Advanced Stand Alone Prediction System (ASAPS )
The Space Weather Services Advanced Stand Alone Prediction System (ASAPS) allows the prediction of sky wave communication conditions in the HF (High Frequency) and low VHF (Very High Frequency) radio spectrum (1 to 30 MHz).
It is based on an ionospheric model developed by Space Weather Services within the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and ITU-R / CCIR models (Rec. ITU-R P.533-10, Rec. ITU-R P.372-10 and CCIR Report 322).
ASAPS has been purchased by over 3000 customers typically working in support of aviation, defence and emergency services.
The ASAPS prediction system is more accurate than other prediction systems because the T index is used to quantify the response of the ionosphere to solar activity. ASAPS predictions are especially accurate when they are driven by real-time T indices for the circuit or region of interest.
The T index provides superior parameterisation of the ionosphere's response to changing solar-geomagnetic conditions than the sunspot number.
ASAPS is a GUI-driven application designed to run under Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 installed on modern personal computers. A minimum of 150 MB of free hard disk space is required to install and run the program.
What is new in ASAPS V7 ?
The Advanced Stand Alone Prediction System (ASAPS) allows the prediction of sky wave communication conditions in the HF (High Frequency) and low VHF (Very High Frequency) radio spectrum or Short Wave Band (1 to 45 MHz). It is based on an ionospheric model, developed by Space Weather Services in the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and ITU-R / CCIR models (Rec. ITU-R P.533-10, Rec. ITU-R P.372-10 and CCIR Report 322).
ASAPS 7 is a fast, stable release of ASAPS built using Microsoft Visual Studio 2015. ASAPS 7 is compatible with recent versions of the Windows OS including Windows 10. A 32-bit version has been built for customers still using older machines. The design of ASAPS 7 is more functionally efficient and some rarely used features have been removed.
These features include low resolution surface wave prediction and the advanced frequency set test algorithms.
The IPS Advanced Stand Alone Prediction System (ASAPS) allows the prediction of Sky Wave communication conditions in the HF (High Frequency) and low VHF (Very High Frequency) radio spectrum or Short Wave Band (1 to 45 MHz). It is based on an Ionospheric model, developed by IPS Radio and Space Services of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and ITU-R / CCIR models (Rec. ITU-R P.533-10, Rec. ITU-R P.372-10 and CCIR Re port 322).
New features in ASAPS Version 6.0 are summarized as follows:
- The option to activate real-time propagation predictions based upon T-index updates accessed from the IPS FTP server. These T-index updates are issued with a cadence of 20 minutes and are estimated from observed ionospheric support during the preceding 1-2 h ours.
- Digital HF area predictions of dominant mode, frequency of dominant mode, frequency with interference, main interfering mode, multipath interference, basic reception reliability and overall reception reliability.
- User-selectable digital HF multipath tolerances within the Station Configuration dialogue. Tolerances which can be changed include the signal interference ratio, the delay spread, and the frequency spread.
- GRAFEX-style predictions of digital HF parameters for base-to-base circuits.
- Export of area prediction results in KMZ file format for importing as an information layer within Google Earth\256.
- Improved base-to-base and area prediction input dialogues including more user selectable regional geographic maps.
- Up to 200 x 200 grid cells within the user selectable area of interest provides spatial resolution exceeding that required for most area prediction scenarios.
- New high spatial resolution land mass outlines within the area prediction charts.
- Great circle paths connecting the Tx and Rx in the base-to-base prediction dialogue.
- The option to overlay range markers (circles) at preset intervals from the Tx in area prediction charts.
- The option to overlay the dusk and dawn twilight regions in the area prediction charts.
- Latest ITU-R recommended method for calculating the total noise by combining atmospheric, galactic and man-made noise levels.
- Implementation of a faster multi-surface algorithm in the surface-wave prediction module.
- All the familiar features of ASAPS 5.4, including GRAFEX-style daily prediction plans remain in ASAPS 6.0.
- Revised HTML User Guide.
Software Download
Software Downloads
Installation files for recent versions of HF prediction software are available here.
To install a program, download and save the installation file. Next, right-mouse click the file and then run it as an Administrator.
The InstallShield Wizard instructions are self-explanatory. When the program is run for the first time, it will prompt the user to enter a valid software registration key. If no valid registration key is entered, the program will enter the demo mode with limited functionality.
The ASAPS demo mode restricts predictions to a fixed date (January of the current year), level of ionospheric activity (T index=50), and the amateur frequency set; otherwise the user is free to input a range of data, and explore the program's different display formats.
When downloading and installing any of the following software products, the customer accepts the license agreement, including the disclaimer of liability. Pre-release and, minor point releases will sometimes be made available for beta testing.
Please test all versions prior to operational use. The Commonwealth of Australia accepts no responsibility for the use or misuse of any of our products.
ASAPS Downloads
ASAPS 7 is a fast, stable release of ASAPS built using Microsoft Visual Studio 2015. ASAPS 7 is compatible with recent versions of the Windows OS including Windows 10. A 32-bit version has been built for customers still using older machines. ASAPS 7.01 is the same program as ASAPS 7.0 except that it includes antenna gain pattern data for several widely used antenna types manufactured by Barrett Communications.
ASAPS 6.2.2 restores the ASAPS 4 batch-mode capability and the import of 2D and 3D NEC antenna gain files.
Documentation
Video introduction to ASAPS (video mp4)
ASAPS Introdution Booklet (pdf)
ASAPS Tutorial (pdf)