When your reference station is loaded using the Access Database process, if the station has a directional pattern, the field values are automatically applied and the pattern is rotated if required to achieve the Commission's listed rotation. Therefore, directional patterns are applied transparently without user intervention.
In addition to its ability to access FCC database patterns, CONTOUR can apply directional pattern data either from direct keyboard input or from a user's pattern file that the operator has created and saved to disk.
If you are entering your own station parameters rather than using the Access function to draw from the database, from the main screen turn the "Directional" check box to "on" and then click "Pattern" button.
Enter your own antenna pattern values in either percent field values (i.e. .1 to represent 10 percent field, etc.) dBk or kilowatts. dBk values and kilowatt values are dependent on the ERP power you set for the station power on the main screen.
To start entering a pattern simply click on the "000 Deg." label in the pattern listing box and then enter a new value. As you enter a pattern you will see the azimuth graph of the pattern change to accommodate the new value you entered. You may edit any value you have entered simply by clicking the value in the list box and then by placing a new value in the highlighted pattern value input box. When in the "effective field" display mode you can edit a given azimuth value simply by clicking the azimuth graph at the azimuth point you wish to change and at the graph's effective value that you wish to set and then hitting <Enter>.
Save a pattern to your hard drive for further use by clicking the "Save" command button and filling in a pattern name. The ".PAT" extension will be added if you forget to add it to the end of your pattern name. All patterns are saved with 360 radials.
You can load a pattern from a disk file by clicking the "Load" command button and then by clicking the name of the pattern you wish to load.
Patterns can be rotated by first setting the degrees rotation using the "rotation" slider and by then clicking the "Rotate" command button.
CONTOUR will automatically check a pattern to determine if the FCC's two dB per ten-degree rule is exceeded. Click the Check button to perform the check.
Work in percent field, dBk or power in kW by selecting the field units from the radio buttons provided.
Choose between 36 or 360 points to represent your pattern. You should note that CONTOUR will load the FCC's 36 point patterns and immediately convert them to 360 points for internal editing. When the program saves a pattern is always saves the pattern as 360 points. Radials defined in the FCC database that are other than those spaced ten degrees will be considered "Extra Radials" and will be included in the interpolated 360 degree point pattern. If the user is in the 360 degree mode and then select the 36 degree mode, the program will use every ten degree points. (Any extra radials will not be considered.) It is usually difficult to edit a 360 degree pattern due to the large number of points so most users will edit using the 36 degree point setting.
Clicking this button will bring up a screen that will allow the user to load or construct a vertical elevation field pattern. The resulting file is in ASCII and is saved with the .vep file extension. It is fully compatible with V-Soft Communication's Probe vertical elevation patterns and the two patterns can be exchanged without incompatibilities.
The "Exit" button should be used to exit the screen once your pattern has been established.