I've got RM and used it for the past several years. Quite a learning curve with it, but for a free piece of software it is very comprehensive and has served me very well!
Unfortunately, I need to attach the coverage plots to a 2x4 so I can whack some of my users up-side the head with it in order to get the point across. They just don't understand why they can't hear the repeater when they're down in a river valley 25+ miles from the repeater and there's a ridge of land that rises above them in between the repeater and their location. I've tried to explain about being in "the shadow of the repeater" but some just don't seem to grasp the concept. (We're talking UHF freqs here and FLAT lands for the most part. The repeater antenna is 175 ft HAAT at the tower site.) ARRRGH!!! Mark - N9WYS _____ From: [email protected] On Behalf Of John Barrett Propagation :-( something I'm learned a lot about this last couple of weeks - neat app called Radio Mobile I've been using to map out theoretical coverage at various locations where I may be asked to drop my portable repeater.. Makes me wish I had held out for a 60-75ft 3 section crank up to put on my trailer, or a really tall hill to park on :-) Unfortunately - not a lotta hills around this part of Texas :-( Radio Mobile uses USGS topographical data and can do map overlays from several free sources - check it out if you want to get some ideas where your setup will have problems !! _____ From: [email protected] On Behalf Of n9wys No, the complaints start when they can't hear/access the machine everywhere with a full quieting signal. It's amazing that some amateur licensees still don't understand signal propagation. <frown> But now I'm starting to get WAY off-topic. 73 de Mark - N9WYS _____ From: [email protected] On Behalf Of Bill I kinda agree. Get used to the infrastructure systems and you can't make a contact when it goes down, that's when the complaining starts. i.e. cellphones and isp problems. Heck that's when real amateur radio can shine! Heck, the complaints start even when "the repeater" craps out. William A. Collister N7MOG
