Hacker Chronicles 2/HACKER2.BIN/435.README

Text File | 1993-05-27 | 12KB | 231 lines

                             ALERT3V5.ZIP  ver 5.1

  Version 5.1 corrects minor bugs in 5.0 version plus refinement of README file

                    written for DOS systems in QBasic v 1.0
                     (c)1992,1993 by John W. Gardner, Jr.

              Requires Traufler's TRAKSAT program ver 2.75 or 2.80

                                *** PURPOSE ***

  Program is designed to alert you by screen display & sound when scheduled
  satellites are visible in REAL time.  This relationship is in part determined
  by your location as specified in Paul Traufler's TRAKSAT.DEF file.

  The primary purpose of this program is to remind you, when about 10 of your
  favorite satellites, are favorably positioned while YOU are busy doing
  something else.  The secondary purpose, is to generate a listing of ALL sats,
  in chronological order, based on parameters HEAVILY dependent on visibility
  as defined by YOUR situation.  If no limitations are entered, ALL sats
  greater than 1° above the horizon will be "looked" for - in real time.

  If you want to play "marathon" with as many satellites as possible.  Program
  will tell you when any of the +3000 primary orbiting payloads & rocket bodies
  are site visibly positioned ( This assumes, of course, you have a current
  element file of those objects. ).  Based on the time/date of TRAKSAT program
  execution, a maximum of about 1000 objects per night could be found.  It must
  be said though, do not attempt this unless your an experience Sat observer
  AND have at least 5 MB of disk space (based on 30 sec steps) to support it.

  ALERT3.BAS has a program limitation of about 1400 objects for any given time
  frame AFTER filters for elevation, Sat visibility, obstructions & observation
  session are piped through per your specs.

                             *** IMPROVEMENTS ***

1 Accepts output file directly from TRAKSAT without any editing and run in real
  time regardless of speed of computer it is used on.

2 Calculates and displays UTC for your time zone based on system clock.  System
  clock will NOT be changed by this program - only makes reference to it.  If
  program is told your system is set to UTC, program accepts it.

3 Allows you to define a section of the sky ( horizon to zenith ) were high
  buildings or nearby trees block your view which the program will ignore.

4 Provides running total of how many scheduled satellites remain to be seen
  based on viewing parameters you entered.

5 Provides preview of what satellite is next and time.

6 Program now displays the previous satellite just in case two are found less
  than a second apart.  Also if 30 sats are detected as visible at the same
  time, program will look "back" and display next item(s) that were visible
  prior to the current UTC time.  For this contingency, user should have a
  printout of SAT_VIEW.FIL file defined further below.

7 Program will exit to DOS prompt while displaying the last satellite(s) found.

8 Default for minimum viewing elevation is 15°.  User can raise or lower this
  figure as desired.  Obviously, it is of little use to try to see satellites
  that are buried in horizon gunk.

9 Prompts you for the time period you wish to observe.  It is suggested that an
  observation session start early in order to see as many of the lower "bright"
  satellites as possible before Earth shadow.  There is no program default as
  selections MUST be made.  This allows all satellites NOT appearing during
  your observation session, as defined, to be dumped.

                             *** INSTRUCTIONS ***

  The file SAT_VIEW.FIL is a control file created and used by ALERT3.BAS based
  on the TRAKSAT output file.  You may wish to abort the program WHEN system
  time is displayed to review the listing of all satellites, in chronological
  order, as they would appear per your viewing parameters.  You MUST run the
  program prior to observation session for this purpose.  IF aborted during the
  ACTUAL observation session, the file MUST be edited to reflect current or
  future UTC time at restart.  See warning below.

  Note that times entered are based on UTC 24 hour clock and must be on the
  hour times.  Additionally, all hour times are expressed as two digits: 4am is
  04, 9pm is 21 ect....  Start ALERT3.BAS at any time of day or just prior to
  first satellite AFTER the TRAKSAT output file is created.  See warning below.

  File can be printed out as a visual guide for use in the field instead of
  just watching the program.  Being in chronological order makes it easy to see
  what's next.  I highly recommend you do this even if your "field" is your
  back porch.  It saves repeatedly running back and forth to the computer each
  time you hear the "beep" of satellite now visible.  You could also terminate
  the program and rely only on your watch and the printout.

  Each prompt for input is fully descriptive to the point that you only need
  to read this file once to fully understand its purpose.

             ***  SELECTING ELEMENT FILE TO USE FOR TRAKSAT  ***

  You, of course, have the option to use any element file or portion thereof
  instead of the following procedure.  You could also use the User Defined
  Satellite Names listing ( up to 25 objects) in the TRAKSAT.DEF file itself,
  with respect to the defined default data (element) file.

  Run my FINDSAT5.BAS to create a element file of your favorite sats.  If you
  have a listing of NORAD objects ( 16609U ) you'll like to see, FINDSAT5.BAS
  will use that listing instead of prompting you for each selection.

  If your using your entire element file, I highly recommend you create a file
  having only primary and selected debris objects - no decayed items.  Use
  13 part NORCATxx.ZIP by Joel Runes for all objects or Kelso's SATDB-12.ZIP
  file for payloads only as a guide.

