Perform FM Allocations Studies

(Free database updates)

Our FM Prospector and Prospector-Pro compose our low cost alternative line of software for doing FM channel studies, yet these programs pack a large collection of great features.  Call us to discuss the low price of our FM Prospector programs (800 743-3684).

Written by Doug Vernier as a key tool in his long standing consulting practice of 25 years, "FM Prospector" skillfully integrates our free FCC FM data base with a lightning fast channel search program. Within seconds after giving "FM Prospector" your coordinates the program allows you to review any of the 101 FM channels at the search location with a single mouse click or keystroke.

FM Prospector performs minimum spacings FM channel searches. The spacings studies draw from Section 73.213 of the FCC's Rules and Regulations. FM Prospector finds open channels or defines upgrade capabilities.  You can do "What ifs..." by changing the location, class or channel of the reference station or any station in the search database. Databases for FM Prospector are available free of charge from the V-Soft Communications web site. 

FM Prospector's tabular printouts are sort ordered so the worst overlap always shows up first. Spacing overlaps or negative margins turn red when displayed on the screen. FM Prospector

You can adjust FM prospector to any screen resolution making the program screen easy to read. Change the size of the Main screen by dragging a corner.  Screen fonts can be changed from the "Settings" menu.  The menu item "Auto Size" will cause the screen fonts to automatically resize to fit the screen window size you are using.  You can also select fonts manually using the "Select Fonts" menu item.

For a sample of FM Prospector's output, click one of the PDF links below:

Standard Spacing Printout  (Acrobat required - PDF)

FM Prospect has a powerful FCC database query screen and editor.  

The Listing Query feature can search all fields shown below.

In the screen below we have used the "Listing Query" feature and listed all stations that have the word "Capitol" in the Licensee name. 

The operator can look at the detail screen for a given station simply by clicking one of the entries in the List. 

Interactive Spacings Map

Available in FM Prospector-Pro

Now with LPFM and C0 class spacings built in!

Doug Vernier has designed FM Prospector-Pro to be the ideal tool for FM broadcast allocation work. This full featured Windows program is bursting with useful features which include the ability to instantly display graphics and tabular representations of any channel. 

FM Prospector-Pro produces colorful U.S. maps on which the FCC's minimum separations are plotted. It takes just a glance at the computer screen to determine if a drop-in exists. Page from one map channel display to the next instantly, across the entire FM band, if you wish. Zoom in on a possible transmitter site or use the speedy automatic search feature.

You can also display a map with AM tower sites plotted so that you can determine whether potential FM sites will require coordination with an AM station. 

Minimum spacings map and combined tabular.  (Acrobat required)

Standard Spacing Long-form Printout  (Acrobat required)

The latest FCC database comes packaged with every FM Prospector program as well as the built-in powerful FCC database editor and query screen. Prospector-Pro comes with 1 year technical support (includes unlimited use of our toll-free WATS support line) and the databases it uses are available free on the V-Soft Communications Web site.  Call our offices to find out more.

You will find operating FM Prospector personally satisfying and perhaps even richly rewarding!

FM Prospector-Pro Features Listing ...

Instant paging from one channel to the next across the whole FM band
Automatic tracking automatically finds available channels 
Channel displays/print-outs are sort ordered by separation overlap
Long detailed print-outs or short form print-outs
Switch separation tables from previous to current to proposed
Evaluates all classes including the new L1, L2 and C0 classes and even D (translators)
Intermixes US Mexican and Canadian minimum spacings in same display/print-out
Changes study class instantly without re-doing study
Click the mouse at a new screen location and your reference station moves there
Calculate I.F. relationships including channel-six TV versus channel 253
Changes database station parameters to model "What ifs..."
Instantly exchanges reference coordinates with a database station's coordinates

Vivid color graphics screen separation map studies complete with cities
Click a city marker to find the name of the city and its state
Scaling function allows zooming in or out at a possible transmitter site
Display scales distance from from .5 to 100 km per inch or jumps to seven standard scales

Major text and map windows are resizable - fonts resize automatically
Turn on or off automatic call letter labeling

Print out a graphics map and tabular listings on the same page
Personalizes print-outs with corporate name header line