[amsat-bb] Pocket Satellite Predicts

[Bob Bruninga <bruninga@xxxxxxxx>]

AMSAT and Hams have been doing satellites for over 40 years, but most of
us have only had PC's for 10 years or less.

Point being, that you dont have to have a PC to know when a satellite will
be generally in view.   ALl you need to know is the period of the satellite.

100 minutes: PCsat, Sapphire and AO-27
 98 minutes: SO-50
 92 minutes: ISS

If you hear a pass of any of them, unless its the last one, then you will
hear it again one period later.  In addition, there are other patterns:

For PCsat, Sapphire and AO-27:
  - Each pass is 30 minutes earlier each day.
  - Then once a week, ADD 100 minutes for PCsat and Sapphire
  - Once every 3 days add 100 minutes for AO-27
    (At least this works at my latitude.)

For ISS:
  - Each day, the best pass is either 32 minutes later or 62 minutes
    earlier.  Again, you may hear another one 92 minutes earlier or later
    too..

I dont expect anyone to use this method much except in special cases.
Mine was on a 2 week family trip in remote areas of Utah.  I just
monitored for half a day for MIR, and once I heard it, then, a pencil and
note pad let me estimate passes the rest of the trip.

I'd also like to see someone do a little PIC processor key chain with an 6
character LCD display.  It wouldnt have to implement a full NASA 2 line
satellite predictor, but just keep three timers running for each
satellite.  One divides by the period.  The other divides by hours, the
third adds in a little longitude offset daily for precession.

Then, whenever a satellite is in view, it BEEPS and displays the Satellite
name and an estimate of the maximum elevation (low, medium or high)...

You'd update it once a month from your PC before travels...

de WB4APR@amsat.org, Bob

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