- Where did the Maidenhead locator system come from?
- The Maidenhead locator system has it's origins in Europe. For a long time,
European amateurs had been using a system called "QRA(or QTH) locator sytem". When people
(primarily hams in North America)
outside of Europe wanted to use a similar locator system, it was determined that "QRA" just
wouldn't work. It was never intended to extend much out of Europe. A meeting
of VHF Managers in 1980, at Maidenhead England. conceived the "Maidenhead locator system"
- What is the Maidenhead locator system?
- The Maidenhead locator system divides the world into sections. My locator is
"DM42" or more precisely "DM42mf". Locators are divided into to three sections. The
"Field" is represented by the first two letters(DM). The "Square" is represented
by the numbers after the "field"(42). The "Sub-Square" is represented by the lower
case letters after the "square" numbers(mf).
"Fields" represent an area 20 degrees of longitude and 10 degrees of latitude. "Squares"
break down the field into areas of 2 degrees of longitude and 1 degree of latitude. The
"Sub-Square" breaks down "Squares" even further and represent an area of 5 minutes of longitude
and 2.5 minutes of latitude. There are 324 "fields" in the world, 100 "squares"(10x10) in each
"field", and 576 "sub-squares"(24x24) in a "square".
"Fields" are represented by two letters ranging from "A" to "R". "Squares" are represented
by two numbers ranging from "0" to "9". "Sub-Squares" are represented by two letters ranging
from "A" to "X". The first digit of each represents longitude, and the second digit represents
latitude.
- Why do we use the Maidenhead locator system?
- The maidenhead locator system divides the world into easily referenced areas. Usually
only "grid square" is given, like "DM42". Looking on a gridsquare map to determine my general
location is quick and easy. "DM42" comes across in weak signal work, better than
giving my exact latitude and longitude.
Also, people collect grid square's. Trying to
collect as many as they can, and trying to get the "rare" ones. Contests on VHF+ use
grid squares to calculate scoring. usually something like "total contacts" times "unique grid squares
worked". So if I'm in a contest and I work 300 people in 20 different grid squares, my score
would be 6,000 points. Most contests get a bit more complex than that though, check the rules
on scoring.
- How do I find out what my grid square is?
- You'd probably bash your head against a wall after trying to calculate your grid square
by hand, then decide it wasn't worth it. Most of us use a map of some kind, with all grid
squares shown on it. The ARRL has a "Grid Locator map for North America" that is usually available
at most large swapmeets. You might even be able to get a map store to order a map, just specify
that you'd like it with the "Maidenhead Locator System" on it. Some GPS units today even allow
the use of the "Maidenhead Locator System". These GPS units can be quite handy, if you decide
to to do contests in a "rover"(mobile) class. If you know your latitude and longitude, there
is a grid square calculator at the AMSAT web site.
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