A few weeks ago I started using FT8 with my IC-7300 and had no idea if my rooftop diamond shaped off-center dipole was even working. Well I was introduced quickly to https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html and that webpage lets you look at all bands and many different modes including WSPR. I saw my signal being seen in Japan to Chile to northern Canada and over to Spain that first time, so figured I was doing OK! I think it was 20m as it was daytime, later in afternoon. If you have a radio that you can connect to like an IC-7300 you can use program like WSJTX and use if for several different modes including FT8 and WSPR. This is very popular program as I have come to learn. Then go look at where is signal is using something like psk reporter. It is very revealing and fun.
I did get some help and my antenna was modeled on EZNEC and it a bit of a cloud warmer at 80m but is not horrible overall. Considering the situation I am limited to, things could be a lot worse. Chris Luppens From: BVARC <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mark Brantana via BVARC Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 2:47 PM To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <[email protected]> Cc: Mark Brantana <[email protected]>; Rick Hiller <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [BVARC] Building an FSD I don’t know anything about WSPR. I need to study about it. I am a little bit inspired by discussions on this forum a few weeks ago. There seem to be a lot of unknowns making it harder for hams to get an accurate pattern. We are seldom able to get the antenna as high as we should, or where. Plus, we bend them in knarly ways. How good are these simulations given these challenges? Mark Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS> On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 2:34 PM, Rick Hiller via BVARC <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Comment: Is an FSD applicable? Although an FSD would provide a close-in Far Field pattern of an antenna antenna installation, which is very cool indeed. Is it really necessary in the world of Ham Radio? We already have antenna modeling software based on the NEC which is quite accurate, depending on the set up parameters provided, of course. That model analysis provides us with a pattern and a fair amount of operational information. But what do we (I) really want? I want to know what and how my antenna is performing in the real world outside of my QTH. Is it getting to Europe or VK? When is the best time and frequency to get to Japan or South Africa? Questions like this are not to be answered by a FSD. What we really need is a world wide system to detect our signals wherever they may occur. So let's start thinking of that. We just need a few hams on every continent to participate........Wait! Not so fast.......there is already a system that does this. WSPR and it is available from a local amateur radio dealer -- SOTA Beams https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic. QST Dec 2018 even has a review of this system. https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf Now look, I am not poo pooing the FSD concept , ideas, discussion, etc. Very cool indeed to get a group of folks excited and discussing antenna stuff. Woo Hoo! I'm all for it, being the antenna phreak that I am. I'm just taking a step back and seeing if it is necessary, practical or even applicable for Hams. Plus, maybe some don't know about WSPR. 73...Rick -- W5RH <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free. <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link> www.avast.com On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:57 PM Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Here is a good paper on this very topic..... https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/ have Fun, Jeff KC5TT On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:31 PM Tom Watson via BVARC <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Brilliant! On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 12:22 AM Mark Brantana via BVARC <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: OK, what is an FSD? It is a Field Strength Drone. It’s an idea I am sure others have had, and I don’t expect to get around to designing or patenting such a thing. But inventions are often just the merging of new technologies, and this is not much different. I don’t see any YouTubes about this or any other reference, so here’s the idea: With all the capabilities of little drones I wonder if anyone has designed one which can carry a field strength meter and fly a grid around an antenna to evaluate antenna performance. The guts of my little Radio Shack FSM would have weighed way less than an ounce. Ideally, the field strength meter could communicate to the base through the drone transmitter, reducing weight. Software at the base could link the drone 3D location data with the FS reading. The drone would have to wait at test locations for the operator to transmit, and ideally would move to the next location. Finally, the software might be able to link with existing simulation software for comparison with theory and allow for simulation model improvement. This looks like it would take a small team to develop. This sounds like it would have many uses besides antenna evaluation, like RFI evaluation. What about it? Has anyone done this? Mark N5PRD ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ -- Rick Hiller e-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Cell: 832-474-3713 Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive Houston, TX 77036 ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/%20>
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