Spotting is a powerful tool used by amateur radio operators to share information about active stations. A “spot” is a public post indicating that a station was recently heard or worked — making it easier for others to tune in and make contact.
In World Radio League (WRL), spotting is fully integrated into both your logging interface and a dedicated spotting cluster, with support for WRL-native spots and real-time integration with the POTA spotting network.
What Is a Spot? #
A spot typically includes:
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The call sign of the station spotted
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Frequency, band, and mode
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Optional data like grid square, location, and comments
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A timestamp and optional activity tag (e.g., POTA)
Other operators can browse these spots to quickly identify active stations and tune in for a potential QSO.
Viewing the Spotting Page #
To access the full spotting interface:
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Click the “Spotting” tab in the main navigation or inside any logbook
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You’ll see:
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A map view showing recently spotted stations
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A grid view below listing callsigns, bands, frequencies, and modes
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A real-time feed of POTA and WRL-only spots
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Using Spotting Filters #
Customize your view with powerful filters:
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
| POTA Only | Show only Parks on the Air spots |
| DX Only | Show stations outside your country |
| WRL Only | Show only WRL-native spots (exclude POTA) |
| Operating Near Me | Show stations active near your location |
| Custom Band/Mode/Country | Use top dropdowns to refine spot listings |
These filters make it easy to focus on specific bands, operating types, or DX opportunities.
Spotting From the Logger #
You can access spotting directly inside a logbook while logging QSOs:
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Click the Spotting tab in the logger
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Browse current spots
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Double-click a spot to auto-fill your logbook with that contact’s:
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Frequency
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Band & Mode
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Park number (if applicable)
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Grid square and location
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Just click “Log Contact” to save it
This streamlines the process of hunting DX or POTA stations, especially during high-traffic periods.
Creating a Spot #
To manually spot a station:
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Click “Add Spot” in the Spotting page or logbook
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Fill out the following:
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Call Sign of the station you’re spotting
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Frequency, mode, and band
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Comments (optional)
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Click “Save”
Your spot will appear on the spotting grid and map in real-time.
Re-Spotting a Station #
If a station has already been spotted and you want to update their info:
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Locate the original spot
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Click the “Re-Spot” button
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WRL will auto-fill the spot form
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Make any adjustments and click “Save”
This is useful when a station is active for an extended period or moves frequencies slightly.
Pro Tip: Auto-Fill While Logging #
If you type a callsign into the logging interface and that operator has been recently spotted:
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WRL will auto-fill their frequency, band, mode, state, grid square, and POTA park number — saving you time and improving logging accuracy.
Summary #
Spotting in WRL helps you:
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Discover active stations in real-time
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Quickly populate your logger for fast QSO entry
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Participate in spotting clusters across WRL and POTA
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Create, update, or re-spot contacts with just a few clicks