Satgen 406 Simple Sat Tracking Pt1 by GM4IHJ (BID SGEN406) 4 Jan 97 As satellite operating gets more complex (Autotune,Autotrack,Modems DSP, rotators, elevators, protocol software etc etc), it has been pointed out by several correspondents that we are forgetting beginners They can perhaps muster an HF rig and a 2m transceiver, but not much else. Simple antennas can be built. But without a home computer how do they know where and when to listen. Some BBS have tracking software , but you need a computer to access them. Published Az El tracking data is no use for stations much more than 200kms away. Covering Europe with data for one sat would require about 50+ separate lists per day. So that is not the answer. Years ago when the computers this writer used cost a minimum of $100k , only radio amateurs with access+software for these monsters could generate sat tracking data. None the less most of us had no problems. Project Oscar produced an annual table of Equator crossing times and longitudes for Ao6 and Ao7. Any station equiped with a Polar projection chart and a satellite track overlay ( RSGB Space Radio HB page 63 and Satellite Experimenters HB AppB refer), could use the EQX data and follow their favourite satellites with ease. Unfortunately this idyll did not last. Increasing drag on the sats as the solar cycle climbed to its 79/80 maximum, put the annual calendar out of business. So those who could, eagerly grasped the ZX81s and TRS80s and continued tracking, secure in the knowledge that by using computers and Keplerian elements, they could also track the new Phase 3 elliptical orbiters. 17 years on,a majority , but not all western satellite operators have expensive computers and expensive software. Further afield however computers are less numerous. Some countries may run to the odd C64,but many have almost no access to computers at all. What can be done about them? Can we go back to EQX data and plotters at least for the simple LEO sats RS10/12/15 Fo2o/29 ? The following is a printout from a simple GWBASIC computer program EQXER, which could be used by clubs and individuals to distribute data to those would be satellite operators who lack computers. Would it also be useful to put this information out via packet/Internet/newsletters? It can be easily produced every month , so we need not worry about solar drag affecting accuracy. FIRST EQX EACH DAY of RS12/13 , TIME UTC, LONGITUDE WEST from 1.1.97 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 0044 69 0113 78 0140 87 0023 69 0051 78 0120 87 0002 69 0031 78 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 0059 87 0126 95 0010 78 0038 87 0106 95 0134 104 0017 86 0045 95 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 0113 104 0141 113 0024 95 0052 104 0120 113 0003 95 0031 104 0059 113 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 0127 121 0010 104 0038 113 0106 121 0134 130 0017 112 0045 121 To get other eqxs for that day add 104.7 minutes to time utc, and 26.3 degrees to longitude west, for each successive orbit. Where should this data be published ? Can clubs copy it from Email and or packet and distribute it . Would some clubs prefer to have the software and "roll" their own . All comments welcome. Part 2 next week will discuss manufacture of tracking overlays and footprint circles.