Contest-Plan SmartReport

The Contest-Plan SmartReport is a reasonable simple view. It is configurable to allow the user to select the contest bands and target areas to be displayed.

The Contest-Plan SmartReport, like the Contest-Plan SmartChart, is a specialized prediction batch set. For best results, print your Contest-Plan SmartChart and manually highlight selected hours before a contest operation. The resulting report might then provide a "guide" for band changes and target area beam headings. It is specialized for several reasons - not just any "prediction batch" can be displayed using the view. To create a suitable prediction set see the How to Prepare a Contest-Plan Prediction Batch topic.

Refer to the screen capture below for a brief introduction.

The upper portion of the report is almost identical to most other report type views.

#1 A column in the "prediction selector" grid indicates when the selected prediction set is "Contest Plan" compatible.

#2 The Configure button on the tool bar provides access to the "Contest-Plan Bands and Targets Selection" window where you select desired amateur bands and target areas.

#3 The three buttons, Quality, Probability and Signal Level are report-type selection buttons. The drop-down list for CW and SSB is available when a Quality type report is selected. The default report type is probability.

Briefly, the three report types are as follows:

Quality -

The Quality type report is based on predicted SNR, signal-to noise ratio. The mental exercise of converting SNR in a 1 Hz bandwidth has been removed by using a quality scale of 0 through 9. These ranges is based on the values specified in the Signal Quality Selections dialog window.

Probability -

The Probability type report is calculated using the K9LA probability method. The K9LA method takes two VOACAP output data and multiplies them together. The two data items are MUFDay and Reliability.

Notice some data items in the report will have an asterisk, * symbol; these note the long-great circle path may be usable or more usable than the short-great-circle path.

Additionally please note - The K9LA article "did not include long path because generally long path is more a 'DXing' and 'contest multiplier station' tool - not a 'contest run station' tool".

For more information on the K9LA method of calculating probability see his article:

Propagation Planning for Contests

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/propcontest.pdf

K9LA was a significant asset in developing this report type. We used a prediction set closely matching the one used for his article referenced above. Here are a few comments from him comparing the two report types above.

We're really not looking for signal level or SNR as an output. We're looking for the band with the highest probability of having both enough ionization and a sufficient SNR to the areas we've decided are important for our run station. 

The differences between your 'quality' results and my results are significant. The issue is that the probability of having enough ionization to get from Point A to Point B (MUFday) is not in the process. So the signal strength could be very high if the band opens (and that could be a big if). That's why the next higher band comes up best in your 'quality' results. 

What clouds this up is the over-the-MUF algorithm that VOACAP uses. It assumes that scatter can sometimes make the QSO even if normal refraction can't occur. It's not clear to me how to address this, so I believe MUFday should be a part of this process. 

The K9LA Introduction -

Here is the method introduction by K9LA -

The following process is intended to help contesters achieve the best score when operating in a category that requires a decision as to what band(s) to be on. The output of this process is a probability value by band and time to those areas of the world that you deem most important for the best score per the specific contest rules. The probabilities then allow you to identify which band(s) should statistically give you the best score. A band plan can then be developed, from which you’ll make on-the-fly decisions as real-time conditions warrant. There are several caveats with this process, so please read the details at www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/propcontest.pdf. 

73 and good contesting de Carl K9LA

 To disable this pop up the K9LA Introductory message see Miscellaneous Defaults.

Signal Level -

The Signal Level type report is based on 4/6 dB per s-unit, S9 = 50 µV. S-Unit is dB > µV (dB greater than 1 microvolt) into 50 ohms. Reliable sources indicate the average s-unit on today’s receivers is 4 dB. To select 4 dB or 6 dB reference, see the Miscellaneous Defaults.

The Signal Level report was inspired by -

Strategies Using Propagation Predictions for DXing and Contesting - N6BV

Dean, N6BV, and Carl, K9LA, have always been quick to respond with most helpful information and even guidance when asked. Thank you very much gentlemen!

To create a suitable prediction set see the How to Prepare a Contest-Plan Prediction Batch topic.