the Maidenhead Grid Square calculator, using 6 digits on each side, and when compared to the system I use now, I have saw it to be in error by 20 to 30 miles easily. Give it a try, and see how it works. Look me up on QRZ;  - KU4XR, get my address, use the mapper to find my coordinates, do the same for your QTH, and then go to the Waypoint calculator, type in the info and see the results. Then try the Grid Square
method; I'm in  - EM75xr - , then you can see how close they match.
73 for now, and I hope you find this information of use.

Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
  LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz