[amsat-bb] AOS predictor for PC? (Simple Window Graphic!)

[Robert Bruninga]

> What is the 'gold standard' for AOS predictions on a PC (no phones, pls)?

To me, it is this tiny 4k graphic that was displayed at the bottom of every
APRStk screen 20 years ago.  It was everything I wanted in a tracking
program:

http://aprs.org/AMSAT/APRSTK-bar.png    Please look at it.

It’s a horizontal graphic only an inch tall but wide.  The horizontal axis
is in increments of ten minutes out to 3 hours.  The vertical is 0 to 90
degrees elevation.  Every pass then in the next 3 hours shows as a hump.

So in an instant,  you can see what satellites are coming up, when, and how
high.  That is all you need to know whether a pass is worth taking or not.
The deep blue one in the background was AO40 at the time that would be in
view for many hours...  All the others are LEO's.

I'd keep this on my PC always running all the time.

And one can differentiate by colors.  One for AX.25, one for voice, one for
linear, one for bleep sats and so on.  This particular screen shot shows the
humps filled in.  But with so many sateliltes now, the hump should just be a
solid line so you can see under them.

If someone would write this in modern code instead of DOSbasic, I'd buy it!

Bob, Wb4aPR