0100
0100
0105
BASICS
          ▒ P C - T R A C K ▒

    PC-TRACK is a user friendly,
  simple to use satellite tracking
  package. It is designed to track any
  earth orbiting man-made satellite on
  an EGA graphics screen using a
  Mercator projection world map.
    PC-TRACK allows easy input and
  maintenance of object and observer
  data.
    PC-TRACK can print predicted
  satellite positions and look angles
  to printer as desired. [MORE-PGDN]
0105
0100
0110
BASICS
  >>>>> R E G I S T R A T I O N <<<<<

  TO REGISTER THIS COPY OF PC-TRACK,
  SEND $15.00 IN THE FORM OF CHECK OR
  MONEY ORDER TO:
        THOMAS C. JOHNSON
        9920 S. PALMER RD.
        NEW CARLISLE, OHIO 45344
  WHEN YOU DO, YOU WILL RECEIVE A
  COUPON WORTH 30% OFF THE REGISTRATION
  FEE FOR THE NEXT HIGHER VERSION AND
  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN A NEW
  VERSION IS AVAILABLE.
                      [MORE - PGDN]
0110
0105
0120
BASICS
  ▒ P C - T R A C K    B A S I C S ▒

    In order to do satellite tracking,
  PC-TRACK requires information on the
  observation point and the object to be
  tracked. The two SETUP options allow
  you to give PC-TRACK all this infor-
  mation.
   - OBSERVERS -
  The SETUP OBSERVERS option allows you
  to maintain a file of observation
  points to be used in tracking with the
  information needed by PC-TRACK.
                             [More-PGDN]
0120
0110
0130
BASICS (Continued)
  - OBJECTS -
  The SETUP OBJECTS option allows you to
  maintain a file of the objects to be
  tracked with the information required
  by PC-TRACK (see the SETUP OBJECT
  help screens for how to get the
  required information).
    Once at least one observation point
  and one object have been defined,
  tracking may be done by selecting the
  TRACK option from the MAIN MENU. After
  selecting the OBJECT and OBSERVER from
  those entered using the SETUP option,
  tracking begins.        [More-PGDN]
0130
0120
1000
BASICS (Continued)
  - TRACKING -
  Tracking is done using the EGA
  graphics screen. Both a world map and
  an Azimuth/Elevation chart are used.
  Tracking may be done in both real time
  and accelerated time. Current tracking
  information is shown both graphically
  and numerically. By pressing a
  function key, computed tracking
  information may be sent to a printer
  for hard copy. Of course many screen
  capture programs are available to save
  the contents of the display screen at
  any time.
1000
0100
1100
SETUP
  The SETUP feature allows you to
  enter and organize all the infor-
  mation you need for tracking your
  satellites... The 2 options available
  are:
    => OBSERVER - Holds information on
       up to 100 observation points.


    => OBJECTS - Holds information on
       up to 100 objects.

     [FOR PC-TRACK BASICS PRESS PGUP]
                          [More-PGDN]
1100
1000
1101
SETUP OBSERVER
  This option allows you to enter and
  edit all the information you need for
  all the observation points to be used
  in tracking. The information needed
  is:
    - Description
    - Longitude
    - Latitude
    - Time Zone
    - Minimum Elevation
    - Height in feet above MSL
  This information is stored in a
  observer file which may contain up
  to 100 observers.   [More-PGDN]
1101
1100
1110
SETUP OBSERVER (cont)
  ADDING AN OBSERVER [F2]
    Press the F2 key to add a new
    observation point to the file.

  DELETING AN OBSERVER(F3)
    Press the F3 key to remove an
    observation point from the file.

  EDITING AN OBSERVER
    Press PGUP or PGDN to select
    observation point to edit.



1110
1100
1120
SETUP OBSERVER [Description]

  This is a common name which will be
  meaningful to you when you see it
  later on the track screen. This
  description should be unique among all
  the observation points you have. This
  description will show up on the screen
  and in printouts whenever this
  observation point is used.

  This field may contain up to 30
  characters.


1120
1110
1130
SETUP OBSERVER [Longitude]

  Longitude is given in degrees West,
  meaning the number given will be
  positive for West longitudes and
  negative for East longitudes. It is
  entered degrees and decimal degrees
  (84.325 for example).

  Latitudes must be entered in the range
  of 180 to -180 degrees.




1130
1120
1140
SETUP OBSERVER [Latitude]

  Latitude is given in degrees North,
  meaning the number given will be
  positive for North latitudes and
  negative for South latitudes. Like
  longitude, it is given in degrees and
  decimal degrees (34.21 for example).

  Latitudes must be entered in the range
  of 90 to -90 degrees.




