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Welcome

This website describes the first preview of the satellite tracking interface in version 3 of the SDR-Radio.com SDR software. The satellite tracking provides a simple yet powerful support for all satellites. A minimum knowledge of satellite theory and operation is required to use this software. When you start it for the first time it is ready to be used.

All the features you expect are included:

  • Doppler frequency correction,
  • Rotator support,
  • Recording.

As well as the above this software can control an external radio used for transmitting, so a full satellite station could be:

  • Receive: Airspy, SDRplay, ...
  • Transmit: FT-991, IC-706, ...

With receiver and transmitter fully controlled by this software.

Note: this software has been rewritten since the version 2 release to use Direct2D (DirectX) hardware-accelerated graphics, also the interface has been greatly simplified without losing any of the features which were part of the previous release. As a result the processing is much faster and uses considerably fewer resources.

Please remember: this is only a preview - feedback is very welcome.

 

Starting

In the console program select More Options... in the View pane of the ribbon bar. Press the Select button to enable the options to be displayed. Make sure that Satellites is checked, then press OK. You will be prompted to restart the program. When restarted the Satellites option is available.

When started for the first time the default settings are applied:

  • Display format - uses a built-in map of the world,
  • List of commonly used satellites,
  • Data files containing the satellite definitions (known as TLE).

The first thing you must do is set your home latitude and longitude - this is explained on the Options page.

Your next step is Tracking.

If you do not see the Satellites option then you must wait for a new preview kit to be available.

Known Bugs

Outstanding bug list:

  • When the Doppler correction is switched off the Extra time (30 or 60 seconds) not added to LOS.

To Do

The following features will be added:

  • Add pins to the map for stations / locations of interest, show satellite visibility for these stations
  • Add soundcard (playback device) to the Current satellite RX (downlink) definitions
  • Automatically select the next visible satellite after LOS
  • Select specific passes for a custom 'Passes List'