There has been some discussion on how to determine
when a bird will be in view over an extended period
of time. You really don't need a pocket computer
or laptop to carry around to do this. Just simply
print out the pass predictions using SatPC32 sold by
AMSAT and written by DK1TB who has donated the program
to AMSAT.
There are two accessory programs included in SatPC32.
The first is called WinAOS and it will make predictions
for multiple birds of your choosing over a 10+ day period
of your choosing. Print out the results and keep them in
your vehicle. You'll have AOS/LOS times and AOS/LOS azimuths
plus max elevation and visible time. This is plenty of info
to allow you to work a bird with a handheld antenna. Just
watch the time and move the antenna accordingly.
WinAos QTH: -81.7/41.3 T#: 11616 Sat.: 5 [Standard]
----------------------------------------------------------
Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
----------------------------------------------------------
21.10.2009 VO-52 00:18 00:23 05 02 076 - 024
21.10.2009 AO-07 00:36 00:57 21 39 187 - 338
21.10.2009 AO-51 00:41 00:48 07 04 244 - 310
21.10.2009 VO-52 01:50 02:02 12 39 147 - 355
21.10.2009 AO-07 02:37 02:45 08 02 259 - 306
21.10.2009 SO-50 03:06 03:14 08 05 140 - 066
21.10.2009 VO-52 03:27 03:38 11 17 208 - 333
21.10.2009 SO-50 04:43 04:57 14 57 201 - 037
21.10.2009 AO-27 06:02 06:09 07 04 053 - 118
21.10.2009 SO-50 06:25 06:38 13 21 251 - 026
21.10.2009 AO-27 07:39 07:53 14 51 018 - 182
The other program that comes with SatPC32 is WinListen. This
program will give you satellite visibility at various intervals
throughout the pass. It has a two-observer feature which allows
you to enter two grids and find the mutual window on a particular
satellite. Here's an example between Ohio and Scotland on AO-51
at 20 second intervals.
WinListen 8.0 [AO-51] T#:11616 QTH1: -81.7/41.3 QTH2: -8.4/52.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time(U) Az1 El1 Az2 El2 MA Height Lon/Lat Orbit
----------------------------------------------------------------------
21.10.2009 09:29:00 59 0 279 3 19.7 711 314 50 27911
21.10.2009 09:29:20 61 1 277 2 20.5 712 314 49 27911
21.10.2009 09:29:40 64 1 275 1 21.4 712 313 48 27911
21.10.2009 09:30:00 67 1 272 1 22.2 712 313 46 27911
I use this program to set up schedules when the likelihood of a "window"
is remote.
These two programs are selected under the "Programs" link in the
SatPC32 toolbar.
73,
John K8YSE
_______________________________________________
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