  The NEWSET.SZN file (or your element file) will be used by Traufler's TRAKSAT
  program to create the input file ( TRAKSAT.xxx ) used by ALERT3.BAS ver 5.1




            ***  PROCEDURE TO CREATE TRAKSAT BATCH MODE FILE  ***

  Make sure that your system clock time agrees with TRAKSAT.DEF file setting
  for standard time, daylight saving time (-5 or -4 for the east coast U.S.A.)
  or if your clock is set to UTC as 0.  VERIFY YOUR SYSTEM DATE IS CORRECT!

  If you wish to get a small jump on the satellites, setting your system clock
  forward 1 minute PRIOR TO RUNNING TRAKSAT will have not effect program's
  accuracy.  So long you are aware you've done so!  See warning below.

  Be advise ALERT3.BAS is not intended for any Earth shadow appearance timing.

  To create an BATCH MODE file for "tonight" ( defined as today's sunset to
  sunrise observation period ), use the following steps for each of the menu
  headings shown by your TRAKSAT program.  NOTE: New users of TRAKSAT should
  follow parameters below as a guide before branching to more defined usage.

    ACCURACY OF YOUR ELEMENT SETS PLUS TRAKSAT ALGORITHMS HAVE DIRECT EFFECT
    ON POSITIONS OF SATELLITES RELEVANT TO TIME.  A SATELLITE CAN & IN MANY
    CASES WILL BE EITHER A FEW MINUTES EARLY OR LATE.  BE PREPARED - BE READY.

  FILE  ( Skip the file section if your using a pre-defined element file )

     select NEW SATELLITE FILE

     enter  element set file name  ( NEWSET.SET if you've used FINDSAT5.BAS )
                                    Your file must be in the same directory as
                                    TRAKSAT.  TRAKSAT does not see paths.

  TIME MODE

     select DELTA

     enter  05/29/93     If it is dark PRIOR to 00 hour UTC, use today's date,
                         otherwise use tomorrow's date.

     enter  00:50:00     as UTC start time ( 22:30:00 in the dead of winter )
                         First Sat visibility time is directly related to date
                         and of course your location.  Example shown = 8:50pm
                         DST in month of May east coast U.S.A.

     enter  00:06:00:00  as length of simulation ( can be user specified ).
                         The use of a "long" period allows you to restart the
                         program or consult SAT_VIEW.FIL for the early morning
                         sats after a quick edit of the file.  Or for any time
                         frame desired if conditions warrant such a change.

     enter  0.50000      as time steps ( can be user specified ) = 30 seconds
                         I don't recommend time steps greater than 1.025000
                         ( 1 minute 15 secs ), nor less than 30 seconds in
                         conjunction with ALERT3.BAS program.

  OUTPUT

     select  Single Satellite
     select  Batch Mode
     select  All Satellites    OR select "User Defined Satellites" if you've
                               created such a listing in TRAKSAT.DEF file.  See
                               note about this on page 24 of TRAKSAT.DOC file.

     select  File      ( for output )

  VISIBILITY

     select  Visible Passes
     select  Optical
     select  -6 (civil)    default is -12 (nautical)  - can be user specified
             There are cases that you'll miss notification of some spectacular
             (bright) views if you always use the default -12 setting.  My own
             view is better to miss a few duds than a hot one.  COSMOS 2237 R/B
             on 5/29/93 at 01:35 UTC is one example for my location.

  A demonstration SAT_VIEW.FIL file of 85 objects for the night of May 28, 1993
  ( 0055 to 0648 hours UTC ) is ready to load and run by ALERT3.BAS.  Minimum
  elevation for Sat notification is 10°.  Press ENTER at prompt for file name.


  * W A R N I N G *            * W A R N I N G *            * W A R N I N G *


 PROGRAM MUST BE UP AND RUNNING AT LEAST 1 MINUTE PRIOR TO THE FIRST SATELLITE
 Just as an alarm clock will miss-function set incorrectly...the same applies.
 You should know by prior review of the SAT_VIEW.FIL file when the first Sat is
 due.

 Verify that your system date is correct and that the system time is accurate
 within a minute of civil or UTC time.

                           ***  IF YOU BLEW IT  ***

 You started the program AFTER the first satellite was due...

 Simply edit out the top lines of the SAT_VIEW.FIL file of the satellites
 that have already ( or will pass ) while the program was off line.  This is
 easily done by looking at the time display ( 01:44:38 ) which is UTC time
 *NOT* LOCAL time.  Save the file and press ENTER only at file name prompt.
 Should take you less than a minute and your back in business!!

 IF you have NOT created the SAT_VIEW.FIL file, run the program from the start
 with input of the TRAKSAT.xxx file.  Abort by pressing  F1  key when system
 UTC time is displayed.  Follow the instructions above for editing.

 No TRAKSAT file prepared?  You should select the next hour to start your
 observation session.  The only reason for this is to give yourself time to
 review the listing without being "pushed" by the clock - else edit per above.

                              ***  FUTURE  ***

  A version for the QUICKSAT tracking program will be released as soon as
  Walter Nissen "instructs" me on the various nuances of using it.


  John W. Gardner, Jr.
  May 27, 1993