Regarding real-time propagation information, I have just downloaded
Ionoprobe by VE3NEA (www.dxatlas.com). It is an extremely neat little
shareware app that sits in the system tray and monitors propagation every
15 minutes. On request, it will display stats for the current week and
year as well, all in very coherent formats. The thing I particularly like
about it is that it's not necessary to be connected to a packet cluster to
use it, so there should be no question about packet-cheating.
73, Pete N4ZR
At 09:22 AM 11/21/2004, Dennis Ponsness wrote:
I think it IS the next step in the "evolution" of contesting - but would a
station that is running such software and NOT receiving spots be in the
Assisted or Unassisted class? <sorry, just HAD to put that in!>
Seriously, I think it would be a good idea to try. That may cause the
creation of a "new generation" of contesting software with integrated
"real time stats" and other data automatically that would be of use during
the 'test. How about automated updates of propagation information as well?
I wonder if there is anyway that you could utilize the existing cluster
network for this? Maybe K1TTT could expand on this
possibility. Otherwise, you would (I think) need to set up some type of
"parallel" network that dealt only with the online stats. I would like to
see this topic be explored and seriously considered. Of course, IF this
was done, then I would think that the rules of the 'tests may have to
change a bit (or a lot). But that, IMHO, would be a good thing overall.
I know that there are some who bemoan this type of "technology", but just
remember, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want to!
73
Dennis - WB0WAO
EN84ij Iosco County, Michigan
Visit my site!
www.wb0wao.com
:=)
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