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PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 1 PC-HAM Version 2.0 G3ZCZ AMATEUR RADIO CONTEST PACKAGE VERSION 2.0 (C) Copyright 1985, 1986 - All Rights Reserved By Joe Kasser G3ZCZ POB 3419, Silver Spring, Md., 20901, USA. PC-HAM is 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 contribution 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, accompanying 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 implemented, you will be sent a complimentary copy of the disk with the change incorporated. PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 2.0 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 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. PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 3 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. 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. PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 and see what gives. A typical display contains the following data. PC-HAM WHATSON.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2.0 PAGE 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------- PREFIX MENU NBR PX NBR PX NBR PX NBR PX 1 - 1A0KM 18 - 4T 35 - 5X 52 - 8Q 2 - 1S 19 - 4U1ITU 36 - 5Z 53 - 8R 3 - 3A 20 - 4U1UN 37 - 6C 54 - 8Z 4 - 3B6 21 - 4V 38 - 6D 55 - 9G 5 - 3B8 22 - 4W 39 - 6O 56 - 9H 6 - 3B9 23 - 4X 40 - 6T 57 - 9J 7 - 3C 24 - 4Z 41 - 6W 58 - 9K 8 - 3C0 25 - 5A 42 - 6Y 59 - 9L 9 - 3D2 26 - 5B4 43 - 7J 60 - 9M2 10 - 3D6 27 - 5H 44 - 7O 61 - 9M6 11 - 3V8 28 - 5L 45 - 7P 62 - 9M8 12 - 3X 29 - 5N 46 - 7Q 63 - 9N 13 - 3Y 30 - 5R 47 - 7X 64 - 9Q 14 - 4D 31 - 5T 48 - 7Z 65 - 9U 15 - 4J1 32 - 5U 49 - 8J1 66 - 9V 16 - 4N 33 - 5V 50 - 8N 67 - 9X 17 - 4S 34 - 5W 51 - 8P 68 - 9Y 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 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.