Miscellaneous Defaults

The Miscellaneous Defaults dialog is a "modal" type window. This means all changes must be completed and the window closed before you can continue.

The items on this window are as follows:

Pop Read Me On Startup - when checked, the application read me file is displayed on start up.

Show Popup Hints - display pop-up hints/tips. Status line hints are always displayed.

Master-Control Palette Stay On Top - keep the Master-Control Palette window on top of others.

Simplify Circuit Parameters - when checked, several less useful and confusing input parameters are disabled.

Show the K9LA introduction when accessing the Contest-Plan SmartChart and SmartReport

S-Unit Value - You have a choice between the default of 6 dB per s-unit and 4 dB per s-unit. This option only affects "Prediction Views" and not the actual prediction. It is known that one s-unit on most modern HF radio is equal to 4 dB instead of the technically correct value of 6 dB. Use whichever matches your receiver best.

Method Selection - Method 30 provides a "smoothing function" to eliminate the discontinuity in predicted signal level between the VOACAP ray hop model for shorter distances and ducted or forward scatter model for the longer distances. This smoothing function is applied in the transition regions from 7,000 to 10,000 km.

Coverage-Analysis predictions always use method 30.

Previous versions of WinCAP Wizard have used VOACAP "method 23". There is probably no reason to ever switch to method 23. However the ability was retained for easily comparing results. You can observe a significant difference between method 23 and 30 prediction results with a "beacon type" prediction from the default "station" of Amarillo, Texas on only one circuit - RR9O. The great-circle distance between RR9O and Amarillo is 9999.47 km. This distance is very near the "boundary" distance of 10,000 km used by VOACAP to switch between long and short path models. This is why the meaning of "long path" in VOACAP is not the same term commonly used in amateur radio. In amateur radio long path is actually short for long-great-circle path. See the VOACAP help file for more information.

VOACAP Path Setup - set the hard drive location, or "path", to the VOACAP prediction engine. This option can be used if VOACAP is not installed in the default WinCAP Wizard location or you want to use a different installed VOACAP engine. As shown in the screen capture below, select the drive where VOACAP is installed. Then, navigate to the folder named "itshfbc" and finally on into the folder named "bin_win". This is where the VOACAP engine is installed. In the bottom section of the window you should see the engine filename "voacap.exe" - click the done button to save and continue.

Default Prediction Views - select default charts and reports for each available prediction type. This option displays the same selection window as the item on the "Results" menu of the Master-Control Palette.

Done - save the selections, close the Miscellaneous Defaults dialog window, and implement any changes.