[NLRS] About that older ARRL grid map

[jamesduffey at comcast.net]

Neat story Bruce. 


I understand that Roseman or maybe Hobshied was from Peoria, IL and that is why Peoria appears on the grid square map. Most of the other states only have the capitols. - Duffey KK6MC 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Richardson" <w9fz at w9fz.com> 
To: nlrs at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 9:12:54 AM 
Subject: [NLRS] About that older ARRL grid map 



As I recall, "grids" came out in 1983. But the talk about them 
preceeded that. During my senior year in college at Univ of Ill at 
Champaign-Urbana, I was a Geography student trying to specialize in 
Cartography. I graduated in May 83 so the newly completed map was 
pressed right into service by the ARRL. I knew one of the Geography 
Prof's was Curt Roseman and a ham as K9AKS. While I was a licensed ham, 
I was an inactive ham during college and had made a whopping 3 or 4 
contacts in my life since age 17 when was first licensed. 

So in the Cartography lab was a Geography grad student named Alan 
Hobshied working on a project FOR Professor Roseman K9AKS. It was this 
grid map. I did not have Prof Roseman for any of my classes so only 
knew of him. I watched for several weeks while Alan put that together. 
Just found Alan Hobshied's personal website at: 
http://www.alanhobscheid.com/ 

I guess the odd thing for me is how coincidental and important "grids" 
have become to my ham radio activity. I collect them and I activate 
them. Those 2 by 1 degree lines of longitude and latitude mean a whole 
bunch to me :-) . The last three Septembers, I traveled along the 94th, 
98th, and 102nd Meridians just to activate grids for the Reverse VUCC 
award that CSVHFS sponsors. 

The ARRL came out with a bigger and improved printed "grid" map a few 
years ago. Costs more, but it's very attractive. 

Based on some line drawing maps I made of the state of Wisconsin and its 
counties for the WIVUCH program, I ought to tackle making available some 
maps for grids and the US. I first made a line drawing in GIMP--which 
yields raster graphics. Later, I needed to make a vector graphic of the 
same in Inkscape. But my point is that with layers, a LARGE file can be 
offered up where the user sets the color shading for any particular grid 
they want and then save the image and spit out a .jpg from the master 
.xcf (gimp) file. Another project for when I work the list of pressing 
projects down :-) . 

73 
Bruce Richardson W9FZ/R 

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