HamClock: How Accurate Is the VOACAP? #hamclock #voacap #hamradio #propagation

#hamradio #propagation #hamclock #voacap In this video I check the accuracy of the HamClock Voice Of America Coverage Analysis Program. VOACAP in HamClock typically assumes: • *Isotropic (0 dBi) antennas at both ends • Quiet/rural noise floor • Current smoothed sunspot number • No short-term disturbances *HamClock’s VOACAP implementation follows this rule: • As stated previously, HamClock assumes isotropic (0 dBi) antennas at both ends of the contact when it returns a prediction. • You can adjust transmit power (and mode, take-off angle, short/long path) for your station (the DE end). • The distant station is treated only as a receiver with the default isotropic antenna and quiet-noise assumption. If you change the power setting in HamClock, you are only changing the assumed power of the station you are modeling as the transmitter. The other end stays a passive receiver. Note: HamClock version 3.03 included significant changes related to the DX clusters. Prior to 3.03, every single spot from the cluster to the clock resulted in the clock sending a show/heading command which a very vocal minority of dxcluster sysops objected to. From 3.03 onwards, the heading calculations are done locally to take the stress off of the remote cluster. For versions after 3.03, the clock puts no more load on the dxcluster network than any other user does, which is a good thing. However, the local CPU load is now very high for the stand-alone, ESP version, of the HFClock. Users of the ESP version of the HFClock will notice a loss of the ability to tap a callsign in the DX cluster and see the short path plot, beam heading, DX WX, and VOACAP data for the station you clicked on. The processor in the ESP HFClock is just not powerful enough to keep up with the new programming that was required to minimize the load on the DX cluster servers. Veritium has a faster unit available if you can supply a monitor and mouse. It is available at this link: https://www.veritiumhfclock.com/ecomm... If you can supply a monitor, there is an inexpensive Inovato Quadra computer bundle that comes with the software installed. As I write this, the bundle only costs $50. It is available from: www.inovato.com Note that Inovato went out of business in December of 2025. N0LSR took was given permission to take over support of the Inovato devices. You can order the latest version, the HK1RBOX, at: https://www.n0lsr.com/store-1/p/hk1rb... If you only want the software, it is called HamClock. It is a free download. Here is a link that shows how to install it on a PC: https://w4cae.com/wait-a-hamming-minu... I thought maybe you might be interested to know which DX Cluster servers I’m currently using. Below are three of the ones that seem to have the most up-time. I have used each of these, a different one for each of my three HamClock applications. Note: If you leave the Login field blank, it will use the callsign you entered in the setup menu. If you have more than one instance of HamClock running, use your callsign-1, callsign-2, callsign-3, etc., so the clusters don’t block you for logging in too many times with the same callsign. port: 7300 host: mayodx.ath.cx login: or port: 7300 host: g6nhu.getmyip.com login: or port: 7300 host: dxc.w1nr.net login: Note: G6NHU created a new node that is optimized for HamClock version 3.03 or newer. I will post it below. For more information click this link: https://qso365.co.uk/g6nhu-2-dx-cluster/ port: 7300 host: dxspider.co.uk login: At the end of this video, you will be able to see a listing of some of the supporters of this channel who made this video possible. These are people who have supported the channel via Patreon membership, as what I call long-haulers. Long-haulers have supported the channel on a long-term basis, making it possible for the content to be available in the future. They help me continue to produce videos even though most people do not contribute toward the cost of my mission. Without their support, I cannot bring my viewers uncensored content. I hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful. If you find my channel informative and entertaining, I hope you will consider joining my support group by clicking on: www.patreon.com/N4HNH There are 3 levels of support, including exclusive content. Visibility of premium content is determined by the level of membership you choose. The higher the membership level, the more content you have access to. VIP members are invited to participate in periodic Zoom meetings. Most videos are visible to the Patreon team members long before they are released for public viewing. Some videos are never released for public viewing. Another great way to help support this channel is to click like and subscribe. 73, de N4HNH