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PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 1
PC-HAM Version 3.0
G3ZCZ AMATEUR RADIO CONTEST PACKAGE VERSION 3.0
(C) Copyright 1985, 1986, 1987 - All Rights Reserved
By Joe Kasser G3ZCZ
POB 3419,
Silver Spring,
Md., 20901, USA.
WHATSON is part of PC-HAM, a set of DATA Processing Amateur Radio
programs for the user of a microcomputer in Amateur Radio. The
BASIC language programs may or may not be described in or be
based on programs described in the book, SOFTWARE FOR AMATEUR
RADIO written by Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ, published by TAB Books
(Number 1560), Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., 17214. The DBASE2 programs
perform database operations on logbook information.
PC-HAM is written and supported by Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ.
The program is distributed as a Shareware product. You may freely
copy and share the product with your friends, associates and
other radio hams. If you decide to use the product, you are asked
to become a registered user by sending a QSL card and a contri-
bution to the author (suggested amount of $36.50 (ie. half of
73) or equivalent in foreign currency (See registration form
below).
The contribution covers the cost of distribution of the updated
disk, and supports the continual development of "Software for
Amateur Radio". Upon receipt of your contribution, you will
receive one free update disk ), mail (electronic and regular)
support, and notice of further releases. The update disk will
contain any new versions of the software on this disk (converted
programs from Northstar BASIC to IBM) plus new software, accom-
panying the series of articles currently being written on the
applications of data processing concepts of microcomputers to
amateur radio.
Under no circumstances may this product be sold or distributed
with another product without the express written permission of
Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ.
Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ will only support unmodified copies of this
software. Your comments and suggestions for changes are however
welcome. If you are the first to suggest a change that is imple-
mented, you will be sent a complimentary copy of the disk with
the change incorporated.
PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 STARTING THE PROGRAM
3.0 RUNNING THE PROGRAM
3.1 Date for Predictions.
3.2 Sunspot Number.
3.3 Output Routing
3.4 Mode Selection
3.4.1 Single PX
3.4.2 Contest Sheet
3.5 Prefix Loading
4.0 NOTES
PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 3
1.0 INTRODUCTION
WHATSON is a program that can be used to provide predictions of
HF propagation. It is based on a Minimuf devised by P .H Levine,
R. B. Rose, and J. N. Martin and then modified by G3CCZ, G4LH,
G4GKO, 4X4AS and G3ZCZ
The program is based on a particular model. The original program
was published in the March 1983 issue of Radio Communication
(published by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)). A
number of events can affect actual propagation, so use the model
with foresight.
2.0 STARTING THE PROGRAM
The program is loaded and run in the general manner for loading
and running programs written in BASIC. Thus BASIC must be loaded
first and then the program is loaded. Once the "RUN" instruction
has been given to the computer, it will ask you a number of
questions to determine exactly what you want it to do.
3.0 RUNNING THE PROGRAM
3.1 Date for Predictions.
You will be asked to tell the computer what date the predictions
are for, by the following question.
Are predictions for today (Y/N)
If you want the predictions for that date, the program will read
the system calendar. If you want predictions for some other day,
you will be asked to enter that date.
3.2 Sunspot Number.
You will be asked to tell the program what the Sunspot number for
that date is. If you don't know, try getting it from WWV or the
predictions in your favorite Ham magazine.
3.3 Output Routing
You may tell the program to print the output, or just display it
on the CRT screen.
3.4 Mode Selection
The program operates in two modes.
3.4.1 Single PX
The single prefix mode, gives you a display of the
propagation forecast for one call area for one particular
day.
PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 4
A typical display/printout starts off with a header which
contains the date and sunspot numbers. You QTH and QRA
Square locator information are then given. The program next
shows the path, target area prefix bearing and distance of
the target. The last item on the header is the date and
time that the printout/display was made, again taken from
the system clock/calendar.
The propagation forecast is given for every hour on the
hour. The Highest Possible Frequency (HPF), the Optimum
Usable Frequency (FOT) and the Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF)
are then displayed in a tabular form. When the display is
complete, you are asked if you want to have another go.
If no propagation is possible at a particular hour, the
display will show dashes instead of a number.
