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

Tue Nov 11 06:19:46 PST 2008

Oops... I was wrong.  I thought it was written in Java.  I know there IS a java tracker out there that is cross platform, but I cant remember which one it was.  Seemed like Orbitron was it...

I'll see if I can find the one I'm thinking of, and I'll post it here.

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

--- On Tue, 11/11/08, Michael Heim <kd0ar at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> From: Michael Heim <kd0ar at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: working ao-51 (finding the bird)
> To: n3tl at bellsouth.net, eric.fort at gmail.com
> Cc: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 7:39 AM
> 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?
> > > >
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