RF PropagationResources and Beacons

Andy Zwirko – K1RAk1ra@k1ra.us & 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

• 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

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SWN/

Real-time Auroral Map

Real-time Solar Winds Page

GOES Solar X-ray Image

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

• 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 Software Program

HamCAP + DxAtlas & IonoProbe

• 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 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 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

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/