QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/arrl/proprogr.ams

Text File | 1993-11-21 | 8KB | 163 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.