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TrackSat/CE - Updates & other information

This page lists information on the latest version, as well as any infomation on known bugs etc.

Latest version: v2.20  release early August 2002 

This is available from the download page as complete installation package only. 

Existing users will need to uninstall their existing version prior to installing the new version.

(read the Readme.txt file included in the .zip package for full instructions!)

 

***** Known Bugs******

problem with PPC2002 devices.

There is a known issue with the implementation of the Pocket Outlook Object model (POOM) running under eVB on PPC2002. There is now a fix from Microsoft for this problem, (as well as several other bugs)and updates to the PPC2002 OS are now available for download. The version for the IPAQ is available here  Since all PPC2002 devices use the same processor, in theory you should be able to download this update for any PPC2002 device, however I suggest that you check on the website of your device manufacturer first. 

Also:

When the decimal delimiter is set to other than a "." (ie as in the European preference for a ",") the program refuses to start.
Interim solution is to got to regional settings on the PPC , and set the decimal delimiter to "."

TrackSat/CE Revision History

V2.20

New feature added which allows download of kep files directly to the handheld device. A internet connection, either by dialup modem, LAN connection, or ActiveSync passthru (PPC2002 only) is required.

Fixed major bug that caused AOS predictions, on unregistered installations to be very inaccurate!

Minor enhancements to attempt to speed up AOS preiction computation, and general operation.

V2.14

Another minor bug fix. This one fixes the alignment of the satellite names in the drop down selection box.

V2.13

This is a minor bux fix. The beacon file was not loading for keps copied from the Celestrak site.

Tracksat/CE v2.12 Update 20 March 2002

A minor update, extra feature added that checks date of kep file, and gives warning if more than 14 days old.

Tracksat/CE v2.11 Update 13 March 2002

Some users have reported difficulties with opening kep files they have copied from www.celestrak.com. This update addresses that problem. It is only available as an update rather than a full installation at this time, as I plan to add some more features in the near future, and will release a full update at that time.

TrackSat/CE v2.10 Update & Full installation

I have just found a bug in the current version which gives incorrect plots since the start of the new year. I have uploaded a update file which is just the TrackSat.vb file and is all that is required to update from v2.00. If you are updating from a version previous to v2.00 you will need to download a complete install.

 

TrackSat/CE v2.00 Full Installation

Amateur Satellite Tracking program for the Pocket PC and HPC 2000 running Windows CE 3.0 only
(this won't run on  Palm PC's!!!)

Go to the download page, and download the file version for the processor type as used in your Pocket PC

Unzip on your desktop PC

Read the Readme file, as well as the TShelp file.

Follow the instructions !!!

Changes since the last revision (v1.03)

  • Calendar transfer feature added to allow passes to be transferred to PPC calendar APP

  • Button added to main screen to allow users to more easily see how to change between local and UTC time for next AOS pass prediction

  • The .wav file that plays when AOS commences is now able to be changed by the user.


***** Known Issues******
When the decimal delimiter is set to other than a "." (ie as in the European preference for a ",") the program refuses to start.
Interim solution is to go to regional settings on the PPC , and set the decimal delimiter to "."
******************************

Changes since last release (v1.01)
Fixed bug that showed negative local times on "next AOS"display
fixed bug that stopped observer qth from plotting for some locations on 180map
changed observer QTH marker to a "+"rather than a circle.

Changes since last release (v0.81B)

Increased size of satellite marker on trail plot.
made observer QTH plot on map
removed time restriction.
Only registered version will save observer location details
added help file
Removed some excess code

*****************************
Changes since last release (v0.8B)

fixed bug that caused incorrect track plot to be displayed when program starts up.

********************************************************************************************************************
Changes since last revision (v0.63B)

Complete re-vamp of user interface, with main screen now displaying tracking map, as well as key location details of selected sat (Azm, Elev, Height, Range)

Drop down box allows selection from any of the satellites found in the keps.txt file

Beacon frequency and mode updated for doppler shift ( beacon freq and mode data is stored in the beacon.txt file, and can be edited to change /update information, with CARE !!)

Tap on the AOS label to compute when the next AOS for the selected Sat is.

