Re: [amsat-bb] Tracking accuracy

[Bert McClellan <bertmc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Roy,
You are right on Roy.  For some reason the hams on this BB sure can get excited

about a product weather it is a certain radio, tnc, antenna or what not.  I
know everyone
has their preferences but that does not mean it is the best.

I started with Instantrack for tracking. When Wisp came out I kept Instantrack
for
printing out the passes I want to see for the entire day. I know I can print
out certain
things with wisp, but I like the printout  I can do with IT.  I have to load
keps in both programs
but what the heck. I do not say Wisp or IT are the best, but I get the exact
pass time
on both programs as long as I use the same keps, and the sats are there when
they say they
will be.  That's the bottom line.

Bert    N7TKO
Amsat 24279



Roy Welch wrote:

> I have seen some discussion here concerning the accuracy of one tracking
> program versus another.  From my observations, there is no appreciable
> difference in the accuracy of them.  For a good test you must be using the
> same keps, PCs set exactly to the same time, PCs beginning their
> calculations on a given "look" simultaneously and displaying the results
> simultaneously.  If you want to see the results of not adhering to this
> latter requirement, run the same program in two different windows on the
> same PC and let them not be synchronized.  You can get as much as a degree
> difference in displayed output for the same satellite on the same PC with
> the same tracking program.
>
> You can do this same test by putting the same satellite in the tracking
> program twice, but under different names, catalog number, etc. and having
> the same keps.  In those programs capable of displaying multiple satellites
> at the same time you will sometimes find them differing also.
>
> So, unless you have a large difference, then this talk of which is the best
> tracking program from an accuracy standpoint is like measuring a mud hole
> with a micrometer.  On the other hand if you have a large difference then I
> would suspect something in the setup of the program, not its accuracy.
>
> --
> 73, Roy
>
> Internet: w0sl@amsat.org
> Home Page: http://home.swbell.net/rdwelch
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