**************** * SAT_EXPLORER * **************** by Gabriel Rivat F6DQM ======================= SAT_EXPLORER is a free software for satellite users. Minimum configuration : Win9x Mandatory files (in the same directory as Sat_Explorer.exe): * Sat_Explorer.exe * IOCtrl.dll (to be recopied in WINDOWS/SYSTEM32 directory if WinNT, 2000 or XP) * A two-Element-line file (see celestrack.com for example or the packet radio network) From release 2.6.8, under Win95 it is mandatory to install Windows Sockets 2.0 in your configuration unless you will be unable to run Sat_Explorer. The Install program is w95ws2setup.exe that you can download from the Web site of MicroSoft. ***NOTE that a special driver is mandatory to command the parallel port (FODTrack or PourSat) when using Win NT, 2000 or XP. Please contact directly the author if you need it . When you create a shortcut on the bureau, be sure that the starting repertory is the one that contains Sat_Explorer. It provides visibility forcasts as a waiting delay and a visibility duration very quickly and all the time. Ten (and even more) satellites can be monitored simultaneously. The program is written to be run as a background task while you are running other programs in your PC or doing odd jobs. If you specify it, when a satellite is approaching, a sound alarm will be sent. The program will be restored on screen if it was reduced in the task bar and the name of the approaching satellite will blink yellow for a quick view. As soon as a satellite is visible, the name of the satellite blinks green; an alarm is optionaly sent and the program window is restored on screen if it was reduced in the task bar. When a satellite disappears, its next visibility is immediatly computed and monitoring restarts for this new visibility. For each of the monitored satellites, SAT_EXPLORER provides a detailled description of the next or current visibility, minute by minute : elevation, azimuth, range, altitude, position, phase and Doppler shift. You can choose to monitor a further visibility if the next one is unusable because of a too low or to short visibility. As said before, this software is a continuous forecasting aid for satellite users. It required Win95 or more and a TWO-LINE-ELEMENTS file in NASA format to run correctly. You will find such a file on the radioamateur packet network or on the Net (try celestrack.com for example) but if you are a satellite user, you probably already have such a file in your computer. It is possible to monitor several sets of satellites with Sat_Explorer : just duplicate the executable in as many directories and run each of them separatly with their own set of satellites. You may create a shortcut for Oscar satellites, another one for meteo satellites, etc. History : ======= Version 2.8.8 - To commande the KCT interface - Optimization of the 2-line elements file - Pen menu Version 2.8.7b - display of the satellite plane orbit Version 2.8.7 - operation mode of the satellite frequencies Version 2.8.6 - 24 hour timetable Version 2.8.5 - Zoom on map - Earth night can appear dark as option - Satellites out of work are shown in red (Celestrak inputs only) - Other minor modifications and corrections Version 2.8.4c - Chooice of 8 COM ports Version 2.8.4 -Fix bugs Version 2.3.2 -DDE exchange -Minor modifications Version 2.8.3 - Possibility to rename satellites from their object number. Version 2.8.2 - Add traking with the TRAKBOX interface Version 2.8.0 - DDE data are compatible and treated by TRX-Manager. (www.trx-manager.com) - TCPIP data are the same as DDE data Version 2.7.1 - Introduction of the Login URL for WEB sites that need it - Automatic extraction of compressed GZip files. - Option to rename the satellites. Version 2.7.0 - Implementation of the TCP/IP server.Many thanks to Michel F5WK for the help. Under Win95, this release requires Windows Sockets 2.0 in your configuration unless you will be unable to run Sat_Explorer. The Install program is w95ws2setup.exe that you can download from the Web site of MicroSoft. Version 2.6.7 - New data in the DDE exchange - Possibility to add a comment to each mode Version 2.6.4 -Add potentially information "in eclipse" -Delete the blinking that appeared when the map was redrawn -Add the current coverage when the satellite is not visible -Add az & el angles on the map when the satellite is visible -Fix a bug when using a different starting date for calculation Version 2.6.3 -New original map Version 2.6.2 -Add italian language thanks to Vicenze Mone IK8OZV -Option to display UTC time Version 2.6 -Possibility to change the starting date of calculations (old passes can be displayed) -possibility to display the orbit and satellite position until the next visibility. -Map key -Save the last position of Map and DX windows -Minor corrections and modifications. -Creation of help in german language thanks to Reinhard Richter DJ1KM. All german words in the program were also verified and corrected by Reinhard. Version 2.5.2 -Fix a bug in DX squint calculation which appears in version 2.5.0 -Keep synchronisation between station et DX ephemeris in case of DX change through a right click in the map Version 2.5 -Manual command for antenna parking -for Internet availability Version 2.5.1 -Fix a bug with the reduced window Version 2.4.4 -Add the possibility to associate a couple of Uplink and Downlink frequencies to each mode -Compute Doppler corrections for uplink and downlink every second and send it to DDE -Possibility to change the current mode Version 2.4.1 -Possibility to center the map on longitude 0 or longitude 180 Version 2.4.0 -Downloading 2-line-elements file from Internet -Create a personal satellite data file -Possibility to test and verify the antenna tracking system in Initialization -Antenna-parking -Save the ephemeris table to file -Print the ephemeris table between two specific dates Version 2.3.1 -Fix an anomaly on map when clearing the DX station Version 2.3 -Add a menu to reduce the Ephemerids window -Add an option to delete the quit message -Fix a few reported anomalies Version 2.2.7 -EA4TX tracking Version 2.2.4 -Fix a bug in the 2.2.2 release -Re-organisation of the groups of satellites. Now, each group has its own 2-line file. Version 2.2 -Easycomm tracking -Correction of errors -Add the possibility to display all the DX visibility periods during the same satellite visibility period. -Compatibility with WinXP display -Several little improvements Version 2.1 : -Introduce tracking for PourSat, FODTrack or GS-232 systems -Save last DX coordinates -Set in blue the next satellite to rise beyond the warning timeout -Display on a Mercator map of the earth of : *the local station position *the DX sation position *the satellite position when visible *the current or global coverage area of the satellite during its visibility *the footprint of the satellite during its visibility *the sun position *the illumination zone ======================================================== The very last release is available on my site : http://rivat.chez-alice.fr/software.htm or on F1ORL's WEB site : http://www.f1orl.org/ This site also hosts the last releases of CW_Player, Beam_DX, AziWorld and Simplex free softwares. Best 73s and good trafic via satellites Gabriel Rivat F6DQM http://rivat.chez-alice.fr/ e-mail via Web pages