Elevation finder

I use this to find good locations to park up.
Find the high areas then go Google maps street view to check out good park up spots.
Elevation Finder
https://www.freemaptools.com/elevation-finder.htm

Hi Pat,

Nice share, used the same site myself to check my own elevation but never tried checking out my area. Seems I've got some good high points fairly near me!

If only I could bolt the Yaesu & a stonking big antenna on the motorbike

All the best,
Victor

Here's another topo site, you can see hills and valley's and work out where your best direction is for range etc. In colour too.

https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/maps/b9/England/

Hi Paul,

Another good share of a useful site.


Also used that one myself and can see the deep dark hole I'm in at the end of the Wash. No wonder I can hear the Fens and Norway but nowhere else!

Easy to take sites like this for granted when you find them and think others would know too, but the beauty lies in sharing 'just in case'.


Nice one.

Once you've found your high spot you can use this RF line-of-sight calculator to see where / which direction you should be able to transmit to from there (Instructions at the bottom of the page).

https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/

Oddly the only VHF repeater I can access should be impossible;

Hi Phil,

Chrome, Firefox & Safari kept screaming at me with the link you provided. It could be something as simple as an out of date security certificate for their site. Who knows?

I'm sure that Google Earth allows you to see a terrain line between two points but damned if I can remember how.

Anyway, all interesting stuff

All the best,
Victor

Hi Dave,

That's interesting isn't it

Even the RSGB repeater coverage maps are inaccurate often showing no reception possible yet you can and vice-versa.
There are all sorts going on with RF paths though, specifically "multipath propogation" where diffraction and reflection play a part. Well know effects such as groundwave propogation are usual in low frequency transmissions but similar effects have been observed on higher frequencies.

All "weird science" stuff that keeps radio interesting


All the best,
Victor

Hi Victor,

Its odd, almost like I have a hole right through the Brecon Beacons down to Cardiff.
VHF is useless otherwise generally, what with being at the bottom of a valley.

I know what you mean Dave, really odd

I remember reading some research years ago about VHF/UHF signals reflecting or ducting down valley pathways. Something to do with tropospheric propogation as the air above the mountains was warmed by the rising sun whereas the valley air was still cool. This would only explain it for certain a times of the day though(!?) Also there must be some refraction and reflection going on so radio would effectively bounce or bend over mountain tops.

But these effects can sometimes be seen on other frequencies and NVIS doesn't explain it all.

As I said, all interesting stuff. It's why I sometimes get waylaid with weak signal or WSPR reports, often the results shouldn't be happening. (Not according to "conventional" wisdom anyway.)

Ha! You've got my old brain juices sloshing around now. 
Like why when tropospheric skip kicks in on CB frequencies you sometimes get nothing on 10 metres???

Don't you just flipping love radio!


All the best,
Victor

Victor wrote:

Hi Phil,

Chrome, Firefox & Safari kept screaming at me with the link you provided. It could be something as simple as an out of date security certificate for their site. Who knows?

I'm sure that Google Earth allows you to see a terrain line between two points but damned if I can remember how.

Anyway, all interesting stuff

All the best,
Victor

That's strange....it works perfectly for me with the Chrome browser. I'm using Chrome version 84.0.4147.89 (64 Bit)......is your browser up-to-date?

Does anyone else have problems with this link?

Hi Phil,

It's really of no issue to some and more feedback than anything.

If I get a security error for any site I'll often check with other browsers and even other devices to rule out problems, (I did in this case as it seemed to be a useful site you provided). In each instance the same security errors came back suggesting a problem with the site or its source server SSL's. I'd just rather avoid the trouble of visiting what appears to be an 'unsecure' site myself.

All the best,
Victor

I use yandex on PC and Android. All my dns are set to yandex which have 3 levels of security to choose from.
Synchronization is flawless across devices.
Some sites need to flick the add blocking off for interaction to work.
All my emails are yandex now.
ruski top notch for security.