QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/files/arrl/tis/propprgm.txt

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 8KB | 170 lines

file: propprgm.txt updated April 30, 1993

Subject: Propagation programs
Date: 22 Apr 92 14:04:58 EDT
Organization: American Radio Relay League


             COMPUTER PROPAGATION PREDICTION PROGRAMS
   (Draft of generic information to be offered as a handout)

     Several propagation prediction programs are available
for the IBM PC/XT/AT and compatible computers. But like
predicting the weather, predicting propagation -- even
with the very best computer software available -- is not
an exact science.  Experience and a knowledge of
propagation conditions as related to solar activity will
aid in separating reasonable from unreasonable information
that may result from computer calculations. Keep in mind,
too, that the programs are written to calculate propagation
only for great-circle paths via the E and F ionospheric
regions.  Scatter, skew-path, auroral and other such
propagation modes may provide contacts when the calculations
indicate no contacts are possible.

     Brief information about programs that have been
evaluated at ARRL HQ follows, listed alphabetically by program
name.  Most programs do not require a math coprocessor, but
will make use of one if available in the system with increased
speed of calculations resulting.  Some programs offer two
program files, one to be run with a math coprocessor and the
other to be run if a math coprocessor is not present.  The
program that may be best for you depends on your computer
system, your needs, your desires, and to some degree your
experience with and knowledge of propagation.  The ARRL
makes no recommendation of any particular program, and in
no way warrants the software described below.

ASAPS

     ASAPS is an abbreviation for Advanced Stand-Alone
Prediction System.  The program was developed by IPS Radio
and Space Services of the Australian Dept of Admin Svcs.
Written for the IBM XT/AT, it offers true graphic displays
(in systems with graphics capability), and provides color
displays on color monitors.  It rivals IONCAP (see below)
in its analysis capability but performs calculations in
significantly less time.  The program is menu driven, and
is interactive with the user.  For example, the selection
of an antenna, the transmitter power level, etc may be
changed after the initial calculations have been completed,
and the results of the change are instantly available.)
Calculates MUF, LUF, wave angles, bearings, distances,
field strengths, propagation modes, S/N ratio etc, short
or long path.  Requires a hard disk; compatible with
Hercules, CGA, VGA and other graphics systems.  Software
is copyrighted.  Available from IPS Radio and Space Services,
PO Box 1548, Chatswood NSW 2057, Australia, $350 Australian
(approx $280 US, depending on the exchange rate), for nine
5-1/4 inch diskettes and 48-page documentation.

IONCAP

     IONCAP, an acronym for IONospheric Communications
Analysis and Prediction, was originally written in FORTRAN
for a mainframe computer by an agency of the US government.
This program is considered by experienced amateurs and
professionals alike to be the most comprehensive and best
HF prediction program available for serious work with
propagation probabilities.  Most amateurs consider it user
unfriendly, however.  The program offers no menu; rather,
an input file containing instructions and data must be
prepared for program execution.  A knowledge of the input-file
structure for FORTRAN programs is helpful in preparing this
file.  Permits selection of antenna, antenna height and ground
characteristics, transmitter power level. Limited graphics
capability using ASCII characters (xxxx, ...., etc).
Calculates MUF, LUF, wave angles, bearings, distances, field
strengths, propagation modes, reliability, S/N ratio, multipath
effects and more for short or long path.  This is public domain
software.

(CAUTION: Under federal law, this software cannot be given to
non-US citizens without export approval.) Requires a hard disk.
Available from National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port
Royal Rd, Springfield, VA 22161.

The 87130993 is not available any more,
the 89106777 is 250 $,
a new ? version is 92501642 at 280 $.
(The mainframe version is 960 $ on magnetic tape !!)


(For IBM XT/AT: NTIS order no. PB87130993 is no longer available);
for IBM AT: NTIS order no. PB89106777.  The fee is $250 plus $3
handling, for three 5-1/4 inch diskettes and 226-page
documentation manual.  (The manual is written exclusively for
the mainframe version.  The PC version does not support some
of the routines/procedures described in the manual.)  The NTIS
is very hard to ask questions about technical data on the
software.  They only serve as ordering desk for the information
and software.

IONSOUND

     This program was written for the IBM PC and compatibles.
It provides true graphics and supports color monitors (text
mode only).  IONSOUND is menu driven, and provides tabular and
graphic displays.  Very similar in IONCAP as to capability, it
calculates MUF, LUF, wave angles, bearings, distances, field
strengths, propagation modes, reliability, S/N ratio, multipath
effects and more for short or long path.  Permits selection of
transmitter power level and limited selection of antennas.
Graphs present mode chirp plots (delay time versus frequency
versus intensity), a display that is unfamiliar to many
amateurs.  These displays simulate the results of oblique
ionospheric sounding.  (Provisions for time-of-day graphs
versus other propagation parameters are not included.)  When
executed, IONSOUND requires that approximately a dozen screens
of questions be answered before calculations begins.  These
questions involve considerations that may be new to some
amateurs wanting propagation predictions, such as noise
environment at the transmitter and receiver, receiver bandwidth,
required S/N ratio, layer height adjustment, and mode order.
The topics are discussed in the documentation, however, and
default values are provided for most answers as suggestions
to the user. May be run from floppy disk. Copyrighted software.
Supports Hercules and CGA (including EGA and VGA). Available from
Jacob Handwerker, W1FM, 17 Pine Knoll Rd, Lexington, MA 02173 on
5-1/4 (limited edition) or 3-1/2 inch disks. Price class $30.
Equivalent of 42-page user manual provided as a disk file.

MINIMUF

     Written in BASIC, this was the first prediction program to
become available for general use by radio amateurs. The program
was published in December 1982 QST (R. B. Rose, "MINIMUF: A
Simplified MUF-Prediction Program for Microcomputers," pp 36-38).
It is reliable for the trans-american paths used for its
development, but has been found unrealistic for many paths
outside of North America, especially those traversing latitudes
near the poles. Calculates MUF only, short path only. This is
public domain software, and can be run from a 360K floppy disk.
The program may be keyboarded from the listing provided in the
QST article. This article is the only documentation available.

MINIPROP

     MINIPROP was written expressly for the radio amateur with an
IBM PC or compatible computer. The program is driven with simple,
straighforward menus, and is interactive with the user.
Calculates MUF, wave angles, bearings, distances, field
strengths, propagation modes, reliability, approx S/N ratio for
short or long path, as well as sunrise- sunset and gray-line
information. The program produces graphs (with ASCII and
extended-ASCII characters), and produces a DX compass showing the
MUF for 12 compass directions for a given time. MINIPROP is
available from Sheldon C. Shallon, W6EL, 11058 Queensland St, Los
Angeles, CA. Price class $50. May be run from floppy disk.
Available on a single 5-1/4 or 3-1/2 inch disk with 56-page
manual.

The members and HQ staff would like to thank the following people
for their contributions to this information file:

K1TD, SM7OUB

Send any additional information or changes to [e-mail].

73 from ARRL HQ.