It basically takes a link which you specify and calculates if it's line of sight or not. If it's not line of sight, it uses 4 different methods to estimate troposcatter loss and calculates the S/N ratio at each end of the link. It it is line of sight it uses a simple formula to calculate path loss and S/N ratios.

The software is unsupported shareware. That means you can download it an use it for free, but if you decide to keep using it you should send me a $5 usage fee or the Gods of radio will melt your coax. However I really can't answer too many questions about it since I wrote it so long ago I've forgotten most of the details by now, so it's not supported software and it's not likely there will be any revised versions in the near (or distant) future.  The source code is a total (but functional) mess, written in "Power Basic" and I'm not inclined to let it into the public domain. If you're a total masochist and really want to try to write a windows version let me know and we might be able to arrange something, but like I said, questions about the program aren't likely to get any intelligent answers from me at this point! The DOS version works fine and it seems pointless to expend the effort to create a windows version just to look nicer, but that's just my viewpoint.

An article which discusses all the models on which this program is based appeared in the Winter 1991 issue of "Communications Quarterly" on pages 119 to 127.

The program contains no viruses or other nasty things, but if you run anyone else's files on your system without at least running them through a virus checker first, you're more of an optimist than I am.

73  Bob
 

While I have your attention here, I have a few UHF/microwave related items which are for sale.

• HP-141 spectrum analyzer with IF and plugins including 8555A microwave plugin good to 18GHz
• OZ9CR 1296 ring amplifier (made by OZ9CR), with tubes and parts of power supply
• Circulator/isolators for 1-2GHz, 2-4GHz and 4-8GHz
• Bunch of smaller stuff, variable attenuators, waveguide etc.