Manual XTRACK (release 2012.4).
Needed files.
- Kepler file (NORAD 2 lines format)
- Earth picture; GIF format, linear longitude (-180 ... +180) and lattitude (90 ... -90)
- wget: program to download Kepler files
Example installation:
- Program in /home/user/bin (Linux) or C:\windows (Windows)
- Earth picture file at same location as program
- Norad file in /home/user or C:\ directory (regular update needed)
Settings: Edit->Preferences.
Settings are saved in file xtrack.ini. This file is read at program-start.
By means of the Preferences window the preference items can easily be changed.
(The xtrack.ini file is ASCII, so may also be changed using a text editor.)
The xtrack.ini file is searched for in the following directories, in this order:
- multi-user O.S. (Linux/Unix):
- Start-up directory (for special settings)
- Home directory (for user specific settings)
- Program location directory (for default settings)
- single-user O.S. (Windows):
- Start-up directory (for special settings)
- Top-directory of current disk (e.g. C:\, D:\ etc.) (for more common settings)
- Program location directory (for default settings)
The first xtrack.ini-file found is taken.
If no xtrack.ini file is found the built-in defaults are taken.
Clicking on 'Save' will also save the currently selected / visible satellites.
Settings at each tab:
1. Observator
- Location observer:
- Set longitude and lattitude to your location.
- Or click on 'Cities', locations in a waypoint gpx file are shown which you can select. (See tab 'Files').
- Time:
- Offset UTC: should be normally 0, if your PC time is set the correct way.
- Presented time: offset from UTC
- Elevation levels:
- Only track if reaches
- Start tracking at
- Buttons:
- Radio horizon: show horizon around observation point
- Radio horizon observator: same, but take into account 'Start tracking at' elevation
- Sat visual area: are around sub-sat loaction where satellite is visible
2. Rotorconfig.
3. Files.
Define filenames of:
- earth map picture
- Kepler NORAD file.
These files are searched for the same way and in the same locations as of the preferences file.
4. Ext. programs.
If needed, define one or more programs to run:
- always
- run 1x when selected satellite gets positive elevation
- run 1x when selected satellite gets negative elevation
- run only if selected satellite has positive elevation
These programs have to be made by you, and may be used to drive antenna rotors and set receiver frequency.
Programs may accept arguments. Special formats (C-like):
- %a azimuth
- %e elevation
- %n satellite name
Example:
| Run 1x at sat. up | set_freq %n
|
| Run 1x at sat. down | rotor AZ=0 EL=90
|
| Run during sat. up | rotor AZ=%.1a EL=%.0e
|
Suppose NOAA-16 is selected. As soon as NOAA-16 gets elevation > 0 the next program is run:
set_freq NOAA-16
Then, on a regular base (e.g. each second) the next program runs: (e.g. azimuth=12.34, elevation is 20.78)
rotor AZ=12.3 EL=20
At last, if elevation gets < 0:
rotor AZ=0 EL=90
which will bring antenna into 'storm' position
- %.1a will be replaced by azimuth, with 1 digit after decimal point
- %.0e will be replaced by elevation, with no digits after decimal point
- %n will be replaced by satellite name
5. Run options.
- Run at program start: Calculation satellite positions start as soon as program is started.
- Antenna direction to output:When and which output is used to send antenna directions to
- Enable at program start: immediately start control antenna rotor as soon as pxtrack is started
- Execute external programs: Programs defined on page 'Programs' of Preferences will be executed to control rotors
- Use serial/COM: use this to control rotors.
- decoder display
- Calculations
- Interval: Calculation interval in seconds.
- Look ahead:
6. UART.
Settings of UART
- RS232 portnr: the portnr to use. Auto-find can be done using menu 'Help->Search port'.
- portname: built-in port name for portnr (set by 'RS232 portnr')
- RS232 baudrate
- RS232 cmd: command used to send to controller. You can fill this in, and/or use the example buttons below.
(examples conform the rotor controller of "werkgroep Kunstmanen").
7. Fonts and colors.
- Select desired font size for text.
- Buttons position: Position of satellite select buttons (right or bottom)
Satellites to show: Edit ->Select sat
This will show a list of all satellites in the Kepler NORAD file.
Left are not-selected satellites, right selected satellites.
- Select satellite left, click on 'Add'.
- Select satellite right, click on 'Remove'.
- Click on Accept.
Now, a set of buttons will pop up near the main window, one pair for each satellite shown in the right list.
- Click 'Vis' to make a satellite position visible. Several sat. positions may be made visible.
- Click 'Sel' to select one of the satellites; the position of this satellite will be used to drive the programs.
Also, a track piece will pop up for this satellite.
Selected satellites can be saved into prefrences file:
Select "Edit->Preferences"
Click on 'Save'
Show and change Kepler data: Edit ->Kepler data
Kepler data of selected satellite is shown, and may be changed. (No save of changed data possible.)
File/Keplerfile>
Download and/or select new Norad 2-lines Kepler file.
- Select one of the predefined files
- Or click browse, and select an existing file.
- Click 'Download' to download the selected file
- Click 'Use' to use this file
See Edit->Select sat to select satellite(s) from the new selected file.
Zoom
Zoom in/out. Use cursor keys or scrollbars to shift visible part.
Zoomkeys:
i = zoom-in with reference position as center
o = zoom-out with reference position as center
I = zoom-in, keep current center
O = zoom-out, keep current center
f = full zoom
Predict
Predict passes of selected satellite.
- Set Start prediction and range to your needs.
- Click on Predict
A list of all passes in the defined range will pop up.
- Select a pass. In the main window the satellite path during 'elevation > 0' is shown.
- Click on 'Save as ps' to generate a monthly prediction overview (Postscript format, for printing). Best is to set Start prediction day on '1', and Prediction range on 1 or more months.
Help
prog info
Debug
Search portnr: clicking will search for recognized portnr. Result is shown in main window right-bottom, 'portne'.
- red: not found
- yellow: a port is found to which can be connected
- green: actual controller found, this only works with controller 2021.10 and later.
Buttons at bottom.
- Run: Start/stop calculations
- Auto sel: Satellite first visible will be selected. As soon as this satellite gets elevation < 0 the next satellite visible will be selected.
- Disbaled/Enabled: Disconnect/connect to rotor controller
- Sat/rot: show elev/azim/x/y of satellite or what's sent to the rotor (different if sat is behind hozizon)