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README
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1993-02-06
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This is an updated version of the USAT90 satellite tracking program. The
source code can be run with QBASIC and should also be compilable with
QuickBASIC. Significant differences between USAT90 and this version are
noted below.
A formula is now used to calculate the Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time instead
of a static lookup table. The previous version's data ran out at the end of
1991.
Color switching was eliminated because LCDs and monochrome displays couldn't
display some of the text brightly enough. It was more expedient to eliminate
multiple colors entirely than to find a suitable combination that looked good
on all video hardware. Will work out this detail later.
The system date and time is no longer modified by the program.
The satellite data file (USAT.TLE) format has been changed to a format
similar to the standard NASA/NORAD two-line element sets. See the
accompanying TLE.DOC file for the format specification. The satellite data
editor is temporarily gone and may re-appear in a future version.
USAT.TLE can be updated by copying the most current TLE file into
USAT.TLE and editing it to eliminate unwanted satellite elements. The number
of satellites that USAT can track has been increased to 17. Sources of the
most recent satellite data are listed in TLE.DOC. The data is also available
from the NOAA BBS via SprintNet.
Beacon frequency data is not saved by this version because of the change in
the data file format.
The ground station data file (USATGRND.DAT) format has been changed to plain
ASCII text. The world bitmap file has been renamed to USATCGA.MAP.
--
Future:
This version of USAT may be the last I do in BASIC. While the fundamental
algorithms have not been changed from the original program, I've made some
cosmetic changes to the source code in anticipation of porting it to C.
Also, certain sections of the program are noticeably slow and inefficient.
Given enough time and motivation, I eventually plan to optimize and enhance
the program and have it run under various GUIs such as X-Windows, OS/2
Presentation Manager, Macintosh OS, and MicroSoft Windows.
--
Change notes:
Version 92b2:
Restored the first-order doppler shift calculation but beacon frequencies
are not saved between program runs.
Version 92b:
Corrected two serious bugs in the date/time calculation subroutines.
Removed screen-clear/pagefeed between each day in the orbital prediction
display/printout to make it easier to compare successive passes
and save trees and the environment.
--
Questions about this version of USAT may be e-mailed to one of the following:
Internet: tony@mpg.phys.hawaii.edu
BITnet: querubin@uhunix
PBBS: ah6bw@ah6bw.uhm.hi.usa.oc
AMPRnet: ah6bw@uhm.ampr.org
Snail mail: Antonio Querubin, Jr.
University of Hawai`i
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Honolulu, HI 96822-2286
(808) 956-7660
DOD users can contact me through:
199'th Weather Flight
Hawai`i Air National Guard
Wheeler AAF, HI 96854-5200
(808) 656-1232
AUTOVON: 456-1232