Jim, I don't think you stated if you are SO, SOA, S2R, MS, M2, MM or what-?
The logic that goes into band changing is based highly on your competitive
category. Since I operate primarily "assisted," whether single or multi, I
let the packet cluster spots dictate the band unless I'm at a rate of
120/hour or higher, in which case I generally stay where I am until that
rate drops.
WB2WIK/6
"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure with no loss of
enthusiasm." -Winston Churchill
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Smith [SMTP:jimsmith@shaw.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 1:26 AM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Combining ant elevation pattern data with
> propagation predictionstoproduce a contest bandplan
>
> I've been having a lot of fun trying to come up with a way of deciding
> what band I should be on at what time in a contest. I'm sure many far
> more successful contesters than I do it from experience and intuition.
> Not having a strong feminine side (anal, she called me) I try to use
> logic and science as much as I can.
>
> If you just want to know what my question is, skip to the end of all
> this stuff.
>
> Here's where I'm at.
>
> I can run propagation predictions for various paths using W6ELProp.
>
> I can suck all the info into an Access database I have built.
>
> I can calculate a Figure Of Merit for each path on each band at each
> time (half hourly intervals) based on predicted SNR and path
> availability. Whether the Figure Of Merit is realistic or not is a
> separate question. I think it is useable for comparison purposes.
>
> I can adjust the FOM to account for differing Rx bandwidths and, hence,
> SNR for ssb and cw (or anything else).
>
> I can print a report sorted by band and then by time (ascending order)
> showing, for each time, the paths whose Figure Of Merit exceeds some
> chosen value (to reduce clutter), in descending order of FOM.
>
> I can assign a band, mode and antenna to each time (half hourly
> intervals) and print a report which shows me for each half hour what
> band I should be on, which antenna I should be using and which paths (in
> descending order) are most likely to yield Qs.
>
> W6ELProp assumes 100W into a dipole facing in the optimum direction in
> free space at each end.
>
> I now find myself about to add the ability to adjust the path SNR
> according to output power and the, previously input, elevation
> pattern/gain/loss of the assigned antenna.
>
> It occurred to me that, before I do this, maybe someone else has already
> done the work, hence the following question.
>
> Is there an affordable program which will combine propagation
> predictions and antenna characteristics and tell me, for any path of my
> choice on any HF band, the likelihood of making Qs on that path?
> Affordable? $100 Not Affordable? $500
>
> Please don't ask me how I'm doing this. This is a work in progress and
> time spent answering how-to questions takes away from the time available
> to do the work. Hope I said this in an acceptable manner.
>
> 73 de Jim Smith VE7FO
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|