Patrick,
Given your close proximity to Lakes Huron and Erie you might talk to some
VHF/UHF folks in the area about propagation over water. I had a nice informal
chat with a VE station last winter about his portable escapades seeking out
fall and winter time ducts over lake Erie for UHF and uW. Much to my surprise
they exist in winter and fall and he was able to use them quite effectively.
If I remember correctly he said that being up high (100 feet) over the lake was
rarely the right spot. He used isobar maps to locate good spots with grades
and then a thermometer as he descended from above lake Erie on the North side
(Canadian) down to the shore to find the ideal spot. Sometimes it was 20 feet
up, other times it was 50 or 70 feet up. Small changes in altitude made big
differences.
I know this is not what you were looking for, but if its a predictable effect
you may be able to use it to your advantage. My only related experience in
this is radar ducting in the Gulf of Mexico and off of the VaCapes, always hot
humid summer days with classical temperature inversions.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Thomas <p-thomas@mindspring.com>
To: VHF Contesting <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 4, 2018 10:45 pm
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Favorite path analysis programs, and topo map question
Hi all,
I'm trying to find good rove spots (not so much today but in general), and
curious if anyone prefers splat, radiomobile, or something else, for doing topo
mapping and path analysis.
Related to this, I've been trying to figure out a tool to provide a topo map
with custom color gradients, rather than squinting at the topo lines in google
or other terrain maps, or ballparking the greyscale one provided by splat. For
example, around here there are lots of rolling hills that are near 950-1000
feet, so unless you're above that height, you're likely not to be "in the
clear." A few places are in the 1000-1100ft range but it's really hard to pick
them out visually.
It would be nice to have a greyscale gradient from say 500-1000ft, then a
really abrupt gradient (like weather radar colors, etc.) every 25 feet tick
above 1000. But I can't find a tool to do this. Anyone else have a solution?
Happy contesting to those participating in the distance contest!
Patrick
KB8DGC
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