Skip to main content

2D Map

The 2D map is a full-screen interactive map that plots live ham radio spots, activations, repeaters, and more on a flat projection. It's the fastest way to scan activity in your region or anywhere in the world.

Getting Around the Map​

The map works the way you'd expect from any modern mapping app:

  1. Pan -- Drag to move around the map.
  2. Zoom -- Pinch on mobile or scroll on desktop to zoom in and out. You can also use the zoom controls on the map.
  3. Tap a marker -- Tap any spot marker to see details like callsign, frequency, mode, and program.

[SCREENSHOT: 2D map with activity markers and a spot detail popup]

Marker Clustering​

When you're zoomed out to a wide view, Hamtrax groups nearby spots into clusters. Each cluster displays a number showing how many spots it contains.

  • Zoom in to break clusters apart and see individual markers.
  • Tap a cluster to zoom into that area and expand it.

As you zoom in further, clusters dissolve into individual spot markers that you can tap for details.

tip

If you're looking for activity in a specific area, zoom in first. Clustering keeps the map clean at wide zoom levels, but the spots are all still there once you get closer.

Day/Night Overlay​

The map displays a real-time day/night shadow showing where it's currently dark around the world. The boundary between light and dark marks the gray line -- the twilight zone where HF propagation is often enhanced.

[SCREENSHOT: 2D map showing day/night terminator overlay]

info

The gray line is the narrow band between the 84-degree and 96-degree solar elevation boundaries. It updates in real time as the Earth rotates.

Filtering Spots​

You can narrow down what appears on the map using the activity filters:

  1. Select an activity program from the sidebar or tabs (e.g., POTA, SOTA, DX Cluster).
  2. The map updates to show only spots for that program.
  3. Use additional filters for band and mode to refine further.

Each program has its own marker style, so when you're viewing all activity at once you can still tell programs apart visually.

Map Tile Layer​

Hamtrax uses a dark-themed map tile layer by default, designed for comfortable viewing during long sessions and to make the colored activity markers stand out. The map is built on MapLibre and renders country and regional boundaries for geographic context.

tip

The dark map style is optimized for the Hamtrax color system. Spot markers, clusters, and the day/night overlay are all tuned to be clearly visible against the dark background.

QSO Connection Lines​

When viewing your logged QSOs on the map, Hamtrax draws great-circle arc lines between your station and each contact's location. These lines are color-coded by band and show the path of each QSO. Tap any line to see the contact details.