QRP Club

QRP Station => Other => Topic started by: G0BVZ on January 22, 2014, 13:48:18 UTC

Title: Short Path Propagation Forecaster for UK Fascinating!!
Post by: G0BVZ on January 22, 2014, 13:48:18 UTC

Steve G0KYA constructed a great front end to the Freeware HamCAP program (Software created by Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA) which makes it easy to use for UK hams. It kinda plugs in these parameters automatically: London/ predicted smooth sunspot number for the month/ CW/100w/ dipole at 35ft so you get an instant propagation  map as you select time of day and band.

We all know what can be achieved with QRP and simple antennae, so this has much promise.  Steve is presently beavering away sorting out the SSN parameters for 2014, which will take some time for him to do. In the meantime, he says that the Jan 2013 SSN is not too different than for 2014, so the prog will still be useful using the 2013 data. URL:-
http://www.infotechcomms.net/propcharts/

I just thought you'd like to know.  I'm going to try loading HamCAP on my shack computer to see how easy/difficult it is to use directly.

Vic /Ship's Cat, heading for Mike's Tavern in search of spare kippers.....


 

Title: Re: Short Path Propagation Forecaster for UK Fascinating!!
Post by: GM0LVI on January 22, 2014, 19:57:53 UTC

Thanks for that Vic, it's interesting and I've bookmarked it.

dave