[FEATURE] Suppress DX Icon

[jlp78]

Is your feature request related to a problem?

I have no interest in DX information at all, but if I click somewhere on the map, a DX icon shows up and there is no way to remove it. Currently, clicking on the DX icon pops up a small info panel that includes an "x" dismiss button, but clicking that x only removes the popup, not the DX icon itself.

Describe the Solution You'd Like

I'd like two things: first, a way to remove the DX icon if one is being displayed. Second, a way to prevent clicking from placing a DX icon at all.

Describe Alternatives You've Considered

I have not found a solution or work around for this.

Use Case

How would this feature benefit amateur radio operators? Be specific about the use case:

• General HF operation
• VHF/UHF operation
• Satellite operation
• Contesting
• POTA/SOTA
• DXing
• Emergency communications
• Other: **___**

Would you be willing to help implement this?

• Yes, I can submit a PR
• Yes, I can help test
• No, but I'd use it!

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73!

[accius]

I am not sure why you wouldn't want to see propagation between home and a specific point, it's sort of the main function of the dashboard. whats stopping you from clicking really close to DE and locking it there and turning off every panel that has to do with propagation in the dashboard? not being rude, I just don't see the point of taking away half or more of the features of the dashboard

[jlp78]

Given that you have no idea why someone would not be interested in DX information at all, I'm not surprised that you don't see any utility to this feature request. Note that I'm not asking for the DX functionality to be removed for everyone, just to have a knob to turn it off.

I trust you don't have a problem if I fork your project and work on adding the feature to my own version? Would you entertain a pull request with this functionality?

[echo-gravitas]

Let’s try to keep this friendly. OpenHamClock is a community project, and that’s exactly what makes it stronger over time. Different use cases don’t weaken a product, they often reveal where it can become more flexible.

As a UX designer by profession, I’m always interested in understanding the underlying need behind a request. Not necessarily to agree with it immediately, but to understand the context in which the product is being used.

The original HamClock was primarily focused on visualizing propagation and helping operators assess DX conditions. That was its core identity.
OpenHamClock, however, has evolved significantly and continues to grow in scope. With that growth comes a broader audience, and inevitably, a wider range of expectations and usage patterns.

@jlp78 - I’d genuinely like to better understand your goal here.

In the dockable layout, you can already disable most propagation-related panels. On the map itself, you can hide various spot types (SOTA, POTA, WWFF, etc.). What remains are essentially the DE and DX markers.

Is your request specifically about being able to hide those as well?

If everything were disabled, the result would effectively be a clean map with selectable layers — no DE/DX interaction elements at all. Is that the outcome you’re aiming for?

Understanding that will help determine whether this is about:

• visual minimalism
• a different primary use case entirely
• or something else

The more clearly we define the need, the easier it is to decide whether this should be a toggle, a configuration flag, a mode, or something more structural.

Let’s clarify the goal first, then we can argue about implementation.

73

[jlp78]

I'm not here to argue, either. I appreciate all of the work that has gone into openhamclock. There is a ton of useful information that can be displayed. It's reminiscent of the GeoChron data feeds.

My goal is quite simple. I don't use my hamclock for DX information because I don't do DX. I use it as a nice clock. I do not want it cluttered with any DX information. I'm moderately interested in space weather, so I like having the solar activity panel, and I don't mind the DE panel. If you want to see my current hamclock layout, you can see it here: http://qth.jay-one.org:4321/live.html (it's currently pointing at hamclock.com since Ed's server has already lost it's satellite data and I like knowing when the ISS is up).

Here's an experiment for you to try: open an incognito window and go to openhamclock.com. Now, try to configure it so you don't see any DX information. No POTA, SOTA, etc., either. Just a nice world map with the current time and day/night terminator. Keep track of the number of clicks it takes you to get to a simple clock and world map.

Currently, if you click somewhere on the map, it puts a DX icon on the map that can NOT be removed. I want a way to inhibit that behavior, or to remove an existing DX icon. There does appear to be a way to lock the position of the DX icon (via the DX panel), but not a way to remove the DX icon once placed. A bonus would be to be able to remove the DE icon from the map, as well.

[echo-gravitas]

@jlp78 - Thanks again for outlining your use case. I do think it’s a reasonable one.

With the upcoming update there will be a new option to hide potentially distracting UI elements on the map. That might already address part of what you’re describing.

If @accius agrees and is willing to reopen this issue, I’d be happy to look into an additional option that allows DX and DE markers to be hidden via their respective panels. That would keep the core behavior intact while giving users more control over map visibility.

Ultimately, I’ll leave the decision to @accius, but I think there’s a middle ground here that could satisfy both perspectives without complicating the overall design.

[accius]

Concider it reopened.