Beam_DX is a free software to quickly compute the azimuth and the range of a dedicated geographical location. Its data may be used to point an antenna system to this location by running AziPoint at the time.
To work correctly, the Beam_DX directory must contains :
Beam_DX.exe
BeamDX_EN.htm
BeamDX_FR.htm
If you want to use the data of Beam_DX to point an antenna system by running AziPoint, you need to install AziPoint in your computer. Then Beam_DX will ask you for the path of AziPoint.
To start, enter your geographical co-ordinates in the LOCAL panel of the INITIALISATION window : Locator or latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude must be positive numbers (no sign) in decimal format. Decimal format means that minutes and seconds of arc must be converted into a fraction of degree. To calculate the decimal value of a coordinate in degrees, click the button marked ? or the 'Convert' submenu in the menu ?.
Close the Initialisation window.
In the main window, enter the geographical co-ordinates of your correspondent in the DX panel : locator or latitude and longitude in decimal format or prefix in the DXCC list or an item of your own lists (MY LISTs).
If all informations are correct, azimuth and range (QRB) of your correspondent are displayed. The DXCC list gives also the UTC standard time as UTC+/-xx. If the country applies summertime, this is noted with an asterisk. Then the UTC standard time must be incremented by +1. For example, if the standard UTC time is UTC-5, then it becomes UTC-4 in summer. Be careful that summertime is between October and March in the southern hemisphere. Note also that dates of change may vary a lot between countries.
The range is displayed in kilometres or miles according to your choice in the menu Unit.
The LP button displayed the long-pass azimuth and range in red color.
The current date and time are also displayed either in local or UTC (Z) time, to be chosen with the menu Time. If UTC is chosen, the date and time are displayed in RED. Choosing the UTC display may help to compute the local time at the current DX : actually you just have to arithmetically add the UTC time to the DX UTC time lag. Also, using the UTC time may help to know whether a spotted DX in a cluster is recent or old as for as all spotted DX in clusters are marked with UTC time.
To command an antenna rotor, click the button Run AZIPOINT. This program handles the antenna interfaces. Be sure that the right antenna system has been chosen in AziPoint, that the AUTO is depressed and that the chosen server is Beam_DX.
To create your own list, proceed as follows :
Use an ASCII text editor (NotePad of Windows or Edit of MS-DOS)
The first line contains the name of the list inside brackets. Example :[US States] This name will be displayed above the list window. This line is optional.
The following lines contain the data of each geographical location. Each line is composed of 4 fields separated each other by an horizontal tabulation :
- First field : the prefix or any other code, abbreviation, number or mnemonic related to the location. Example : OH
- Horizontal Tabulation (TAB)
- Second field : the full name of the location. Example : OHIO
- Horizontal Tabulation (TAB)
- Third field : the latitude of the location in decimal format, positive value, followed by letter N or S (no spacing). Example : 42.5N
- Horizontal Tabulation (TAB)
- Fourth field : the longitude of the location in decimal format, positive value, followed by the letter W or E (no spacing). Example : 90.5W
Optional :
- Horizontal Tabulation (TAB)
- Fifth field : the UTC standard time such as UTC+/-XX. This information is displayed as it is in the UTC field of Beam_DX.
- Carriage return and so on.
The above example should appear as :
OH OHIO 42.5N 90.5W UTC-6
This format is strict. Any difference may lead to unexpected system errors, that the author will not be responsible for.
The list is chosen and loaded with the menu My Lists. Three personal lists may displayed simultaneously.
To exchange data with another application using DDE :
Application service :'Beam_DX'
Topic : 'Data'
Item : 'Azimuth'. The azimuth angle is available as an integer value between 0 and 360. The corresponding ASCII string is none-fixed format.
Note that an open conversation must be closed before quitting Beam_DX.
Good DX from Gabriel F6DQM
e-mail via : http://f6dqm.free.fr