FAQs - Support

Many of these files are quite large due to the extensive use of graphics to illustrate program steps. Please be patient when downloading.

You may also find it helpful to view the most recently added FAQs.

Introduction

Overview of the TAP RF Design system - Point to Point Studies

How do I use HDPath?

Overview of the TAP RF Design system - Area Coverage Studies

How do I set up a coverage study in TAP using HDCoverage?

Back to top

Installation

How do I install new TAP modules?

How do I download updates from the SoftWright web site?

Back to top

Configuration

How do I configure TAP to read topo data from my CD or network?

How do I set default units for power?

How can I copy topographic data files from the CD to my hard disk for faster operation?

Back to top

Aggregate and Composite Coverage

How can I show coverages from multiple sites over an area, including regions where the coverages overlap?

How can I make my Composite studies run faster?

How is "aggregate coverage" computed in TAP?

Is there an example of Aggregate Coverage calculation?

How can I use TAP to count population in coverage studies for Aggregate Coverage studies?

What in the "Launch Delay" in the Aggregate Coverage Simulcast Delay Spread calculation?

Back to top

Antennas

How do I find antenna information in TAP?

What is the data file structure used for TAP antenna libraries?

I have the SoftWright antenna libraries and wish to create a directional antenna which is not currently in the TAP antenna data base. How can I accomplish this?

How can I use ASCII files from antenna manufacturers in TAP?

How can I include the effect of side mounting my antenna on a tower?

What is the difference between antenna "azimuth" and "elevation" patterns, and "horizontal" and "vertical" patterns"?

How do I enter an antenna’s beamwidth for use in TAP?

How do I include electrical or mechanical downtilt with an antenna in TAP?

What is the "Antenna Orientation" in the Fixed Facility database?

Back to top

Boundary Files

How can I use my BNA file with HDMapper in TAP6?

How can I use HDMapper to draw TAP coverage studies with ShapeFiles?

Back to top

Coverage - Area Coverage

Overview of the TAP RF Design system - Area Coverage Studies

How do I set up a coverage study in TAP using HDCoverage?

How can I get a quick calculation of field strength on a map plot?

How do I configure the layers I want shown in the HDCoverage map?

How does the new interface for the Fixed Facility Database work?

How do I use the Mobile Facility database?

How can I find the parameters used for an area coverage study computed with TAP6?

Once I have run a radial field study how can I get an interpolated contour from the field strength values?

Once I have run a radial field study how can I get an interpolated contour from the field strength values?

How do I set up a radial coverage study with radials of unequal length or spacing?

How do I set up a tile study for an area that is not centered on the transmitter site?

Back to top

Coverage - Shadow Studies.

When I run a shadowing study, how do I determine areas of clear line of sight, shadowing, etc.?

Back to top

Fixed Facility Data Base

How do I use the Fixed Facility Interface in TAP6?

Back to top

Fresnel Zone

When I plot a terrain profile, what number and ratio should I use for the Fresnel zone?

Back to top

Intermodulation

How do I set up an intermodulation study?

How do I generate intermodulation reports after the study has been run?

How do I interpret the intermodulation study results to prevent and solve intermod problems?

How are intermodulation calculations done?

How do the "transmitter groups" work in the Intermod program?

When I run an intermod study, the program produces hundreds of pages of output. Is there a way to focus the output on the problem areas?

Back to top

Link Budgets

How do I compute a microwave link budget, fade margin, reliability, outage time, etc.?

How do I compute possible reflection points along a path?

How do I compute a VHF or UHF link budget and fade margin?

How do I find the antenna heights needed for a clear path?

How can I draw a profile of a path between two points on an HDMapper map?

Back to top

Map Window.

How do I draw maps in TAP6?

How do I show boundary information with my coverage?

How do I use .BNA boundary files in TAP6?

How do I change the view of the map?

How do I add layers to the map?

How do I change the layer order on the map?

How do I change colors or value settings on the map?

How do I set colors for field strength levels on coverage maps?

How can I save my settings for field strength levels in HDMapper?

How do I save and re-open a map with HDMapper?

How do I export a map to a .BMP file?

How do I copy a map to the Windows Clipboard?

How do I get information about the objects on the map?

How do I add text to the map?

How do I edit or move text on the map?

How do I add labels to the map?

How do I calculate distance on the map?

How do I print the map?

How do I mark locations on the map in HDMapper?

How do I change the color or size of a symbol I have added in HDMapper?

How can I use the BNA files I have in TAP with HDMapper?

How can I set the default layers when coverage maps are created?

How can I plot TalkBack coverage with HDMapper?

How can I plot Aggregate and Composite studies with HDMapper?

How can I archive all the files needed for a map, or send a map to another HDMapper user?

How do I adjust the legend size on the printed copy from HDMapper?

Can I draw a scale on a map in HDMapper?

How can I draw a profile of a path between two points on an HDMapper map?

How do I show lines of latitude and longitude for reference on my coverage map?

How do I set the order of layers on my map?

How do I define default layers I want on my maps?

How do I identify objects on my map?

How do I identify the coordinates of a location on my coverage map?

How can I add labels from the shapefiles to a coverage map?

How do I add my own text to a coverage map?

What files should I use for my HDMapper™ population counts?

How can I get a quick calculation of field strength on a map plot?

How do I set the levels for plotting different field strength values in TAP?

The legend shown on my coverage plot shows the field strength levels in dBu. How can I show the values in dBm?

Back to top

Microwave

How is microwave reliability and outage time computed?

How does the TAP Rain Rate Estimate program work?

How do I compute a microwave link budget, fade margin, reliability, outage time, etc.?

How do I compute possible reflection points along a path?

How do I find the antenna heights needed for a clear path?

Back to top

Moving TAP

I want to move my TAP system from an old machine to a newer computer. What files do I need to copy?

Back to top

Obstructions (Surface Features)

How do I include obstructions (such as buildings or vegetation) on a path profile.

How do I include obstructions (such as buildings or vegetation) in a coverage study.

Back to top

Path Profiles

How do I draw a path profile?

What earth curvature value should I use?

How is earth curvature correction calculated?

When I plot a terrain profile, what number and ratio should I use for the Fresnel zone?

How can I add trees to a path profile I have plotted?

How can I set default values for color, line-width, etc., on a profile plot?

How can I use TAP to determine the antenna height I need for a point-to-point path?

Back to top

Propagation Models

Which propagation model is best for my application?

When I set up a propagation study using the Carey model I have an option to select "Horizontal" or "Major Lobe" power. Which should I use?

When I run a shadowing study, how do I determine areas of clear line of sight, shadowing, etc.?

Back to top

Talk-Back

How are talk-back calculations handled in TAP?

Back to top

Tasks

What is the Task data base? How do I use it?

Back to top

Topographic Data

How do I configure TAP to read topo data from my CD or network?

How do I find the elevation of a potential transmitter site?

Back to top

Transmission Lines

How do I find transmission line information in TAP?

I have the SoftWright transmission line libraries and wish to create a line which is not currently in the TAP data base. How can I accomplish this?

Back to top

Uninstall

How do I uninstall the TAP demo?

Back to top

Version Compatibility

What is the "Version Compatibility Check" in the TAP 4 Configuration menu? Why do I get a warning about three files listed as "Possible Version Conflict"?

Back to top