View contacts on the map
The map displays locations that Radio Bench can resolve from logged contact data. A station grid locator improves distance and bearing calculations.
Prepare contact data
Enter a valid callsign and locator when you know it. Country resolution can place a contact broadly when an exact locator is absent.
Incorrect or missing log data can put a marker in the wrong place. Edit the QSO to correct its stored details.
Use the map
- Open the intended active logbook.
- Open
MAP. - Choose a time, band, mode, country, or callsign filter in the map controls.
- Keep
QSO markersenabled. - Hover over a marker for details, or select it to retain the selection.
- Enable
QSO labelsif you want labels beside markers.
Use the path control to show no paths, the selected contact, or all filtered contacts. Set your station location in Settings > Station for meaningful paths, distances, and bearings.
Pan and zoom to change the visible region. These presentation changes do not modify QSO records.
Configure display
Open Settings > Map > STYLE PRESETS. Start with Default, Activity, DX Review, or Minimal, then adjust individual settings if needed.
Presets change marker, grid, color, label, and legend presentation. They leave map filters unchanged. A style change cannot bring back a contact excluded by a filter.
| Settings group | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Basemap | Map style, disk cache limit, usage, and Clear cache. |
| Colors | Color grouping, palette, and legend. |
| QSO formatting | Marker, label, path, tooltip, and legend appearance. Open Detailed formatting to show it. |
| Grid | Grid lines and their labels. Open Detailed formatting to show it. |
| Labels | Label content, including a custom template. |
Label templates choose the text. The map's QSO labels filter controls whether those labels are visible.
Understand positions and map downloads
A grid locator places a contact within that grid square. Without a usable locator, local country resolution can provide a broad country position. Neither establishes an exact antenna location.
The basemap fetches map data over the network and keeps a bounded disk cache. Cached areas can remain available offline. Uncached areas and zoom levels still need a connection.
Clear cache removes cached map data, not your contacts. It can require those map areas to download again.
Find a missing contact
Check the active logbook, then remove restrictive map filters. Confirm that QSO markers are enabled and that the contact has a usable locator or country position.
Check the stored callsign and locator if a marker is misplaced. Check station location separately if paths or bearings look wrong. A missing basemap with visible markers usually points to map downloads or cache availability.
The map is an operating aid, not a precise navigation tool. Location accuracy depends on the data stored with each QSO.