Simon’s World Map

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Version 1.3.8 released December 29th, 2022

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Version 1.3.8 released December 29th, 2022 〰️

Introduction

Now that I'm working DX on 80m I need a simple display which shows me at the very least:

  • Current Time

  • Sunrise / Sunset

  • Greyline map

  • DX stations

There are commercial geo clock solutions such as Geochron, but as a programmer with spare 4k monitors and computers I decided to write my own, that way I have exactly what I want.

 
 
 

Software

This is a rewrite of a previous project from many years ago. It requires minimal CPU power, will run on any Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 system using x86 architecture.

Written to learn new areas of Direct2D graphics and new features of Visual Studio 2022.

As time permits the program will be updated, There are interesting ideas in the pipeline.

Rotators

Full support for the ERC Mini, ERC V4 and all Yaesu GS232A/GS232B rotators. DDE interface for other software such as PST Rotator.

💾 Download Now

Just click on the image to go to the downloads section.

Support

If you have questions, there are two support groups:

Greyline

  • Applies a standard shadow to the area not in the sun.

  • Overlay the Night Lights map to the area not lit by the sun.

Aurora

  • Updated every few minutes with live data from the Space Weather Prediction centre, National Oceanic Aand Atmospheric Administration.

  • Display North and/or South Hemispheres.

Satellites

  • Track one main and up to ten secondary satellites.

  • Data downloaded from Celestrak in the latest OMM format.

Maidenhead Squares

Sunrise/Sunset

CQ & ITU Zones

Moon Footprint & Status

Great Circle

 
 

💾 Downloads

These kits are signed, there is NO need to uninstall old kits. If the program will not start, make sure the C++ redistributable is correctly installed.

 
 

December 29th, 2022

  • Solar Flux value is now the most recent value.

  • Fixed a bug where the settings could be lost if the World Map is running when the system closes down.

  • Reduced CPU and GPU load throughout the program.

  • Options file (XML) updated less frequently.

  • Fixed error with A,K for non-WWV sources.

  • Changed timezone Icons, now showing a clock. Size is selectable.

  • Moon distance now correctly displayed.

  • Moon Status Hemisphere setting now saved correctly.

  • Fixed erroneous prefix text of right of display.

Version 1.3.8 with Clock Icons

Zoomed Clock Icons

Clock Icon Options

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 

December 12th, 2022

  • Note: when upgrading the current layout settings may be lost.

  • When installing a popup appears if the program is currently running, you acknowledge and the program is stopped.

  • The uninstaller is now code-signed, kit generated using NSIS 3.08.

  • Replaced Microsoft's XML with pugixml. The pugixml is very robust, is actually much faster than the Microsoft code.

  • Many performance optimisations. Greatly reduces the processing while dragging/panning.

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

Aurora and Greyline

  • Was inadvertently allowing dragging/panning even when Zoom was not enabled. This broke a lot of logic.

  • Fixed a couple of drawing bugs including loss of Greyline.

 
 

November 27th, 2022

  • Bugfix: Restores dragging (panning) the map when zoom is enabled except when the map is centred on either the moon or a satellite.

  • Added keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T to take a screenshot,

  • Small UI update to reduce a vertical line at 180 degrees in Zoom mode,

  • Window offsets correctly updated when time zones are switched off.

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

Albedo Map

 
 

November 26th, 2022

  • Added a Reset option to the Windows Start menu. When selected, the Current layout is not loaded.

  • Added sanity checks to display of the moon and satellite footprint.

  • Maidenhead square is now shown in the info popup.

  • Zoom now uses of the whole screen in Zoom mode even if the aspect ratio was not 2 : 1.

  • Prefixes - added Outline text format, good when using a dark map such as Vegetation.

  • Satellites - added Light colours, also good when using a dark map such as Vegetation.

Tracking the ISS

  • On startup this version checks SDRSpace.com for newer versions. You'll not see an update until 1.3.6 is available.

  • If zoom is enabled, you can now track sun / moon / satellite. Sun and moon track longitude, satellite tracks both longitude and latitude. In the attachment I'm tracking ISS. Another small but niggling issue resolved.

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 

November 19th, 2022

  • Info boxes no longer overlap

  • Map can be centred on the main satellite

  • Locator support - Ribbon bar, Home, Show, Locator

  • Added moon libration (position)

  • Replaced many ribbon bar checkboxes with buttons

  • In Ribbon Bar, Home, Show now options for the entries, accessed by clicking the dropdown button

  • Removed unnecessary processing while moving the mouse over the display

  • 3D Clock display now has a light shadow

  • 3D Clock display header/footer now shown more clearly

  • Station text sunrise/sunset changed

  • Direct2D Effects now correctly tidy up resources

  • Reorganisation of ribbon bar's Standard and Great Circle options

  • Greate Circle display now centred,

  • Minor UI tidy-ups.

Vegetation Map, Sunrise/set, CQ Zones

Moon Libration (Position)

Entry options now directly accessible

 

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 

November 10th, 2022

  • Added Moon footprint and status

  • Map can be centred on the moon

  • Aurora was offset by 180°

  • Clock and sun/moon icons now show correctly when using the Clock offset option

  • Clock size scaling changed when using Consolas

  • Fixed a bug in the ribbon bar, when the ribbon bar is not fixed (i.e. just dropped down) the sliders work!

  • Fixed minor UI issue display large satellite footprints

Moon footprint and status

This has been a very interesting few weeks learning about accurate Moon programming using Novas, JPL Horizons and AA+.

💾 Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 

October 27th, 2022

  • Added Satellite display

    • DDE support for rotator programs

    • Track one main and up to ten secondary satellites

  • Performance improvements

  • Visual style selection in the ribbon bar’s Tools panel.

  • Minor fixes

Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

Tracking ISS and four NOAA satellites

I am not planning on writing a fully featured rotator program but am open to suggestions for improvements. A major design consideration is using the Orbit Mean-Elements Message (OMM) XML format files. You can interface to rotator programs with Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), all settings are in the ribbon bar.

Main Satellite Selection

Secondary Satellite Selection

DDE Configuration

 
 

October 8th, 2022

  • Added Aurora display.

  • Added 3D style for the Clock (Text Colour, default 1, 2).

  • Fixed error drawing shadow style.

  • Fixed stupid error downloading data files, now faster and more reliable.

Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 

October 1st, 2022

  • Fixed drawing error causing a vertical line at -180°.

  • Fixed greyline error with Great Circle display.

Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

June 4th, 2022

  • Added Dst Index to the Space Weather. This is the primary measure of the magnitude of magnetic storms (link).

Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

May 21st, 2022

  • Better NTP Client support

  • Added ‘Restart as Administrator’ option

Download from Dropbox or OneDrive

 
 
 

C++ Redistributables

The software requires the C++ 2015-2022 redistributable; this installs Microsoft C and C++ (MSVC) runtime libraries.

The redistributable is included in each download. By the time you install a kit it is possible that a newer version of the redistributable is available, download from Microsoft if required.

 
 

Program Doesn’t Start

If you see an error message such as 'Msvcp140.dll not found' when starting the program, then the 2019 redistributable kit must be reinstalled.

To reinstall, select 2015-2019 C++ Redistributable from the Simon’s World Map entry in the Start Menu.

  • Uninstall, then

  • Install.

⚠️ Never copy missing DLLs manually, always use the Redistributable kits.