What are Grid Squares?
In 1980 a group of Europeans created a system which is used internationally today to provide a quick method of locating an amateur radio contact. A grid square measures 1 latitude by 2 longitude and approximately 70 100 miles in the US. Two letters (the field) and two numbers (the square) are used to indicate the grid, as in EL09, the grid square for my location. Each subsquare is designated by the addition of two letters after the grid square, such as EL09ud. These more precise locators are used for contests. They measure 2.5 minutes latitude by 5 minutes longitude, roughly corresponding to 3 4 miles, again in the continental US. Grid squares are routinely provided on QSL cards and in digital contacts between hams. To find your grid square, you will need your latitude and longitude. A GPS receiver is a good way to get this, or you can use the US Geological Survey GNIS website. Once you have your coordinates, you can use the ARRLWeb grid-square calculator to obtain your actual grid squ
In 1980 a group of Europeans created a system which is used internationally today to provide a quick method of locating an amateur radio contact. A grid square measures 1 latitude by 2 longitude and approximately 70 100 miles in the US. Two letters (the field) and two numbers (the square) are used to indicate the grid, as in EL09, the grid square for my location. Each subsquare is designated by the addition of two letters after the grid square, such as EL09ud. These more precise locators are used for contests. They measure 2.5 minutes latitude by 5 minutes longitude, roughly corresponding to 3 4 miles, again in the continental US. Grid squares are routinely provided on QSL cards and in digital contacts between hams. To find your grid square, you will need your latitude and longitude. A GPS receiver is a good way to get this, or you can use the US Geological Survey GNIS website. Once you have your coordinates, you can use the ARRLWeb grid-square calculator to obtain your actual grid squ