Tap on the UTC label to toggle AOS Display between Local and UTC Time.

Map automatically changes centre longitude (toggles between 0 and 180 degrees) depending on long. entered for user. (to change manually Tap menu/view/Toggle Map View )


To view AOS/los for up to 7 days for the selected sat, tap menu/View/View AOS. Select the number of days to be computed from the drop down box.
****Warning computation for 7 days of AOS/LOS can take a long time (about 8 minutes on my Jornada545)*****

The program disables the Auto Power Off feature on the Pocket PC while it is doing the computations

By tapping the checkbox, AOS /LOS will be shown in Local or (tap to clear checkbox) UTC Time
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

 Readme.txt file:

TrackSat/CE v0.63 Update
Installation Instructions

Unzip on Desktop PC
Using ActiveSync rename existing tracksat.vb file in tracksat directory on Pocket PC to tracksat.old
Copy tracksat.vb to tracksat directory on pocket PC.
copy sat.ini to tracksat directory on pocket PC.
This is not a full installation, and is just an update to an existing installation

Changes since last revision

New feature, Program remebers what sat was being tracked when last shut down.

********************************************************************************************************************************

Tracksat/CE v0.62 Update.

Installation Instructions

Unzip on Desktop PC
Using ActiveSync rename existing tracksat.vb file in tracksat directory on Pocket PC to tracksat.old
Copy tracksat.vb to tracksat directory on pocket PC.
This is not a full installation, and is just an update to an existing installation

It will update the following Versions: v0.6B, and v0.61B

Changes since last revision

Bug fix, AOS screen didn't clear in between running predictions

New feature Map now mas a moving plot (updated every 20Secs) of Sat position
*************************************************************************************************************************

TrackSat/CE v0.61 Update

This is not a full installation, and is just an update to an existing installation

It will update the following Versions: v0.6B

Changes since last revision

Bug fix, pathname problem when PPC configured to use languages other than English addressed 

 

Readme.TXT 15 Feb 2001 current version 0.61B

 

Changes since 0.6B

Added internal program path handling, so program does not have to install to \Program Files\Tracksat (or foreign language equivalents), but then why change the dir if you were happy with where it was !!

Better world map included

***********************************************************************************************************************


Program TrackSat/CE V0.6Beta !!! (Note the Beta!) (this version time limited to expire on 1 Mayl 2001)

as allways this program is provided with no warranties blah blah, if it stuff's your pocket PC don't come looking for me !!!

This version only supports Pocket PC (win CE v3.0) and SH3, or MIPS processors (stop press, and some ARM processors !)


*** Important, please install into the default location, as I have not written code yet, to select where the data files are located, so if you don't install in the default, it will have a "file not found error"


this version does not include all the embedded visual basic runtime files, to try and reduce the size of the file.

If you need the full version please email me, and I will build a complete install package including runtime files.

Install using the included install program.

When the program first starts, tap on Setup, and then Set Obs QTH, and enter in the details of your location.

remember that Latitudes South of the equator, are prefixed with a minus, and longitudes west of Zero, are also prfixed with a "-"

The Altitude is in meters (sorry if you can't work in metrics!!)

Enter your time offset from UTC if you are behind UTC, enter a "-" in front of the time.


Check the "Save" button, and then "Exit"

You should be back to the main screen and your Callsign details should be showing in the second row.
To track a different satellite, tap on the satellite name, and it will cycle through the ones I have loaded so far.

To view the present position of a selected sat, then tap on View/View Map. and Exit to return to the main screen

To view the next 3 predited AOS/LOS times tap on View/View AOS, and Exit, to return to the main screen

Loading other Sats is pretty easy so If you need one that isn't in there now, email me, and I can arrange it for you fo the next Beta release.

to update the keps, just copy a standard 2 line Kep file, and name it "keps.txt"

THIS PROGRAM IS VERY PROCESSOR INTENSIVE, AS IT IS ALWAYS DOING CALCULATIONS. I do not recomend that you leave it running while trying to use other processor instnsive apps, as it will run very slow.

Good luck.

I welcome any constructive feedback, [email protected]