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SPLAT!: A Terrestrial RF Path and Terrain Analysis Tool for Unix/Linux
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Requirements

SPLAT! requires the libbzip2-1.0.1 (or later) compression library and header files for successful compilation. bzip2/libbzip2 is available at: http://www.bzip2.org/

SPLAT! also requires the zlib general purpose compression library. Any recent version included with your Linux distribution should work fine. Note, however, that zlib version 1.1.3 contains a security vulnerability that has been fixed in version 1.1.4. The latest version of zlib may be found at: http://www.gzip.org/zlib/ If you should decide to build zlib, it is important to invoke:

./configure -s

to build zlib as a shared library.

If you wish to plot terrain and elevation profiles through SPLAT!, you will need gnuplot. The latest version of gnuplot is available at: http://www.gnuplot.info/ if you don't already have it.

You will also need an application for viewing large PPM graphics files generated by SPLAT!. XV, ImageMagick, XPaint, and The GIMP all perform this task well.

It goes without saying that a C++ compiler (gcc/g++) and math libraries are also needed to build SPLAT! SPLAT! is fully compatible with the latest versions of the GCC compiler.

Installation Instructions

Unpack the tar.gz file in a source code directory (such as /usr/src under Slackware) as 'root':

cd /usr/src
tar xvfz splat-1.4.1.tar.gz

This action will generate a subdirectory named splat-1.4.1.

Next, cd into the directory:

cd splat-1.4.1

Invoke the configure script to build SPLAT! and related utilities:

./configure

If you are 'root', SPLAT! and its related man page and utilities will be installed after the compilation process is complete. If not, you will be prompted to su to 'root' and invoke the install script manually:

su root
Password:
./install all
exit

Before running SPLAT!, carefully read the documentation located under the splat-1.4.1/docs directory for information on the use of the program. Some sample data files are located under the splat-1.4.1/sample_data directory.

REMEMBER: Topography data must be downloaded and SPLAT Data Files must be generated using the included srtm2sdf, postdownload, or usgs2sdf utilities before using SPLAT! Instructions for doing so are included in the documentation.

It is a good practice to create a working directory for SPLAT! use under your home directory:

mkdir $HOME/splat-work

Then: cd $HOME/splat-work

before invoking SPLAT!

In this manner, all associated SPLAT! working files can be kept in a common directory.

It is important to realize that when analyzing regional coverage areas of transmitters, repeaters, or cell sites, SPLAT! Data Files need to be available for the entire region surrounding the site(s) being analyzed. SPLAT! Data Files can be placed under your SPLAT! working directory, or under a separate directory specified in your $HOME/.splat_path file so SPLAT! can easily find them.

Please read the README file under the utils directory for information on the utilities included with SPLAT!.

Please read the documentation under the splat-1.4.1/docs directory, or consult the program's man page for more information and examples of SPLAT! use.

The latest announcements and information regarding SPLAT! software can be found on the SPLAT! Web Site:

http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/splat.html

-- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD May 2011