Location accuracy

[g8giy]

Can someone explain why when I enter my own call sign I get an incorrect QRA locator square which says I am 42 k from where I actually am

[G4POP]

Had you used your call sign as your user name or included it in your post then I might have a chance of checking this out and providing a solution!

My first guess would be a grid square discrepancy in the on line lookup facility, but as stated above I cant assist without further information like your call sign and which on line look up facility you are using

[g8giy]

apologies, my call sign is G8GIY and I am using qrz.com of which I am a member

[G4POP]

apologies, my call sign is G8GIY and I am using qrz.com of which I am a member

Your QRZ membership is not for an XML data subscription its just a standard membership which only allows unlimited daily lookups on the QRZ web page not the XML Data lookup that is used in Log4OM. so you are not receiving a locator reference from QRZ

Without the XML data lookup the locator used in Log4OM is the centre of the country for which a call prefix is entered, hence the 42 K discrepancy from your location in Matlock.

The discrepancy when not receiving the actual QRA locator from QRZ is not so pronounced with small countries like the UK but with large entities like Australia or the USA the difference is enough to make the beam heading useless

You have two choices

1. Upgrade your QRZ subscription to an XML data subscription

2. Register with HamQTH and use the free XML data lookup using HamQTH in Log4om

[g8giy]

Many thanks...