1140
1130
1150
SETUP OBSERVER [Time Zone]

  This field defines which time zone the
  observation point is in.

  This is defined in hours from
  Greenwich Mean Time (Coordinated
  Universal Time). It is positive for
  West longitudes and negative for East
  longitudes. (EST IS +5, PST IS +8)

  West longitudes must be between 1 and
  12 and East longitudes must be
  between -1  to - 12.

1150
1140
1160
SETUP OBSERVER [Minimum Elevation]
      This field defines the minimum
  elevation the observer will be able to
  see the object above the horizon. Some
  locations may be surrounded by
  mountains or buildings which limit how
  low an object may be tracked. That is
  defined here.
    The minimum elevation is defined in
  degrees and decimal degrees and must
  be between 90 and -90.
    During tracking, azimuth/elevation
  data will be displayed only if the
  computed elevation is greater or equal
  to the stated value.
1160
1150
1200
SETUP OBSERVER [Height]

  This field defines the height of the
  observation point in feet above Mean
  Sea Level (MSL).

  This number must be between -400 and
  30000.







1200
1100
1201
SETUP OBJECTS
  This option allows you to enter
  information about the objects. to be
  tracked. The information needed is:
    - Name
    - Epoch (Year, Day and Fraction of
      Day)
    - Decay Rate (Rev/day/day)
    - Inclination
    - Right Ascension
    - Eccentricity
    - Argument of Perigee
    - Mean Anomaly
    - Mean Motion
    - Revolution Number at Epoch
1201
1200
1202
SETUP OBJECTS [cont]
  - WHERE TO GET SATELLITE DATA -

    The data required by PC-TRACK
    may be received at no cost from

     NASA
     Project Operations Branch
     Code 513
     Goddard Space Flight Center
     Greenbelt, Md. 20771

    Ask for the current "SATELLITE
    SITUATION REPORT".
                 [MORE - PGDN]
1202
1201
1203
SETUP OBJECTS [cont]
    The Satellite Situation Report lists
    almost every object currently in
    orbit. Each object is cataloged by
    the International Designation and by
    Catalog number. It also lists the
    name, launch date, orbital period in
    minutes, inclination, apogee,
    perigee, and transmitting frequency.

       By using this document you can
    determine the catalog numbers of the
    objects you wish to track with PC-
    TRACK.
                        [MORE - PGDN]
1203
1202
1204
SETUP OBJECTS [cont]
       The information required by PC-
    TRACK is obtained by requesting the
    "NASA PREDICTION BULLETIN" for each
    of the objects desired, referenced
    by catalog number from the address
    given above.



    You may also request a package of
    prediction bulletins for certain
    catagories of objects such as
    weather or amateur radio satellites.
                      [MORE - PGDN]
1204
1204
1210
SETUP OBJECTS  [cont]
  ADDING AN OBJECT (F2)
    Press the F2 key to add a new
    object to the file.

  DELETING AN OBJECT (F3)
    Press the F3 key to remove an
    object from the file.

  EDITING AN OBJECT
    Press PGUP or PGDN to select object.

    Use the cursor keys to get to the
    field you wish to edit.

1210
1200
1215
SETUP OBJECTS [Name]

  This field should contain the common
  name for the object described. This
  name will appear on all screen
  displays and printouts to describe the
  object tracked.

  The name field may contain up to 20
  characters.





1215
1210
1220
SETUP OBJECTS [Catalog Number]

  This is a 5 digit number assigned to
  each object in the Satellite Situation
  Report issued by Nasa.

  Enter this as a whole number between 0
  and 99999.







1220
1215
1225
SETUP OBJECTS [Epoch Year]

  This is the year the rest of the
  element set is effective.


  Epoch year should be entered in the
  range of 1987 to 2001.







1225
1220
1230
SETUP OBJECTS [Epoch Day]

  This is the day and fraction of day
  the rest of the element set is
  effective.


  Enter this as a fractional number
  between 0.0 and 366.9999999.






1230
1225
1235
SETUP OBJECTS [Decay Rate]

  This is the rate of decay of the
  orbital period due to atmospheric
  friction and other factors measured
  in terms of Rev/Day/Day.

  Enter this as a decimal number. It
  may be positive or negative.






1235
1230
1240
SETUP OBJECTS [Inclination]

  This describes the angle of the
  orbit plane in relationship to
  the plane of the earth's equator.


  Enter this as a decimal number of
  degrees between 0.0 and 360.0.






1240
1235
1245
SETUP OBJECTS [Right Ascension]

  This describes the point the sat-
  ellite crosses the equator from
  the southern hemisphere to the
  northern hemisphere.

