An upcoming report in 73 magazine.
New version of WSPR to revolutionize vhf grid hunting.
An Saudi Born ham radio operator Yasmit Alheati has modified the new WSPR
programs to fully automate a station to its fullest potential. The new WSPR
platform will improve the current system by comparing beacons heard to a list
of previous stations worked and the grid square they were in when worked in a
new “Harvest” mode.
When a new un-logged station or grid is detected the database the software
will switch from beacon/harvest mode to “operate”. In operate mode the beacon
detecting the need for a contact will send a signal to the sending beacon to
initiate an Automated QSO. The stations will then exchange grid squares and
call signs through a system similar to WSJT until both stations acknowledge and
confirm each others’ calls and grid squares. The attempt to harvest a QSO will
stop after a preset time set by the control operator. (Yasmit suggests 90
minutes). Yasmit said he is excited with the possibilities of this and is
working on an upgrade to integrate some radios’ S-meter report into an
additional automated signal report.
Yasmit is releasing the system as freeware under the name AUTOHAM. Other
features of AUTOHAM include automatic logging of completed QSOS. Automatic
periodic e-mailing set to a specific number of QSOs to e-mail to an operators
e-mail address or their PDA at work. QSO’s will also be automatically
downloaded periodically to the Log Book of the World for Awards Qualifications.
For a $20 bi-annual service charge Amateurs can join the AUTOHAM association
which offers an upgraded software package. The upgraded package will monitor
DX/Beacon spots and turn rotors, change bands to other beacon frequencies or
warm up/ turn on amplifiers ect…, with the purchase of the AUTOHAM BOX.
($200.00)
“Imagine coming home from work and realizing you worked 10 more countries on 3
bands as well as 10 new grids on 6 meters!” Yasmit said with Glee. Yasmit is
working on establishing a set of VHF Beacon frequencies. “Picture all the
VHFer’s who purchase the AUTOHAM BOX and AUTOHAM association, if they turn on
the EME option the system will automatically point their beams at the moon at
moonrise and moon set if not in the middle of a QSO. Hams who have elevation
rotors could follow the moon or Sats all day or when the spotting system
determines someone is on the moon via spots.
Yasmit envisions a later version that will provide an automated voice or
buffered voice recordings of control operators to chase potential contacts on
the bands with voice recognition software to listen for calling stations. “I
expect when membership rises and sales go up on the AUTOHAM BOX I can invest
the sales money into artificial intelligence that will mimic a 80 meter late
night rag chew.” To prevent stations from overheating, control operators can
elect not to rag-chew in “brush off” mode or can set an automatic excuse timer
to end QSO’s that even become tiresome for a BOT.
Yamit goes on to say: “I plan on offering buffer list of 10 excuses to end a
QSO, ranging from the band is fading on this end and a quick move of the VFO
to the wife’s calling for supper and an immediate band switch.”
Yasmit thinks some people may find this software/hardware membership suite a
bit unethical. But the he believes the opinion will change when everyone has
their DXCC, VUCC, WAS, ect… “I look forward to the day when people buy into
this and set up stations in remote areas, grid squares, ect… and don’t have to
be there to operate them. Imagine a DXpedition that you drop your gear off and
come back in a year to move it elsewhere. Imagine the benefit to everyone who
worked that station. Maybe they would let this run in North Korea or the Tibet
because unlike a ham operator a beacon has no political motivation.”
Only time will tell if fully automated ham radio will take off.
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