README.TXT for PC-HF Propagation Windows programs 18 Dec 2005 ****************************************************************** Disclaimer: The software contained within was developed by an agency of the U.S. Government. NTIA/ITS has no objection to the use of this software for any purpose since it is not subject to copyright protection in the U.S. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NTIA/ITS or the U.S. Government as to the accuracy, suitability and functioning of the program and related material, nor shall the fact of distribution constitute any endorsement by the U.S. Government. ****************************************************************** As of 2 Feb 2004, installation is being done with the Tarma Installer. This should solve problems with creating the desktop icons on Windows-NT/2000/XP systems. Installion on diskettes is no longer available. ****************************************************************** This is the current release of the Windows version of the ITS HF propagation prediction software. The first OFFICIAL release of the Windows version was 15 May 96. All previous versions were Beta test versions. ICEPAC, VOACAP, & REC533 are all obtainable from the Internet site listed below. All are available without charge. ****************************************************************** ****************************************************************** * Note: 1) The Windows version is complete. * * 2) HELP files are done. Additions will always be added. * * 3) ICEPAC, VOACAP, and REC533 are available. * * 5) itshfbc.exe (32-bit) for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP. * ****************************************************************** * Note: 1) DO NOT install the software in a directory that does * * not conform to DOS file names. For example, DO NOT * * install the software in the Program Files directory. * * The blank in the directory name will cause problems. * ****************************************************************** See the NEWS files for recent software changes. The software is available FREE via the internet at: www.greg-hand.com/hf.html Look for HFWIN32 and Versions and you will see files such as: itshfbc_051218.exe That identifies the year, month, day created. Place this file in a temporary directory and install it by executing it. Installation from 1.4 MByte diskettes is no longer supported. ****************************************************************** Suggested system configuration: The software was developed on: Pentium 4 - 2.80 GHz MS-Windows-2000 - Service Pack 4 1 GBytes ram 20 inch display using 1280x1024 raster points/256 colors. Minimum system requirements (for 32-bit version): System running Windows-95/98/NT/2000/XP 4 MBytes ram - 16 MBytes recommended depending on how many applications you have open, you may obtain the message "Insufficient Memory for Application". Closing unnecessary applications or increasing the virtual memory under Control Panel - 386 Enhanced can remove this problem. Hard Disk - 20 Mbytes + lots of extra depending on use VGA graphics card The software will work on a 640x480 display, but if possible, configure your display to use more. A 14 inch display works well with 800x600. If your display uses only 16 colors, the graphics plots will suffer. At least a 486x33MHz processor with math co-processor (a 386 will work but is too slow for any substantial work) Black & White graphic output can be made to any Windows printer. A laser printer with minimum memory (512k bytes) will work but you may need to remove the border from the plot. Color graphic hard copies - works to some devices, but some drivers do not seem to work well. HP PaintJet has problems, but it appears to be the driver fault. Other color printers do work. ****************************************************************** This High Frequency (HF) Planning software was developed by: U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (NTIA/ITS) 325 Broadway Boulder, Colorado 80305 As of Feb 2005, I have retired from the US government. Questions, comments, suggestions may be addressed to: Greg Hand E-Mail:gregory.hand@gmail.com responses will depend on how much fun I am having!