  Enter this as a decimal number of
  degrees between 0.0 and 360.0.






1245
1240
1250
SETUP OBJECTS [Eccentricty]

  This is a unitless number which
  describes the shape of the orbit.
  The closer to zero the number is,
  the closer to a perfect circle it is.

  Enter this as a decimal number between
  0.0 and 0.999999.






1250
1245
1255
SETUP OBJECTS [Argument of Perigee]

  This is the number of degrees from
  the ascending node the perigee point
  occurs. Perigee is the point of
  closest approach to the earth.

  Enter this as a decimal number of
  degrees between 0.0 and 360.0.






1255
1250
1260
SETUP OBJECTS [Mean Anomaly]

  This number represents the angular
  distance from the perigee point
  to the satellite's mean position.


  Enter this as a decimal number of
  degrees between 0.0 and 360.0.






1260
1255
1265
SETUP OBJECTS [Mean Motion]

  This is the number of complete rev-
  olutions the satellite makes in
  24 hours.



  Enter this as a decimal number between
  0.0 and 20.0.





1265
1260
2000
SETUP OBJECTS [Revolution Number]

  This is the number of revolutions
  which have occurred since launch to
  the epoch time and date.


  Enter this as a whole number between 0
  and 99999.






2000
1000
2005
TRACK

  The TRACK option is the heart of PC-
  TRACK. It computes and displays the
  tracking information for the satellite
  selected and its current relationship
  to the observation point selected.

  In order to do any tracking, at least
  one object and one observation point
  must be defined using the SETUP
  option.


                       [More PGDN]
2005
2000
2007
TRACK (Continued)

  The track option displays computed
  information on a graphics screen
  showing a map of the world and an
  AZ/EL chart. It also displays the
  associated numerical data.
    Once this option is selected, you
  must select an object to track from
  those defined in the SETUP option.
  Once on object is selected, you must
  select an observation point also
  defined using the SETUP option.
  Tracking then begins.
                       [More PGDN]
2007
2005
2008
TRACK (Continued)

   SELECT OBJECT TO TRACK


    This is done simply by pressing
    either the up or down arrow keys
    until the name of the desired
    object is shown.

    Then press RETURN.



			 [More PGDN]
2008
2007
2009
TRACK (Continued)

   SELECT OBSERVATION POINT


    This is done simply by pressing
    either the up or down arrow keys
    until the name of the desired
    observation point is shown.

    Then press RETURN.



                         [More PGDN]
2009
2007
2010
TRACK (Continued)

   PRINT ALL POINTS?

    If set to YES, then all computed
    points will be printed during
    tracking when the printer is
    enabled. Otherwise only the points
    which are visible to the observa-
    tion point will be printed.

    Selected by the up or down arrow
    keys.


2010
2005
2015
TRACK

   While tracking, various function keys
  provide a variety of features to make
  tracking more versatile.

  - REAL TIME/NON-REAL TIME [F2] -

    Pressing F2 switches tracking modes
    from Real Time (tracking according
    to the actual time of day and date)
    to accelerated tracking (rapidly
    computing and plotting satellite
    positions).
                         [More PGDN]
2015
2010
2020
TRACK (Continued)

    With real time tracking, you can
    plot the actual current position of
    the satellite (assuming the date and
    time in your computer are properly
    set). With accelerated tracking you
    can look ahead or behind in time at
    a satellite path. Accelerated
    tracking is best used with the
    printer enabled (F4) to print
    satellite orbital predictions ahead
    of time.

                       [More - PGDN]
2020
2015
2025
TRACK (Continued)

    - PAUSE [F3] -

    Pressing the F3 key causes all
    tracking to cease and PC-TRACK waits
    for you to press the F3 key again to
    resume the track.

    This allows you to stop the program
    and analyze a point.

    Remember: Press F3 to PAUSE and
    press it again to resume tracking.
                       [More - PGDN]
2025
2020
2030
TRACK (Continued)

    - PRINTER [F4] -
    Pressing the F4 will enable output
    to be sent to the printer while
    tracking. When used with the
    accelerated tracking mode (F2) it
    allows you to print orbital
    predictions for future revolutions.

    As with F2 and F3, F4 operates like
    a "toggle". Pressing it enables the
    printer, pressing it again disables
    the printer.
                          [More - PGDN]
2030
2025
2035
TRACK (Continued)

    - REFRESH SCREEN [F5] -

    The F5 key will redraw the world map
    and the azimuth/elevation chart on
    the screen.

    This is used when the display gets
    too cluttered from previous points
    plotted.



