[amsat-bb] Re: working ao-51 (finding the bird)

[Michael Heim]

Gentlemen,

I believe Orbitron is written in Java.  I have linux, but I cant remember if I've tried it in Linux, but if its in Java, it (should) work.  Might want to give it a try anyway, its pretty good, and I use it occasionally in Windows.

Sorry, I havent booted the linux box up in awhile.  Maybe this evening I'll try orbitron in Linux.  Got me curious now.

Michael Heim
Chief Engineer, Forever Broadcasting
New Castle PA
WKST  WJST  WWGY
814-671-0666
Chapter Chair, SBE-122
ARS KD0AR


--- On Mon, 11/10/08, Eric Fort <eric.fort at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Eric Fort <eric.fort at gmail.com>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: working ao-51 (finding the bird)
> To: n3tl at bellsouth.net
> Cc: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 11:41 PM
> Presently I'm using a vx-6 and a handheld arrow antenna.
>  I'm getting my
> tracking information from the amsat website.  I've
> downloaded gpredict for
> osx but have not got it running yet, mainly the price was
> right.  if any of
> you have this running under osx I'd like to hear from
> you.  for The
> forseeable future my station will run under unix so some
> version of predict
> seems like the likely choice.  Other suggestions for
> tracking under unix are
> welcome, especially those which are low cost.  orbitron and
> pcsat32 look
> nice but unfortunately they only run under windows.
> 
> as for tracking I have been attempting to orient for best
> polorization but
> finding and keeping on the sat while tuning around is still
> somewhat
> difficult.   one question though - Are bearings true or
> magnetic?
> 
> Eric
> AF6EP
> 
> On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 7:03 PM, <n3tl at bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
> 
> >  Hey Eric,
> >
> > What are you using to find the times and such for
> passes? Even if you're
> > only using a handheld station - which is all I used
> for months here with
> > good success - I would suggest downloading and
> installing one of the
> > tracking programs available online. SatPC32 is very
> good, especially if you
> > ultimately are going to use it to guide an az/el rotor
> setup and to tune
> > your radio(s) for Doppler. I am old school here, doing
> everything manually
> > (and will be for the foreseeable future), and I use a
> program called
> > Orbitron. I like it a lot for a number of reasons -
> not the least of which
> > is its ability to provide you with a schedule of
> upcoming passes based on
> > parameters you provide it.
> >
> > Each listing on that schedule gives you the time of
> Acquisition of Signal
> > (AOS) along with an azimuth position. It also lists
> time and azimuth for
> > maximum elevation, and time and azimuth for Loss of
> Signal (LOS). If you
> > have those data and a compass, you can "map"
> a pass in advance, which is
> > what I do. I note "landmarks" for AOS, mid
> pass and LOS, then simply turn
> > the compass on its side to check the angle at maximum
> elevation. From there,
> > it's a matter of visualizing the satellite rising,
> moving across the sky and
> > setting. Watching visible passes of the International
> Space Station is a
> > great way to get some visual practice to help when
> trying to "see" an
> > amateur satellite pass as it happens. You won't
> actually see the satellite,
> > of course, but watching the ISS will give you an idea
> of how a satellite
> > moves across the sky - especially if you have a chance
> to watch passes with
> > different maximum-elevation angles.
> >
> > My first handheld station included a Yaesu VX-7R HT
> and an Arrow, so I have
> > literally hundreds of passes' worth of experience
> with that antenna. When
> > you're searching for the satellite, are you
> twisting your wrist to adjust
> > the position of the elements (i.e., the antenna's
> polariztion relative to
> > the satellite)? If not, you should try that. There
> have been more than a few
> > times when a twist of the wrist made the difference
> for me in terms of
> > getting a new grid square, or not.
> >
> > I hope at least some of this proves helpful.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Tim - N3TL
> > AMSAT Member No. 36820
> > Athens, Ga. - EM84ha
> > -------------- Original message from "Eric
> Fort" <eric.fort at gmail.com>:
> > --------------
> >
> >
> > > I think I finally heard the ao-51 downlink
> sending some form of digital
> > data
> > > (likely sstv) this evening from DM14GK at 0218
> GMT near the very end of
> > the
> > > pass. I had much trouble finding the bird and it
> took most of the pass to
> >
> > > find. What can everyone suggest for making it
> progressively easier?
> > > Antenna is an arrow with duplexer feeding a vx-6
> ht.
> > >
> > > Eric
> > >
> > > PS
> > >
> > > I'm curious, who's uplink was that?
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed
> are those of the author.
> >
> > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the
> amateur satellite
> > program!
> > > Subscription settings:
> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those
> of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur
> satellite program!
> Subscription settings:
> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb