Hacker Chronicles 2

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0100 0100 0105 BASICS ▒ P C - T R A C K ▒ PC-TRACK is a user friendly, simple to use satellite tracking package. It is designed to track any earth orbiting man-made satellite on an EGA graphics screen using a Mercator projection world map. PC-TRACK allows easy input and maintenance of object and observer data. PC-TRACK can print predicted satellite positions and look angles to printer as desired. [MORE-PGDN] 0105 0100 0110 BASICS >>>>> R E G I S T R A T I O N <<<<< TO REGISTER THIS COPY OF PC-TRACK, SEND $15.00 IN THE FORM OF CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: THOMAS C. JOHNSON 9920 S. PALMER RD. NEW CARLISLE, OHIO 45344 WHEN YOU DO, YOU WILL RECEIVE A COUPON WORTH 30% OFF THE REGISTRATION FEE FOR THE NEXT HIGHER VERSION AND YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN A NEW VERSION IS AVAILABLE. [MORE - PGDN] 0110 0105 0120 BASICS ▒ P C - T R A C K B A S I C S ▒ In order to do satellite tracking, PC-TRACK requires information on the observation point and the object to be tracked. The two SETUP options allow you to give PC-TRACK all this infor- mation. - OBSERVERS - The SETUP OBSERVERS option allows you to maintain a file of observation points to be used in tracking with the information needed by PC-TRACK. [More-PGDN] 0120 0110 0130 BASICS (Continued) - OBJECTS - The SETUP OBJECTS option allows you to maintain a file of the objects to be tracked with the information required by PC-TRACK (see the SETUP OBJECT help screens for how to get the required information). Once at least one observation point and one object have been defined, tracking may be done by selecting the TRACK option from the MAIN MENU. After selecting the OBJECT and OBSERVER from those entered using the SETUP option, tracking begins. [More-PGDN] 0130 0120 1000 BASICS (Continued) - TRACKING - Tracking is done using the EGA graphics screen. Both a world map and an Azimuth/Elevation chart are used. Tracking may be done in both real time and accelerated time. Current tracking information is shown both graphically and numerically. By pressing a function key, computed tracking information may be sent to a printer for hard copy. Of course many screen capture programs are available to save the contents of the display screen at any time. 1000 0100 1100 SETUP The SETUP feature allows you to enter and organize all the infor- mation you need for tracking your satellites... The 2 options available are: => OBSERVER - Holds information on up to 100 observation points. => OBJECTS - Holds information on up to 100 objects. [FOR PC-TRACK BASICS PRESS PGUP] [More-PGDN] 1100 1000 1101 SETUP OBSERVER This option allows you to enter and edit all the information you need for all the observation points to be used in tracking. The information needed is: - Description - Longitude - Latitude - Time Zone - Minimum Elevation - Height in feet above MSL This information is stored in a observer file which may contain up to 100 observers. [More-PGDN] 1101 1100 1110 SETUP OBSERVER (cont) ADDING AN OBSERVER [F2] Press the F2 key to add a new observation point to the file. DELETING AN OBSERVER(F3) Press the F3 key to remove an observation point from the file. EDITING AN OBSERVER Press PGUP or PGDN to select observation point to edit. 1110 1100 1120 SETUP OBSERVER [Description] This is a common name which will be meaningful to you when you see it later on the track screen. This description should be unique among all the observation points you have. This description will show up on the screen and in printouts whenever this observation point is used. This field may contain up to 30 characters. 1120 1110 1130 SETUP OBSERVER [Longitude] Longitude is given in degrees West, meaning the number given will be positive for West longitudes and negative for East longitudes. It is entered degrees and decimal degrees (84.325 for example). Latitudes must be entered in the range of 180 to -180 degrees. 1130 1120 1140 SETUP OBSERVER [Latitude] Latitude is given in degrees North, meaning the number given will be positive for North latitudes and negative for South latitudes. Like longitude, it is given in degrees and decimal degrees (34.21 for example). Latitudes must be entered in the range of 90 to -90 degrees. 1140 1130 1150 SETUP OBSERVER [Time Zone] This field defines which time zone the observation point is in. This is defined in hours from Greenwich Mean Time (Coordinated Universal Time). It is positive for West longitudes and negative for East longitudes. (EST IS +5, PST IS +8) West longitudes must be between 1 and 12 and East longitudes must be between -1 to - 12. 1150 1140 1160 SETUP OBSERVER [Minimum Elevation] This field defines the minimum elevation the observer will be able to see the object above the horizon. Some locations may be surrounded by mountains or buildings which limit how low an object may be tracked. That is defined here. The minimum elevation is defined in degrees and decimal degrees and must be between 90 and -90. During tracking, azimuth/elevation data will be displayed only if the computed elevation is greater or equal to the stated value. 1160 1150 1200 SETUP OBSERVER [Height] This field defines the height of the observation point in feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL). This number must be between -400 and 30000. 1200 1100 1201 SETUP OBJECTS This option allows you to enter information about the objects. to be tracked. The information needed is: - Name - Epoch (Year, Day and Fraction of Day) - Decay Rate (Rev/day/day) - Inclination - Right Ascension - Eccentricity - Argument of Perigee - Mean Anomaly - Mean Motion - Revolution Number at Epoch 1201 1200 1202 SETUP OBJECTS [cont] - WHERE TO GET SATELLITE DATA - The data required by PC-TRACK may be received at no cost from NASA Project Operations Branch Code 513 Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md. 20771 Ask for the current "SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT". [MORE - PGDN] 1202 1201 1203 SETUP OBJECTS [cont] The Satellite Situation Report lists almost every object currently in orbit. Each object is cataloged by the International Designation and by Catalog number. It also lists the name, launch date, orbital period in minutes, inclination, apogee, perigee, and transmitting frequency. By using this document you can determine the catalog numbers of the objects you wish to track with PC- TRACK. [MORE - PGDN] 1203 1202 1204 SETUP OBJECTS [cont] The information required by PC- TRACK is obtained by requesting the "NASA PREDICTION BULLETIN" for each of the objects desired, referenced by catalog number from the address given above. You may also request a package of prediction bulletins for certain catagories of objects such as weather or amateur radio satellites. [MORE - PGDN] 1204 1204 1210 SETUP OBJECTS [cont] ADDING AN OBJECT (F2) Press the F2 key to add a new object to the file. DELETING AN OBJECT (F3) Press the F3 key to remove an object from the file. EDITING AN OBJECT Press PGUP or PGDN to select object. Use the cursor keys to get to the field you wish to edit. 1210 1200 1215 SETUP OBJECTS [Name] This field should contain the common name for the object described. This name will appear on all screen displays and printouts to describe the object tracked. The name field may contain up to 20 characters. 1215 1210 1220 SETUP OBJECTS [Catalog Number] This is a 5 digit number assigned to each object in the Satellite Situation Report issued by Nasa. Enter this as a whole number between 0 and 99999. 1220 1215 1225 SETUP OBJECTS [Epoch Year] This is the year the rest of the element set is effective. Epoch year should be entered in the range of 1987 to 2001. 1225 1220 1230 SETUP OBJECTS [Epoch Day] This is the day and fraction of day the rest of the element set is effective. Enter this as a fractional number between 0.0 and 366.9999999. 1230 1225 1235 SETUP OBJECTS [Decay Rate] This is the rate of decay of the orbital period due to atmospheric friction and other factors measured in terms of Rev/Day/Day. Enter this as a decimal number. It may be positive or negative. 1235 1230 1240 SETUP OBJECTS [Inclination] This describes the angle of the orbit plane in relationship to the plane of the earth's equator. Enter this as a decimal number of degrees between 0.0 and 360.0. 1240 1235 1245 SETUP OBJECTS [Right Ascension] This describes the point the sat- ellite crosses the equator from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. Enter this as a decimal number of degrees between 0.0 and 360.0. 1245 1240 1250 SETUP OBJECTS [Eccentricty] This is a unitless number which describes the shape of the orbit. The closer to zero the number is, the closer to a perfect circle it is. Enter this as a decimal number between 0.0 and 0.999999. 1250 1245 1255 SETUP OBJECTS [Argument of Perigee] This is the number of degrees from the ascending node the perigee point occurs. Perigee is the point of closest approach to the earth. Enter this as a decimal number of degrees between 0.0 and 360.0. 1255 1250 1260 SETUP OBJECTS [Mean Anomaly] This number represents the angular distance from the perigee point to the satellite's mean position. Enter this as a decimal number of degrees between 0.0 and 360.0. 1260 1255 1265 SETUP OBJECTS [Mean Motion] This is the number of complete rev- olutions the satellite makes in 24 hours. Enter this as a decimal number between 0.0 and 20.0. 1265 1260 2000 SETUP OBJECTS [Revolution Number] This is the number of revolutions which have occurred since launch to the epoch time and date. Enter this as a whole number between 0 and 99999. 2000 1000 2005 TRACK The TRACK option is the heart of PC- TRACK. It computes and displays the tracking information for the satellite selected and its current relationship to the observation point selected. In order to do any tracking, at least one object and one observation point must be defined using the SETUP option. [More PGDN] 2005 2000 2007 TRACK (Continued) The track option displays computed information on a graphics screen showing a map of the world and an AZ/EL chart. It also displays the associated numerical data. Once this option is selected, you must select an object to track from those defined in the SETUP option. Once on object is selected, you must select an observation point also defined using the SETUP option. Tracking then begins. [More PGDN] 2007 2005 2008 TRACK (Continued) SELECT OBJECT TO TRACK This is done simply by pressing either the up or down arrow keys until the name of the desired object is shown. Then press RETURN. [More PGDN] 2008 2007 2009 TRACK (Continued) SELECT OBSERVATION POINT This is done simply by pressing either the up or down arrow keys until the name of the desired observation point is shown. Then press RETURN. [More PGDN] 2009 2007 2010 TRACK (Continued) PRINT ALL POINTS? If set to YES, then all computed points will be printed during tracking when the printer is enabled. Otherwise only the points which are visible to the observa- tion point will be printed. Selected by the up or down arrow keys. 2010 2005 2015 TRACK While tracking, various function keys provide a variety of features to make tracking more versatile. - REAL TIME/NON-REAL TIME [F2] - Pressing F2 switches tracking modes from Real Time (tracking according to the actual time of day and date) to accelerated tracking (rapidly computing and plotting satellite positions). [More PGDN] 2015 2010 2020 TRACK (Continued) With real time tracking, you can plot the actual current position of the satellite (assuming the date and time in your computer are properly set). With accelerated tracking you can look ahead or behind in time at a satellite path. Accelerated tracking is best used with the printer enabled (F4) to print satellite orbital predictions ahead of time. [More - PGDN] 2020 2015 2025 TRACK (Continued) - PAUSE [F3] - Pressing the F3 key causes all tracking to cease and PC-TRACK waits for you to press the F3 key again to resume the track. This allows you to stop the program and analyze a point. Remember: Press F3 to PAUSE and press it again to resume tracking. [More - PGDN] 2025 2020 2030 TRACK (Continued) - PRINTER [F4] - Pressing the F4 will enable output to be sent to the printer while tracking. When used with the accelerated tracking mode (F2) it allows you to print orbital predictions for future revolutions. As with F2 and F3, F4 operates like a "toggle". Pressing it enables the printer, pressing it again disables the printer. [More - PGDN] 2030 2025 2035 TRACK (Continued) - REFRESH SCREEN [F5] - The F5 key will redraw the world map and the azimuth/elevation chart on the screen. This is used when the display gets too cluttered from previous points plotted. [More - PGDN] 2035 2030 2040 TRACK (Continued) - CHANGE TIME INTERVAL - The time interval is the amount of time between each track point to be computed. This number is added to the current track time (shown in the box just above the "OBJECT" box containing the world map). The current time interval is shown in the box just to the right of the track time box. It may be changed only while in the Fast Track Mode as follows: [More - PGDN] 2040 2035 3000 TRACK (Continued) TIME INCREMENT 00:00:00 HR MN SEC INCR DECR │ ││ ││ ------------ │ ││ ││ ALTF1 CTRLF1 ──┘ ││ ││ ALTF2 CTRLF2 ────┘│ ││ ALTF3 CTRLF3 ─────┘ ││ ALTF4 CTRLF4 ───────┘│ ALTF5 CTRLF5 ────────┘ (ALTFx means holding the ALT key while pressing the Fx key and CRLFx means holding the CTRL key while pressing the Fx key) 3000 2000 3100 CONFIGURE With this option, you may change some of the various pieces of information (parameters) which control how the program operates. There are options available here: => SCREEN Screen colors parameters. => SYSTEM Printer control codes and data drive designation. 3100 3000 3110 CONFIGURE SCREEN With this option, you will be able to define all the screen colors used by PC-TRACK to display information. This way you can get the screen displays to look the way you want. This also makes it easy to adjust displays on mono- chrome monitors. You are able to see the effects of changes on the screen while you make them. You can make hanges to both the background and text colors with simple key strokes. [More-PGDN] 3110 3100 3111 CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands) Information is displayed on the screen using 7 different categories for the text and background colors... - NORMAL - HIGHLIGHTED - DATA ENTRY - TITLE - SCREEN COLOR - SHADOW COLOR Only the combinations used in PC-TRACK are shown. The colors for both the background and text colors can be selected for each of these categories. [More-PGDN] 3111 3110 3112 CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands) => SELECT TEXT COLOR CATEGORY Using the Left and Right arrow keys selects the category for text color changes. Current category is shown by a down arrow. => SELECT BACKGROUND CATEGORY Using the Up and Down arrow keys selects the category for background color changes. Current category is shown by a right arrow. [More-PGDN] 3112 3111 3200 CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands) => CHANGE TEXT COLOR (F5) Pressing this key changes the color of the currently selected text category. There are 16 colors to choose from on a color monitor. => CHANGE BACKGROUND COLOR (F6) Pressing this key changes the color of the currently selected background category. There are 2 sets of 8 identical colors. One set causes the text to be non-blinking while the other causes blinking text. 3200 3100 3210 CONFIGURE SYSTEM This option allows you to change the control codes sent to your printer to make it print the PC-TRACK reports correctly. It also allows you to define where PC-TRACK looks on your disk to find the files it needs to operate with. 3210 3200 3211 CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Printer Codes) Printer codes are sequences of special control characters sent to your printer. PC-TRACK displays and accepts them from you as the decimal equivalents of each control character separated by a slash (/). For example the ESC character has a decimal value of 27 so it is shown on the screen that way. Notice each print command has a code sequence to turn it on and one to turn it off. Some codes do not need to be turned off, so that portion is left blank. [More-PGDN] 3211 3210 3230 CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Printer Codes) Some printers may not be capable of printing certain features shown on the screen, in that case, leave the CODE TO TURN ON blank for that feature. You have up to 20 characters to define the turn-on or turn-off codes, including the slashes. You may move the cursor around on the screen to the desired code sequence by using the arrow keys or just pressing RETURN. 3230 3210 4000 CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Data Path) This line tells PC-TRACK what disk drive and what directories and subdirectory on that disk to use as the storage area for the data files it uses. This line of text will be in the form of an MS-DOS path name. If you just want to tell PC-TRACK to use the B drive, just enter "B:" here. If you have PC-TRACK on your hard disk and it is the C drive and you have a special subdirectory called "\PCT\DATA", then you would enter "C:\PCT\DATA" on this line. 4000 3000 1000 QUIT This option allows you to quit PC-TRACK and return to MS-DOS.