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BandOpticon Geo lets you scan PSKreporter-based amateur-radio reports around the world, compare activity across bands, and open a focused map for a closer look. It is a browser-based visualiser that runs in JavaScript without a download. Its maps show reported reception—not a complete measure of propagation or a guarantee that a contact will work.
What BandOpticon Geo shows
BandOpticon Geo turns PSKreporter data into geographic views of amateur-radio activity by band and mode. Its carousel displays separate band tiles so you can compare where reports appear across multiple bands. Colors distinguish stations that are transmitting only, receiving only, or doing both, according to the project description. For one band’s activity in greater detail, open its tile to see a larger map.
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The project was created to make multi-band comparisons and filtered views easier to assemble than the author found them in PSKreporter itself. That is the author’s stated motivation, not an independent usability comparison. Read the BandOpticon Geo project page.
How to use the map
- Open BandOpticon Geo in a browser. The project says it runs in JavaScript on your device and requires no download. It was designed with mobile support in mind, but the project does not publish a supported-browser list.
- Choose the mode or modes you want to inspect. The carousel shows activity tiles for the selected mode or modes across bands.
- Scan the tiles for a broad comparison. Look at the geographic spread and colors of reports, rather than treating a tile as a definitive measure of band conditions.
- Open a band tile for focused inspection. The larger map provides filters, including views of connections involving a callsign, comparisons among home callsigns, and reciprocal connections.
- Adjust the map view as needed. The project describes automatic zoom-to-activity and a choice of map projection. Exact control labels and their placement may vary with the interface.
What reciprocal connections mean
A reciprocal connection is one where station A reports hearing station B and station B reports hearing station A. This gives evidence of reception in both directions, so it is more suggestive of a path that may support a QSO than a one-way report. It is not a promise that the stations can complete a contact: operating conditions and other factors still matter. BandOpticon Geo describes its reciprocal-connection feature here.
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How to interpret activity—and blank areas
The map visualizes reports submitted to PSKreporter by participating stations. It does not directly measure the entire ionosphere, predict whether a contact will succeed, or include every station that may be active. A visible report indicates that reception was reported; it is not proof that every station in the area can hear the same signal.
A blank area is inconclusive. It may mean that no participating station reported reception there at that time, that the selected mode or filters exclude relevant reports, or that reporting stations were not active. It does not prove propagation is impossible. F5KEE’s September 23, 2026 explanation of PSKreporter likewise notes that displayed activity depends on the network’s observations and selection. Read F5KEE’s explanation.
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- 100W (25W AM) Output power
- 0.030-74.800 RX frequencies
- Receiver type: Direct sampling
When to use the carousel or the detail map
- Use the carousel for a quick, broad scan of reports across bands and selected modes.
- Use the detail map when you want to focus on one band, inspect connections involving a callsign, compare home callsigns, or apply reciprocal-connection filtering.
- Use reciprocal filtering as a clue when looking for reports in both directions, not as confirmation that a QSO is assured.
What the project does not establish
The project page does not specify an exact data-refresh interval, current uptime, or a supported-browser matrix. Treat the display as a view of available PSKreporter reports rather than relying on an assumed refresh schedule or universal browser compatibility. The page credits Editor John Schouten VE7TI for mentioning an early version in the March/April 2025 issue of The Communicator, the Surrey Amateur Radio Society magazine; that is a dated mention, not a product endorsement. See the project page for its feature and background details.
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- Detachable Display Unit - The display unit and the radio body can be separated. This allows you to place the head remotely. FCC ID: 2BGMW-G90
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- MORE INFORMATION AT A GLANCE. Choose Name + Frequency in the two-channel view. Dual Watch alternates one receiver between the two displayed channels. Turn Dual Watch off and enable Single Watch for a full-screen view of one channel's name, zone, and frequency. Approximate dBm adds signal context.
- START ON THE RADIO. BUILD LARGER PLANS ON A COMPUTER. Make common changes from the keypad. For larger plans, use BTECH CPS or supported CHIRP-next with the separately sold PC03. Firmware updates require BTECH CPS, the PC03, and BTECH's matching instructions. USB-C charges the battery.
- TRI-BAND AMATEUR TRANSMIT. RECEIVE-ONLY LISTENING. Valid amateur authorization is required to transmit on amateur frequencies in the U.S.; use only supported amateur bands within your privileges. Airband AM, NOAA weather, and broadcast FM are receive-only.
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