[IRCA] Watching sunset power reductions.

["W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Ten-Tec RX-320D is a computer controlled receiver, all operating 
functions are implemented in the software of a serially connected PC.

A new version of the RxPlus control program for the RX-320D has what is 
called a Band Monitor mode.  This was something I had mentioned on another 
List that I would like to see, and a few days later the program developer 
had produced this enhancement.

In this mode a range of frequencies -- such as the BCB -- are scanned and 
the signal strengths of each station is recorded on a graph.  The higher 
the signal level the brighter blue the bar for that channel.  The scanning 
wraps around and adds new results above previous results.  Each bar on the 
graph has a slightly varying shade of blue from bottom to top in 
incremental steps, representing the signal strength of the station at each 
scan over the period of time the scans were run.

All this is by way of introduction to a very interesting result of running 
the scans during the sunset period.  As each station went to night power, 
it was clearly obvious on the bar graph.  Those that didn't, stayed at the 
same shade of blue, those that did, dropped to a deeper shade.  It was 
immediately apparent which stations dropped on schedule, which ones later, 
and if any that should have, didn't.

This direct comparison of before and after signals makes telling if a 
station is "extending their daytime period" easily apparent.

I have placed the scan just made today here:
http://ScooterHound.com/WWWR/radio/bocabcbscan.html
along with a station list for this area and some further explanation.

It is tricky to pick out particular channels from the bar graph, but when 
using the program the frequency is displayed when the cursor is positioned 
on a particular bar.  It is even trickier to determine times, since the 
individual blocks that comprise a bar are difficult to separate and 
specific time data is not recorded.  Since several stations drop power at 
about the same time, though, it is fairly easy in a relative way to tell 
who is doing what.

I thought this was interesting.  Since this is a newly implemented feature, 
I'm hoping some more suggestions may further enhance the mode to capture 
additional information, such as times.  Just another example of the 
advantage of running a receiver through a computer.  Some day I'll spend 
some time on the disadvantages. ;-)


Curt
-------
W. Curt Deegan
Boca Raton, (southeast) FL
[Ten-Tec RX-320D; LFE H-800; GAP DSP; ANC-4]


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