[VHFcontesting] AUTOHAM SUITE TO BE RELEASED

Tue Apr 1 23:59:11 EDT 2008

 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.
_________________________________________________________________
Get in touch in an instant. Get Windows Live Messenger now.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_getintouch_042008