About RainScatter Planner

RainScatter Planner is a radio path-planning tool for amateur-radio and experimental links. It combines map-based station setup with terrain and propagation calculations to help assess a proposed path.

Direct Path

Direct Path uses station coordinates, antenna heights, frequency and antenna information. It calculates free-space path loss and evaluates terrain obstruction and Fresnel clearance from the elevation profile. Terrain diffraction is estimated with the ITU-R P.526 Delta-Bullington method. Rain attenuation is included when applicable to the selected frequency and model.

Rain Scatter

Rain Scatter uses available weather-radar reflectivity analyses to identify precipitation cells and assess candidate two-leg paths between stations and a precipitation volume. Radar data can be delayed or incomplete; an echo is not a direct measurement of the radio path. The Rain Scatter link-budget calculation is enabled for supported frequencies at or above 5 GHz.

Coverage and data sources

Terrain-elevation and weather-radar analysis coverage is limited to Turkey. Precipitation reflectivity comes from MGM weather radars. Terrain elevation is based on Copernicus DEM GLO-30.

Atmospheric context is estimated from forecast data, not local radiosonde measurements. GFS forecast fields accessed through Open-Meteo support refractivity and bending estimates. DWD ICON-EU native vertical-level data are used for near-surface duct-candidate advice where available. Temperature, pressure and humidity are used to derive refractivity (N) and modified refractivity (M). These results are advisory: they do not automatically add a propagation gain or reduce the primary path-loss result.

About the author and further reading

More amateur-radio articles are available on TA2NC’s radio blog. Read the Rain Scatter overview for background on the subject.

Troposcatter estimate

For supported paths from 100 to 1,000 km at 30 MHz to 1 GHz, Direct Path adds an ITU-R P.617-6 long-term troposcatter estimate. It combines the typical annual path estimate with your station equipment settings and describes the estimated signal relative to the receiver noise level. “Below receiver noise” does not mean a contact is impossible: narrow-band modes may still detect weaker signals. P.617’s 50% annual-time value is a median path estimate, not a 50% chance of a successful contact. This is a long-term statistical estimate, not a forecast for today or a seasonal outlook. It is separate from the Direct Path P.526 result.

Interpreting results

Results are engineering estimates based on selected inputs, terrain data, radar analyses and available atmospheric data. These data have time and spatial resolution limits. Terrain blockage or calculated loss does not by itself prove that a contact is impossible, and a favorable result does not guarantee a QSO. Compare estimates with station measurements and operating experience.

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