----------------------------------------------------------------
DAY: 19 MONTH: 7 SUN SPOT NUMBER: 0
G3ZCZ/4X LOCAL QTH IS:LAT. 31.895 N/LON. 34.791 = KM71JV
SHORT PATH TO K2, BEARING: 314 deg. DISTANCE: 9095 KM
DATE & TIME OF PRINTOUT:07-19-1986/23:12:37
GMT HPF FOT LUF GMT HPF FOT LUF
0 14 14 5 1 ------------
2 ------------ 3 ------------
4 ------------ 5 ------------
6 ------------ 7 ------------
8 ------------ 9 14 14 12
10 15 15 12 11 16 15 12
12 17 16 12 13 18 17 11
14 19 17 11 15 19 17 11
16 20 18 11 17 20 18 11
18 20 18 11 19 19 18 10
20 20 18 9 21 19 17 8
22 17 16 7 23 15 15 5
DO YOU WANT ANOTHER QTH Y/N ?
----------------------------------------------------------------
3.4.2 Contest Sheet
The Contest sheet mode gives you a printout of the direction
and distance as well as the optimum frequency for
propagation every hour on the hour, for every prefix
available. It is designed for use when planning contest
operation, for with it you can see what the most favorable
time for predicted openings to different parts of the world
are, and plan band changes (or rest periods) accordingly.
Take a look at the closest bands to the optimal frequency
PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 5
and see what gives.
A typical display contains the following data.
----------------------------------------------------------------
SHORT PATH OPTIMAL FREQUENCY PREDICTIONS FOR G3ZCZ/4X ON 19 Jul
SUNSPOT NUMBER 0
PX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
----------------------------------------------------------------
FG7 15 -- -- -- 14 14 -- -- -- -- 16 18 19 20 19 19 19 19 19
FH8 -- -- -- -- -- 15 17 18 18 19 19 18 18 17 17 17 17 17 17
FK8 -- -- 16 18 20 20 20 19 18 23 22 20 19 17 16 15 14 -- --
FM7 15 -- -- -- 14 14 -- -- -- 14 16 18 20 20 19 19 19 19 19
FO8 -- -- 15 17 18 18 18 17 16 15 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 16
FO8Clp 15 -- -- -- 15 16 17 16 15 -- -- -- -- 16 18 19 20 19 19
FP8 15 -- -- -- -- -- 14 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 19
FR7 -- -- -- -- 16 18 20 21 22 22 21 20 19 18 18 18 18 18 19
FS7 15 -- -- -- 14 14 -- -- -- -- 16 17 19 20 19 19 19 19 19
FW8 15 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15 18 20 21 20 19 19 19 19 18
FY7 15 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15 18 20 21 20 19 19 19 19 18
G 15 -- -- -- 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19
GD 15 -- -- -- 15 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
GI -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 15 15
GJ 15 -- -- -- 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19
GM -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 15 15 15
GU 15 -- -- -- 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19
---------------------------------------------------------------
3.5 Prefix Loading
The computer will then load the local station geographical data
from the file G3ZCZ.DAT, and then the data associated with all
the remaining amateur prefixes WHATSON.DAT. It will display a
message as follows while that job is going on.
PLEASE STANDBY WHILE PREFIX DATA ARE LOADED
If you elected the Contest mode, it will begin without any
further ado. In the single prefix mode, you will be presented
with the following menu.
PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 3.0 PAGE 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
PREFIX MENU
NBR PX NBR PX NBR PX
1 - 1A0KM 18 - 4T 35 - 5X
2 - 1S 19 - 4U1ITU 36 - 5Z
3 - 3A 20 - 4U1UN 37 - 6C
4 - 3B6 21 - 4V 38 - 6D
5 - 3B8 22 - 4W 39 - 6O
6 - 3B9 23 - 4X 40 - 6T
7 - 3C 24 - 4Z 41 - 6W
8 - 3C0 25 - 5A 42 - 6Y
9 - 3D2 26 - 5B4 43 - 7J
10 - 3D6 27 - 5H 44 - 7O
11 - 3V8 28 - 5L 45 - 7P
12 - 3X 29 - 5N 46 - 7Q
13 - 3Y 30 - 5R 47 - 7X
14 - 4D 31 - 5T 48 - 7Z
15 - 4J1 32 - 5U 49 - 8J1
16 - 4N 33 - 5V 50 - 8N
17 - 4S 34 - 5W 51 - 8P
Pick a number corresponding to a prefix
(0 will give you further choices )?
---------------------------------------------------------------
If you enter the number 0, you will get a further menu of
choices. If you enter 999, you will be asked to redefine YOUR
OWN local geographical co-ordinates. You must run this choice
the first time or the data you generate will have no practical
purposes for your QTH.
4.0 NOTES
The program is based on a mathematical model. In comparing logs
with the predictions, it has been noted that the data tends to
lose accuracy when the path length is greater than 8000 kM or the
path passes over the geographical poles. If you are interested
enough in the further development of the model, why not compare
your logs against the predictions. You should be able to get hold
of sunspot records from magazine back issues and let me know how
they compare.