WSQCall is an amazing chat-style digital mode for LF/MF, which keeps a log of all stations heard, along with their signal reports. WSQplot makes use of this feature to generate a real-time, 24hr graph of propagation for up to six stations at a time.The WSQplot program works with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions. This Help file relates only to WSQplot V0.20. This version only works with WSQCall V1.20 and later.
The main feature of the program is a large graph, with time (local time or UTC, depends on the WSQCall computer system time setting) along the horizontal axis (0 - 24 hrs), and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) up the vertical axis. The SNR is the same as reported in WSQCall, since it is read from the log, Heardlog.txt.
WSQplot with the S-Meter offEvery 10 seconds, the program opens the current Heardlog.txt file, and reads ALL the entries, clears its display and redisplays the results. So it works with the current log, and is always up-to-date, virtually working in real time.
The program can also be made to work with saved log files by changing the setup, but of course then the results are static.
The program is especially useful for determining when you have a viable path to one or more particular stations over the course of a day. You can see that clearly in the above example. All you need is for the other station(s) to Sound regularly, or at least be active in Directed Mode.
The vertical scale of WSQplot is extended to -30 dB SNR, to reflect the superior sensitivity of WSQCall.
This version is different to previous versions, since significant changes have been made to the format of the Heardlog.txt file. It therefore will not work with WSQCall prior to V1.20.
A minor option has been added in this version, to plot the WSQCall S-Meter in addition to the SNR. To enable this S-Meter plot (in grey, with it's own scale to the right), change the second line of the WSQplot020.set file to read 'Y' rather than 'N'. There will be no S-Meter values available in-between received stations.
WSQplot with the S-Meter displayed
Unzip this archive into a folder on your computer, for example C:.../WSQ. By this I mean into the folder of your existing WSQCall installation. You must use ZL2AFP WSQCall V1.20 or newer. The release version of WSQCall V1.20 should do this for you.Do not install either WSQCall or WSQplot in a 'Program Files' folder, or on the Desktop, as you would then run into file access and permission problems.
Rename the WSQplot020.exe file from the archive to 'WSQplot.exe'. This name is necessary, as with this name it can be called directly from the FSQCall menu. First delete the WSQplot.exe from any previous version.
You can now start WSQPlot from the File Menu in ZL2AFP WSQCall, but to do so, you must have:
In your WSQ working folder will be a setup file, WSQplot020.set. The next thing to do is edit this file. You can also do this from the WSQplot program once it is running, but the changes won't take place until you close and next run the program.
- Installed WSQplot and all its files in the same folder as WSQCall, and
- As mentioned above, renamed WSQPlotnnn.exe to WSQplot.exe.
The WSQplot setup file 'WSQplot020.set' MUST always be in the same folder as the WSQplot executable.
The first line of the setup file must point explicitly to the location of the Heardlist that you want to analyse. It can be a real-time log (Heardlog.txt in the working WSQCall folder) or an archived static log. Edit the existing entry and save the file. You must do this from outside the program when first setting the program up.
Note: Only logs in the WSQCall V1.20 format are compatible. Earlier logs can be viewed with WSQPlot V0.03 18/11/17.The second line of the setup file contains one letter, by default 'N'. If this is changed to 'Y', the program will additionally plot S-Meter values reported to the log, using grey triangles and a grey S-Meter scale to the right. (See picture above). The S-Meter values will be correct only if the WSQCall S-Meter has been correctly calibrated and the receiver AGC is OFF.
Next, enter up to six callsigns for the stations you plan to monitor. If you don't have six stations in mind, enter '---' for each unused station. However, there MUST be six entries at least, or the program will complain. The program, like WSQCall, is case sensitive, so enter the callsigns in the case used by the station to be monitored.
Simply run the program directly from the WSQplot.exe executable, or from the Menu File/Launch WSQplot in WSQCall. If the program shows an error message, or the data presented makes little sense, you may have specified the wrong log file, or possibly the program is using a different setup file from the one you edited!If you have problems, close the program and recheck the file specification in the .set file, and ensure that the executable and set file are in the working WSQCall folder.
Notice at the very top under the banner is a simple menu. It has only two items. The first allows you to edit the .set file, and the second brings up this Help file. The path and name of the current log file is displayed in the program banner, along with the program name.At the top of the program window is a large white graph area, marked with time along the bottom, and SNR up the left side. All stations that are in the Heard Log will be plotted here. The same time scale is used as the WSQCall program Heard Log, either local or UTC (this is set by the computer operating system). If S-Meter plotting is enabled, an S-Meter scale will appear at the right (in grey).
Under the graph, to the right (labelled "Latest spot"), each log entry is displayed as it is read and analysed. These fly past so fast you will probably only see the last one, which is the newest entry in the log.
To the left below the graph is a list of callsigns. The first three, colour coded green, red and grey, correspond to the first three call signs in your .set file. The ones to the right, in pink, blue and brown, correspond to the next three call signs. Any call sign set to '---' or a callsign that never appears in the log (such as your own!) will not be plotted.
Against each of these callsigns is a little legend marker, the same colour as the callsign. These are the markers that will appear on the graph when these callsigns appear in the log.
Hint: The entries are plotted in call sign order as listed in the setup file, and where spots are close in time, the later call signs in list order would plot over the earlier ones. So make sure the call signs that most interest you are later in the list in the .set file.There is a further entry in the list of stations, 'Other:'. For completeness, all other log entries (spots) are plotted as a tiny black dot, but not identified by a coloured marker associated with the callsign. These callsigns are instead listed along the bottom of the window.
Note: There is room for only five or so 'Other' callsigns, first-come, first served, so if more than about 5 other callsigns are in the log, the later ones will not show in this list, although their 'spots' are still spotted.To close the program, press the 'X' in the usual red box on the right of the program banner. No data will be lost, and next time you start the program, the same data will appear. The processor load is very low, so you might as well leave the program running so you can monitor the stations in near real time.If you wish to change the stations to be plotted, you can do so by editing the FSQplot.set file from the 'Edit setup file' menu item. You will need to then restart the program.
Since the WSQplot program plots from the Heardlog file, it will plot everything in the file, even if it's days or weeks old (although it will plot old entries at the correct time of day). If you wish to see only the latest spots, clear the Heardlog file when you start WSQCall. You can do this from the WSQCall File menu.
Note: When you archive the Heard Log, you should close WSQplot, and not reopen it until stations have appeared in the new log, as otherwise WSQplot will report an error due to lack of data.
Programs such as this rely on secure and simple file and string handling, something BASIC is much better equipped to do that some other compilers.The program was written by veteran QB programmer Murray ZL1BPU, and was written in QB64 V1.000. This is a 32- or 64-bit Windows BASIC compiler which is highly compatible with code written for M$ Quick Basic, but with important Windows-related additions. It is very quick, compiles to a single-file executable, and because of its powerful string-handling capability, is perfectly suited to this application. The simple menu was cooked up by Con ZL2AFP.
See www.qb64.net for more information about this really cool compiler.
If there are any questions or problems, please report them in detail to Murray at zl1bpu@nzart.org.nz.
This file and the executables which accompany it remain the property of and are Copyright (C) Murray Greenman 2015-2018. You may distribute this archive freely, but may not alter the programs without the express permission of the owner.
73,
Murray ZL1BPU