**************** * SAT_EXPLORER * **************** by Gabriel Rivat F6DQM ======================= SAT_EXPLORER is a free software for satellite and EME users. Minimum configuration : WinXP and + Mandatory files (in the same directory as Sat_Explorer.exe): * Sat_Explorer.exe * NTPort.dll * zntport.sys (to be recopied in WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/DRIVERS directory if WinNT, 2000, XP/ 7/ 8/ 10 and the parallel port is used). Two different copies of this driver are available : one for 32bits (X86) and one for 64bits system (X64). If using the install package, they will be automatically installed in the right system directory. * A two-Element-line file (see celestrack.com or AMSAT site ) When you create a shortcut on the bureau, be sure that the starting repertory is the one that contains Sat_Explorer. It provides visibility forcasts as a waiting delay and a visibility duration very quickly and all the time. Ten (and even more) satellites can be monitored simultaneously. The program is written to be run as a background task while you are running other programs in your PC or doing odd jobs. If you specify it, when a satellite is approaching, a sound alarm will be sent. The program will be restored on screen if it was reduced in the task bar and the name of the approaching satellite will blink yellow for a quick view. As soon as a satellite is visible, the name of the satellite blinks green; an alarm is optionaly sent and the program window is restored on screen if it was reduced in the task bar. When a satellite disappears, its next visibility is immediatly computed and monitoring restarts for this new visibility. For each of the monitored satellites, SAT_EXPLORER provides a detailled description of the next or current visibility, minute by minute : elevation, azimuth, range, altitude, position, phase and Doppler shift. You can choose to monitor a further visibility if the next one is unusable because of a too low or to short visibility. As said before, this software is a continuous forecasting aid for satellite users. It required Win95 or more and a TWO-LINE-ELEMENTS file in NASA format to run correctly. You will find such a file on the radioamateur packet network or on the Net (try celestrack.com for example) but if you are a satellite user, you probably already have such a file in your computer. It is possible to monitor several sets of satellites with Sat_Explorer : just duplicate the executable in as many directories and run each of them separatly with their own set of satellites. You may create a shortcut for Oscar satellites, another one for meteo satellites, etc. VERY IMPORTANT : While running this program under VISTA, WIN7, 8, 10 from a sub-directory under the directory Program Files, you will have to start this program as administrator anyway for getting full access to all functions of it, especially the recording of text files, image files, sound files. If you don’t do that, the produced files won’t be accessible because of the UserAccountControl (UAC) of Windows. If you don’t want to run the program as admin, you have to install it in a sub-directory which is NOT under C:\Program Files, but anyw