                          [More - PGDN]
2035
2030
2040
TRACK (Continued)
    - CHANGE TIME INTERVAL -

    The time interval is the amount of
    time between each track point to be
    computed. This number is added to
    the current track time (shown in the
    box just above the "OBJECT" box
    containing the world map). The
    current time interval is shown in
    the box just to the right of the
    track time box.  It may be changed
    only while in the Fast Track Mode
    as follows:
                          [More - PGDN]
2040
2035
3000
TRACK (Continued)
    TIME INCREMENT  00:00:00
                    HR MN SEC
     INCR   DECR     │ ││ ││
     ------------    │ ││ ││
     ALTF1  CTRLF1 ──┘ ││ ││
     ALTF2  CTRLF2 ────┘│ ││
     ALTF3  CTRLF3 ─────┘ ││
     ALTF4  CTRLF4 ───────┘│
     ALTF5  CTRLF5 ────────┘
    (ALTFx means holding the ALT key
    while pressing the Fx key and CRLFx
    means holding the CTRL key while
    pressing the Fx key)

3000
2000
3100
CONFIGURE

  With this option, you may change some
  of the various pieces of information
  (parameters) which control how the
  program operates. There are options
  available here:

    => SCREEN
       Screen colors parameters.

    => SYSTEM
       Printer control codes and data
       drive designation.

3100
3000
3110
CONFIGURE SCREEN

  With this option, you will be able to
  define all the screen colors used by
  PC-TRACK to display information. This
  way you can get the screen displays to
  look the way you want. This also makes
  it easy to adjust displays on mono-
  chrome monitors. You are able to see
  the effects of changes on the screen
  while you make them. You can make
  hanges to both the background and text
  colors with simple key strokes.

                     [More-PGDN]
3110
3100
3111
CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands)
  Information is displayed on the
  screen using 7 different categories for
  the text and background colors...
    - NORMAL
    - HIGHLIGHTED
    - DATA ENTRY
    - TITLE
    - SCREEN COLOR
    - SHADOW COLOR
  Only the combinations used in PC-TRACK
  are shown. The colors for both the
  background and text colors can be
  selected for each of these categories.
                       [More-PGDN]
3111
3110
3112
CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands)

  => SELECT TEXT COLOR CATEGORY
     Using the Left and Right arrow keys
     selects the category for text color
     changes. Current category is shown
     by a down arrow.

  => SELECT BACKGROUND CATEGORY
     Using the Up and Down arrow keys
     selects the category for background
     color changes. Current category is
     shown by a right arrow.

                           [More-PGDN]
3112
3111
3200
CONFIGURE SCREEN (Key Commands)

  => CHANGE TEXT COLOR (F5)
     Pressing this key changes the color
     of the currently selected text
     category. There are 16 colors to
     choose from on a color monitor.

  => CHANGE BACKGROUND COLOR (F6)
     Pressing this key changes the color
     of the currently selected background
     category. There are 2 sets of 8
     identical colors. One set causes the
     text to be non-blinking while the
     other causes blinking text.
3200
3100
3210
CONFIGURE SYSTEM

  This option allows you to change the
  control codes sent to your printer to
  make it print the PC-TRACK reports
  correctly. It also allows you to define
  where PC-TRACK looks on your disk to
  find the files it needs to operate
  with.






3210
3200
3211
CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Printer Codes)

  Printer codes are sequences of special
  control characters sent to your
  printer. PC-TRACK displays and
  accepts them from you as the decimal
  equivalents of each control character
  separated by a slash (/). For example
  the ESC character has a decimal value
  of 27 so it is shown on the screen that
  way. Notice each print command has a
  code sequence to turn it on and one to
  turn it off. Some codes do not need to
  be turned off, so that portion is left
  blank.                   [More-PGDN]
3211
3210
3230
CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Printer Codes)

  Some printers may not be capable of
  printing certain features shown on the
  screen, in that case, leave the CODE
  TO TURN ON blank for that feature.
  You have up to 20 characters to define
  the turn-on or turn-off codes,
  including the slashes.

  You may move the cursor around on the
  screen to the desired code sequence by
  using the arrow keys or just pressing
  RETURN.

3230
3210
4000
CONFIGURE SYSTEM (Data Path)

  This line tells PC-TRACK what disk
  drive and what directories and
  subdirectory on that disk to use as the
  storage area for the data files it
  uses.  This line of text will be in the
  form of an MS-DOS path name. If you
  just want to tell PC-TRACK to use the
  B drive, just enter "B:" here. If you
  have PC-TRACK on your hard disk and
  it is the C drive and you have a
  special subdirectory called
  "\PCT\DATA", then you would enter
  "C:\PCT\DATA" on this line.
4000
3000
1000
QUIT


  This option allows you to quit
  PC-TRACK and return to MS-DOS.








