We all know where we are at any given time but we need a good universal system to better pinpoint our location for others. The Grid Locator System has been developed to help hams exchange global positions by use of only a few characters. On the VHF band most QSO’s include an exchange of grid locators. I know that most HF CW operations use city and state but their grid locator is on their QSL cards.
Grid locations are one degree latitude by two degrees longitude. These are not small areas and a grid locator in the center of the U.S. is about 68 by 104 miles. This area can be further reduced to as little as a few miles by the addition of two more characters. Each locator has a unique two letter/two number indicator. The two letters identify one of 324 world wide fields. There are 100 locators in each field which are identified by the two numbers. Exactly 32,400 grid locators cover the entire earth. My grid locator for northern Ohio is EN81.
There are many ways to find your grid locator number. The ARRL operating manual lists tables by which you can locate your own grid. You will need a good map that has latitude and longitude on it. Also, ARRL publishes a colorful grid locator map of the United States and Canada. The map sells for $15.00 and you can order it online at www.arrl.org/catalog.
Grid locations are important and even necessary for some amateur awards. There is also a computer program, GRIDLOC, which can determine your grid location from your latitude and longitude. It is always good to know where in the world you are.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
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About Me
- Jack Stahl
- One of the wonderful aspects of using Morse code as a communications mode is that it is very indifferent as to the operator’s age. A good fist (one who sends well) can be ten years old or one hundred. I say this is wonderful because I am happily enjoying my sixty ninth year. I am new to the hobby of amateur radio, however, since I passed my technician test in September of 2006 and was awarded the license and call sign of KD8EJY by the FCC. I then passed my General exam in November and was granted my vanity call sign request of K8ASA by the FCC Although I am new to the amateur radio hobby, I am not new to Morse code. The ASA in my call sign refers to the Army Security Agency who sent me to a special school in 1956 to become efficient in Morse code. I was sent to Ethiopia for two years to give the army the benefit of my new skill. While back in those days my knowledge of Morse code was beneficial to our national security, 51 years later it now brings me pure pleasure. There has been a hiatus of fifty years between my army discharge and my becoming a ham and I do truly regret the fact that I missed out on all those years of enjoyment with the amateur radio hobby.
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