[TowerTalk] Where to get HFTA Software

[Mark Robinson]

I wanted to use HFTA with the terrain data but could never find anyone who 
knew how to make it work. I just went to the PVRC website and searched for 
WebEx but it came up with nothing. Do any instructions on how to use HFTA 
with terrain data actually exist?


tnx es 73 Mark N1UK



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Brown" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, 03 March, 2012 6:42 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Where to get HFTA Software


> On 3/3/2012 10:09 AM, Jim Lux wrote:
>> I'd say it would be easy for someone to run it for you, but the real
>> value comes from having the terrain data, which is a somewhat complex
>> process and location specific.
>
> It's enough work that I suspect that most folks who have done it would
> not be willing to do it for you. Besides -- you learn a lot in the 
> process.
>
> To clarify about GETTING the software -- it comes on the CD with the
> last several versions of the ARRL Antenna Book, so you don't necessarily
> have to buy a new one, but you do have to find one that comes with the
> CD. I also strongly recommend that you work through the WebEx tutorial
> that I think is on the PVRC website. It was done by the guy who wrote
> HFTA, and who edited the ARRL Antenna Book for several years until he
> retired a few years ago, N6BV. That tutorial includes updated details of
> how to download the terrain data, which is important, because the
> websites where it is have changed several times. :)
>
> Another point about modeling and carefully designing as opposed to "just
> trying it."  Many of the things we want to do (or need to do) with our
> antennas cost money, sometimes a LOT of money.  When someone climbs one
> of my big redwoods to hang a pulley for one end of an antenna, the
> average cost is about $300 per end. It's easy to spend a lot of bucks
> and a lot of work doing a tower (or putting something on your roof)
> safely and legally. Few hams I know have that kind of money to throw
> away, so some investment in time learning and calculating is well worth
> the effort.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
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