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-
- HamFTZ, (c) by Cedric Baechler, HB9HFN, 1994-1995
- Ionospheric propagation predictions
- for PC running DOS
- v0.3 beta
-
-
- This file contains a (small) documentation for the program HamFTZ
-
- A. Overview
- B. Copyright
- C. Installation
- D. Running the program
- E. Miscellaneous
- F. Abbrevations
- G. How to write to the author
- H. References
-
-
- A. Overview
-
- HamFTZ is a powerful DOS program that can help the radio operator to make
- some propagation predictions to any location on the earth. It is based on
- the original program MINIFTZ4.3 and will calculate the MUF, FOT, LUF and
- signal strength between two points. I've written this program for my own
- use but I think it could be usefull to any ham in the world. The method used
- to predict the signal strength is very accurate and overall it works better
- than other programs like MINIMUF, MINIPROP or MICROMUF.
- I have translated the BASIC sources (MINIFTZ4.BAS) in C and made a lot of
- modifications. HamFTZ is in a beta phase and has no interface for the input and
- output. You'll need an editor to enter the datas needed by the program. The
- output will be written in an ASCII file that you can later print. The advantage
- of this is that HamFTZ can be compiled on any computer with an ANSI C-Compiler.
- The DOS version of HamFTZ was compiled with Turbo C++ v3.0 and will use an
- arithmetic coprocessor if one is present.
-
-
- B. Copyright
-
- I release this program as Freeware. That means you can copy and distribute
- it for free as long as you give all the files that belong to this package.
- A commercial use of this program is not allowed. Ask the author for a commercial
- use of HamFTZ. The sources are not free but I think to release them as soon as
- the program become more 'usable'.
- The files that belong to this distribution are:
-
- HAMFTZ.EXE the executable
- HAMFTZ.DOC this file
- HISTORY.TXT history of HamFTZ
- HAMFTZ.IN example of an input file
- HAMFTZ.OUT example of an output file
- MINIFTZ4.BAS the original BASIC program from FTZ, Darmstadt, Germany
- FTZMUF2.DAT ionospheric datas needed by the program
- RUN.BAT Example of a batch file for using HamFTZ
-
-
- C. Installation
-
- To install the program, copy the file HAMFTZ.ZIP into any directory
- (e.g C:\HAMFTZ) and decompress it with PKUNZIP(tm) or UNZIP(tm). It will create
- some files and the executable HAMFTZ.EXE. You must always start the program
- in this directory.
-
-
- D. Running the program
-
- To run the program go into the directory where you installed HamFTZ and
- edit the file HAMFTZ.IN (it contains all datas needed for one calculation).
- This file is self explainary (I hope so!) and must be in the same directory
- as HAMFTZ.EXE .You can then modify it as needed. After you finished to edit it
- you can run HamFTZ. The syntax is
-
- HAMFTZ <inputfile> <outputfile>
-
- E.g. type "HAMFTZ HAMFTZ.IN HAMFTZ.OUT" and after the calculation edit or print
- the file HAMFTZ.OUT .This file is also well documented so I don't want to
- explain it here (it's planned for the future). I've added a batch file RUN.BAT
- that will edit the input file, run the program and finally edit the output.
-
-
- E. Miscellaneous
-
- This documentation is far from being complete. It will grow as my free time
- permits. If someone find errors in this text feel free to write me a note.
- My native langage is not english so I need help to write and improve this
- text. I will appreciate any comments that can help me to improve this
- program. As I work on HamFTZ in my free time I can't give any schedule
- for bug fixes or program improvements. SORRY!
-
-
- F. Abbrevations
-
- MUF Maximal usable frequency
- LUF Lowest usable frequency
- FOT Optimal work frequency (frequence optimale de travail)
- dBu dB above 1 uV/m
- UTC Universal time coordinated
- SSN Sun spot number
-
-
- G. Author address
-
- Cedric Baechler, HB9HFN
- La Perrausa 12
- 1635 La Tour-de-Treme
- Switzerland
-
- Phone : +41-29-283 97
- Internet: cedric@ulysse.ch
- Fidonet : Cedric Baechler@2:301/714.74
- Packet : HB9HFN@HB9FG.CHE.EU
-
- Please use Internet e-mail if possible!
-
-
- H. References
-
- Damboldt, Th. & Süßmann, P., "A Simple Method of Estimating the Ionospheric
- Parameters foF2 and M(3000) with the Aid of a Home Computer",
- Technischer Bericht FI445 TB 25 E, N-I 821 580 976/88 der Deutschen
- Bundespost, Forschungsinstitut beim FTZ.
-
- Goodman, J.M., "HF Communication: Science & Technology", VNR New York
-
- Ochs, A., "The Forecasting System of the Fernmeldetechnischen Zentralamt
- (FTZ)", 1970, Ionospheric Forecasting, NATO-AGARD-CP-49, edited by
- V. Agy, paper no.43
-
- Rose, R.B., "MINIMUF: A Simplified MUF-Prediction Program for
- Microcomputer", QST, December 1982, p. 36-38
-
- Rose, R.B., "MINIMUF Revisited", Technical Correspondance, QST,
- October 1983, p. 48
-
- Shallon, S.C., "MINIMUF for Polar Paths", Technical Correspondance, QST,
- March 1984, p. 46
-
- Shiffhauer, N., "Funkwetter aus dem Computer", funk, July 1990, p. 54-57
-
- Shiffhauer, N., "Gray Line: DXen in der Grauzone", funk, July 1992, p. 54-57