[50mhz] Mapping of your local horizon

[Lance Collister, W7GJ (DN27ub)]

Hello DXers!

Knowledge of the local horizon is especially important on VHF/UHF because:

1. For EME, it permits you to know when your moon really appears.
2. On 6m, take-off angle is critical for working DX on on F2, and for long distance 
VHF meteor scatter contacts.
3. For roving around on VHF/UHF, a clear horizon is essential for good tropo.

Roger Coude has been kind enough to include local visual horizon profiling in 
Version 4.4.5 of his very versatile (and FREE!) "Radio Mobile" program.  The program 
has primarily been used for mapping and determining effective repeater coverage, but 
now is sure also to be a hit with VHF/UHF DXers.  With it, you can evaluate 
potential remote/primary sites or portable contest locations right from the comfort 
of your own computer room!  More information about Radio Mobile can be found at:

http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html

In order to make the most of the program, you also will need to download high 
resolution Space Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data (a high speed internet 
connection is required) for your location:

ftp://edcsgs9.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/srtm//

An example of the type of information that is easily produced from version 4.4.5 can 
be viewed at:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/horizon.htm

Hopefully you have a better horizon than me - HI!  GL and VY 73, Lance

-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728   FAX:(406) 626-5728
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj