Transcript RF Propagation Resources and Beacon Projects presentation

RF Propagation
Resources and Beacons
Andy Zwirko – K1RA
[email protected] & http://www.k1ra.us/
Presentation Overview
• RF Propagation Predictions
– Published Predictions
– Software Prediction Programs
• RF Propagation Beacon Projects
– CW
– PSK
– WSPR
• Other RF Propagation Resources
– Traditional Beacon List
– DXClusters – Web, Telnet & Packet
RF Propagation Predictions
• Published Predictions
– QST / ARRL (Monthly HF)
– NOAA Space Weather Now (Short-term HF)
– Hepburn (Short-term V/UHF)
QST HF Propagation Predictions
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•
Monthly HF Predictions published online @ http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/
Interpreting QST's Propagation Charts http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/hall0295.pdf
NOAA Space Weather Now
Real-time Solar Winds Page
Real-time Auroral Map
GOES Solar X-ray Image
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SWN/
Hepburn V/UHF Tropo Predictions
Weekly forecasts @ http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html
RF Propagation Predictions
• Software Prediction Programs
– WinCAP
– HamCAP
– PropView
WinCAP Software Program
• Download http://www.taborsoft.com/wwizard/
• Based on VOACAP
• Successor to CAPman
• QSL-ware – no time limit, basic functions
• Full function – $50 registration
WinCAP Software Program
WinCAP Software Program
HamCAP Software Program
• Download http://www.dxatlas.com/HamCap/
• Freeware (add-ons cost $)
• Requires VOACAP http://www.voacap.com (free)
• Integrates with IonoProbe ($20)
http://www.dxatlas.com/IonoProbe/
• Integrates with DxAtlas ($30)
http://www.dxatlas.com/DxAtlas/
HamCAP Software Program
HamCAP Software Program
HamCAP + DxAtlas & IonoProbe
PropView Software Program
• Download http://www.dxlabsuite.com/propview/
• Freeware (including all add-ons)
• Intergrates with DXLab Suite DXView
http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxview/
• Integrates with DXLab Suite Commander
http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/
PropView Software Program
PropView + DXView & Commander
Propagation Beacon Projects
• NCDXF
• Reverse Beacon Network
• PropNet
• WSPRNet
NCDXF Beacon Project
• Northern California DX Foundation
http://www.ncdxf.org/beacons.html
NCDXF Beacon Project
http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/beaconschedule.html
NCDXF Beacon Software
• S/W List - http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/beaconprograms.html
• BeSpeak – http://www.alangm6.plus.com/
• DxLabSuite – http://www.qsl.net/propview/
• Beacon Observer –
http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/abeacon/BeaconObserver.html
• BeaconSee – http://www.coaa.co.uk/beaconsee.htm
• DxWatch – http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/lost.html
• Spectrum Lab – http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/speclab/beacons1.htm
• Faros – http://www.dxatlas.com/Faros/
NCDXF & Faros
http://www.dxatlas.com/Faros/
NCDXF & Faros
http://www.dxatlas.com/Faros/
Reverse Beacon Network
• Reverse Beacon Network
http://www.reversebeacon.net/
• Anyone can view / monitor via Web
• Contributors require CW Skimmer ($75)
http://www.dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/ and
some a wide band SDR (SR, SDR-IQ, etc)
Reverse Beacon Network
http://www.reversebeaconnetwork.net/
CW Skimmer & RBN
http://www.dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/
PropNet.org
Network - http://www.propnet.org/
Download - http://sourceforge.net/projects/propnetpsk/
PropNet.org
http://www.propnet.org/
PropNet.org
http://www.propnet.org/
PropNetPSK
http://sourceforge.net/projects/propnetpsk/
WSPRnet.org
http://www.wsprnet.org/
WSPRnet.org
WSPRnet.org
WSPR
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html
Other Propagation Resources
• Maintained HF, VHF, UHF Beacon Lists
• Text based DX-clusters
– DOS Telnet command
– Packet serial port & comms program
• Web & Mapping DX-clusters
– IE / Firefox web browsers
– Google & Homegrown Maps
Maintained Beacon Lists
• http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm
– VLF – 1500m – 600m navigation beacons
• http://www.500kc.com/
– 500 KHz – Amateur 600m beacons
• http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/28.htm
– G3USF – Amateur 160m – 10m beacons
• http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm
– G3USF – Amateur 6m beacons
• http://www.newsvhf.com/beacons2.html
– WZ1V – Amateur 2m – 3mm beacons
Telnet to DXcluster
In Windows:
Start / Run …
cmd (OK)
telnet w3lpl.net
RXClus by HB9BZA
http://www.hb9bza.net/rxclus/
RXClus by HB9BZA
http://www.hb9bza.net/rxclus/
Web DXcluster – DXWATCH.COM
http://www.dxwatch.com/
Web DXcluster – RadioCQ.com
http://www.radiocq.com/
Web DXcluster – DX Sherlock
http://vhfdx.net/spots/map.php
Web DXcluster – DX Sherlock
http://vhfdx.net/spots/map.php
Web APRS-IS Network
http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/
Web APRS-IS Network
http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/
The End
• Participate in a project and try it yourself!
• Presentation link will be posted on:
– http://www.w4va.org/