Download
here
During satellite operation many tasks needs to be performed:
- aim
antennas to the satellite to obtain full performance
- tune downlink frequency according
with the doppler effect
- speak into mike, use the keyer,
move mouse and so on ....
So, considering that our humans have only two hands, two eyes and only
a brain,
I wrote
this program to let make something to the pc, leaving the hands and other
human
behaviours
for the fun.
Main features:
Full
settings control : ifbw, demodulator, if shift, volume, squelch, step size
and
tuning with single keys cycling trough
every setting
Toggle
setting control for noise blanker, rf attenuator, agc, doppler tracking
Frequency
tuning by arrow keys, also actives during tracking operation for fine
tuning
Autoscale
rf level indicator. Rf levels below 64 raw units are denoted with a
caret
(^) indicator and full scale is used. For level higher a star (*) is used
and
the
entire bar uses scale from 0 to 255 raw units
Single
key to connect to a Predict server to choose a satellite to track. Appearence
is the
same of Predict ( really the same code... tnx John KD2BD)
Text
box with bearing indication (azimut / elevation / range)
Text
box with doppler amount related to tuned frequency, uplink trasponder
frequency(
1290 / 430 / 144 / 28 MHz ) and trasponder type (inverting or non i
nverting)
Main
commands
-
F1 : change
IF bandwith
-
F2 : change
demodulator
-
F3 : toggle Noise
Blanker
-
F4 : toggle
RF attenuator
-
F5 : toggle
AGC
-
F6 : start
/ stop tracking on selected satellite
-
F7 : IF
SHIFT up
-
F8 : IF
SHIFT down
-
F9 : Volume
up
-
F10 : Volume
down
-
F11 : Squelch
up
-
F12 : Squelch
down
-
PageUp : select uplink frequency
[ 21 / 146 / 435 / 1267 ]
-
PageDown: select trasponder type
[inverting / not inverting]
-
space : acquire satellite
database from PREDICT and choose one
-
r
: reset to center IF SHIFT
-
ESC :end program
and switch off the receiver
****************************************************************
Use of program
****************************************************************
Launch the application, being sure
that the receiver is powered. If not, your consolle will
freeze. 'Control C' to reacquire
control.
To tune use Right/LeftArrow, set
the step with Up/DownArrow.
When you are ready for sats, hit
space bar and the PREDICT database will be displayed;
choose the right sat via a letter
(A to Z). Then the system is ready to track the tuned
frequency.
You can set the frequency in advance,
before the AOS. When the sat rises over the
horizon the right frequency will
be set and the tracking begin.
After pass, at LOS, the frequency
will be reset, ready for the next pass.
It's also possible to take
in consideration your uplink, choosed between the five
preselected ( 0 21 145 435 1267 MHz),and
the inverting / noninverting trasponder.
When no uplink frequency is displayed
you are in 'beacon' mode, just to receive telemetry
or to listen only.
Otherwise the right "trasponder constant"
would be used to crunch number (try a Mode J
test to see the effect of [non]inverting
link.
To stop tracking just hit space bar.
During tracking the tune keys are
enabled to permit fine tuning.
Are also displayed pointing data
(azimut/elevation/range), doppler amount and the level
of signal received.
The meter (raw 8 bit data) show the
signal level and has autoscale range; for signal in the
range 0-63 the 'needle' is a caret
(^), otherwise a star (*) would be used in the range
64-255.
*****************************************************************
NOTES
*****************************************************************
This is my first (serious
?) effort in programming. I've learned, I suppose, something
about C language, socket & serial
programming, and Linux.
Thanks to Vincenzo
IW3FOL for his great job with the interface layout; from my
side I haven't much patience with
"corner, lines, box, etc.etc.), so his work is seriously
invaluable....
So I think that all
may be done better, but that's our knowledge....
To be continued ..........
de I3VFJ,
Vittorio BENVENUTI --- [email protected]
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