Preferences
The Preferences page lets you customize Hamtrax to fit your operating style. From visual themes to location settings, everything is accessible from a single place.
Accessing Preferences
- Tap the Profile tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Tap the gear icon in the top corner.
Appearance
| Setting | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Light, Dark, Auto | Controls the overall color scheme. Auto follows your device's system setting. |
| Default View | Globe, Map, List | Choose what you see first when opening activity pages. |
Map Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Tile Layer | Choose the base map style (dark mode optimized). |
| Marker Sizes | Adjust marker sizes for POTA parks, SOTA summits, repeaters, and more. |
| Grid Squares | Toggle Maidenhead grid overlay on the map. |
| Show Compass | Display a compass control on the map. |
| Show Scale | Display a distance scale bar. |
Globe Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Globe Theme | Standard, Detailed, or Minimal visual style. |
| Atmosphere | Toggle the atmospheric glow effect around the globe. |
| Clouds | Show or hide cloud layers. |
| Day/Night Shadow | Display the solar terminator and day/night shading. |
| Auto-Rotate | Spin the globe slowly when idle. |
| Country Borders | Show political boundaries. |
| Labels | Toggle country, state, and city labels independently. |
| Propagation Zones | Overlay propagation estimates on the globe. |
Units and Display
| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Distance Units | Metric (km) or Imperial (miles) |
| Frequency Format | MHz or kHz |
Your unit preference applies everywhere in the app -- distances on maps, range calculations for nearby parks, and QSO detail views.
Location
Hamtrax uses your location to find nearby parks, repeaters, and stations. You can control how your location is determined:
| Mode | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Callsign | Location is derived from your callsign lookup (FCC/QRZ database). |
| Device | Uses your device's GPS for real-time location. Requires location permission. |
| Manual | You set coordinates or a grid square by hand. Optionally set an expiration (1, 4, 8, or 24 hours). |
Your grid square is calculated automatically from your coordinates, or you can enter it manually in Manual mode.
Callsign-based location is a good default if you operate from a fixed station. Switch to Device mode for portable or mobile operations.
Band Plan Defaults
Your default regulatory agency (FCC, ISED, IARU Region 1, or ACMA) and license class are stored here. These are auto-detected from your callsign and country during account setup, but you can change them at any time.
QSO Form Defaults
Customize which fields appear on the QSO logging form and set default values for mode, band, RST, and power. This saves time when logging contacts quickly during an activation or contest.
Notification Preferences
Control which notifications Hamtrax sends you, including propagation alerts, friend activity, club announcements, and challenge updates.
Disabling propagation alerts means you will not be notified when bands open or close unexpectedly. You can still check conditions manually on the Solar Dashboard.
[SCREENSHOT: Preferences page showing theme, units, and location settings sections]
Related Pages
- Your Profile -- edit your callsign and public profile details
- Solar Dashboard -- see current propagation conditions
- Band Plan -- uses your agency and license class preferences