Radio Propagation Analysis Software

Analyses, studies, simulations, predictions

BeamFinder news

Here you find

• latest news and developments of the BeamFinder software
• release notes and the version history
• background information and useful information relating to BeamFinder

The BeamFinder.net web site goes public

December 13, 2003. BeamFinder was initially introduced to the community of radio amateurs by a special section of the Amateur Radio Propagation Studies webpage (www.df5ai.net). However, a separate BeamFinder web site was planned from the beginning, nevertheless I was reluctant to launch two web sites (i.e. df5ai.net and beamfinder.net, respectively) simultaneously, although the corresponding URLs were both available from the very first day. The df5ai.net page has developed successfully since its launch in summer 2002, i.e. time has come to launch BeamFinder's individual web site too.

BeamFinder development under the Mac OS X operating system (update)

August 4, 2003. The new environment to develop native OS X code is in place. Transfering the existing source code to Mac OS X will start as soon as possible. Major revisions are planned in the graphical user interface and in BeamFinder's remote control features. We will probably have a variety of screen maps, i.e. the actual layout of the Maidenhead grid map may be changed at runtime in accordance to the user's actual needs. I am currently working on a new method to handle observation data to enhance BeamFinder's realtime capabilities when analysing and interpreting actual band openings. More details will follow...

BeamFinder development under the Mac OS X operating system

Febuary 28, 2003. Apple's new operating system Mac OS X (Jaguar) is a beauty and working with it is pure fun. The new system will certainly have implications to future developments of the BeamFinder software. The original concept of BeamFinder is different from the architecture which is available with the current 2.x. versions. However, the existing BeamFinder software is already prepared to implement the original concept as soon as an appropriate operation system becomes available. It is available now and it looks to me that the future BeamFinder software may again increase its capabilities and functions considerably. More details will follow...

Version 2.1.1 available

January 24, 2003. BeamFinder version 2.1.1 is available for download. This version supports the two transparent drawing modes and displays POES data on the screen map, see release notes from January 16, 2003.

Bug report: Pacific map mode

January 23, 2003. BeamFinder users e.g. in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and on the west coast of North and South America appreciate in particular the Pacific map mode. In this mode, the world map is centered to the 180 degree meridian providing full view over the Pacific ocean and its neighbouring continents. Similiar to all program parameters, the Pacific mode is automatically recovered when launching the software the next time.

 

The world map may not initialise properly when launching the program in the Pacific mode. However, the world map may be fixed by pressing the map window's CLEAR button. In some cases, the program does not start at all because of a low memory alert on the screen. Sorry for any inconveniences caused by this effect which will be addressed as soon as possible.

Transparent drawing modes

January 16, 2003. The solid drawing mode has been replaced by two transparent modes. This feature is useful when displaying the dx range e.g. in Aurora, FAI and Sporadic-E radio propagation. The user may now view the screen map in the background to identify grid squares, national borders etc. Using the Preferences dialog box, the user may select the modes continents only and continents and oceans, respectively. The next release will provide this feature to all BeamFinder users.

 

BeamFinder displays actual Auroral oval

December 13, 2002. In the internet, NOAA's POES program provides actual estimates of the Auroral oval, i.e. images of the northern and southern hemisphere displaying the hemispheric input power extrapolated from measurements taken during the most recent polar pass of the NOAA satellites. The user may download the corresponding image files on harddisk and may then upload these image files into BeamFinder to display the POES colour code on BeamFinder's screen map. The next release will provide this feature to registered BeamFinder users.

 

Version 2.0.1 available

November 13, 2002. BeamFinder version 2.0.1 is available for download. This version fully supports off-normal scatter analyses (ONA) in the Aurora/FAI section of BeamFinder, see the Articles section of this webpage. In Version 1.x.x only the "Scatter curve..." item was avaialble in ONA calculations.

 

BeamFinder reveals the nature of unusual Aurora communication

November 11, 2002. BeamFinder reveals the nature of unusual Aurora communication and predicts new opportunities in VHF dxing. Please refer to the article "Unusual Aurora Observations in the 144 MHz Band": .

BeamFinder reviewed in the QST magazine

November, 2002. BeamFinder was reviewed in the section Digital Dimension of the QST magazine. Click here to view the article.

 

BeamFinder and Windows

October 13, 2002. BeamFinder runs on Macintosh computers, i.e. you cannot use this application under windows. See the details under Minimum System Requirements in the 'Intro' section.

 

BeamFinder reviewed by Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, in ARRL news

October 5, 2002. "BeamFinder does a lot and the quantity of its capabilities also have quality. The same can be said for its home on the Internet." Read the feature article in http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2002/10/05/2.

 

Hidden command revealed

September 26, 2002. Version 1.0.0 includes the hidden function DrawMagConj sazimuth eazimuth which calculates the geomagnetic conjugate of your home qth. This function will support TEP analyses (trans-equatorial radio propagation) in future BeamFinder releases. For example: DrawMagConj 170 220 searches the geomagnetic conjugate of your qth between 170 and 220 degree azimuth. To view the results, move the world map to the hemisphere opposite to your home location. This function is still under development, i.e. unexpected behaviour of the program is possible.

 

Version 1.0.0 released

July 22, 2002. BeamFinder's version 1.0.0 is available for download on this webpage. The author is grateful to his friends and colleagues for testing the setup.

 

Grid map of the world

June 29, 2002. BeamFinder's grid map of the world may be considered a project within a project. The author is grateful to the Living Earth Inc. and the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center for proving the satellite data.

 

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