GLOBAL SATELLITE CALCULATOR - PROGRAM USAGE You must be in the correct path for where the program files are, then start the program from the DOS command line by typing SAT and hitting the ENTER key. Examples: A:>SAT <ENTER> Run the program from the A floppy drive. C:\SAT>SAT <ENTER> Run the program from a subdirectory called SAT on your C drive. Typing SAT from the command line starts the program in CGA mode, but testing is done to see if your system is mono or color. This usually catches monochrome monitors and will interpret the colors into monochrome equivalents, which should run fine on most systems. If you do have a problem, exit the program and re-start it using one of the three switches described below to help with your problem. -c CGA snow elimination -b BIOS screen writing -m Forces monochrome mode (MONO.BAT does this) The program starts by testing video mode, setting CAPS LOCK to "on" (all letters MUST be in capitals), data file is loaded, opening the background screen and displaying a title window. After a short time delay the title window disappears and the Site/Ship Information window is opened. Please note that the prompts for input of position information (LAT, LONG & SAT) require you to hit the ENTER key after you fill in the field, the North, South East & West (N, S, E & W) fields do NOT. When any of the sub-menu's are on the screen you can hit ESC to get back to the Main Menu. Site/Ship [I]nformation - "Enter Site/Ship Name, Latitude and Longitude". Same as described below, you are prompted for it here so you can move directly to calculations from the Main Menu. MAIN MENU - The Main Menu window opens for operator selection of what to do next. Desired option can be selected by using the up/down arrow keys to highlight the option, or by typing the hot key letter for the option (the letter inside the square brackets). When the arrow keys are used a brief description of what the option does is displayed in the bottom section of the window. Site/Ship [I]nformation - "Enter Site/Ship Name, Latitude and Longitude". Select this option if you want to re-enter the information. You will be prompted for each input. When completed you will be asked if the information is correct. Site/Ship Name - Name of the antenna location for other screens and printouts. Up to 24 characters are allowed, spaces may be used to separate individual parts of a multi-part name. Longitude - Enter longitude in decimal form to closest tenth, including the decimal point (ie. 100.7) and hit ENTER. E/W - Enter E for east or W (default) for west. Latitude - Same as longitude, enter in decimal form and hit ENTER. N/S - Enter N (default) for north or S for south. Confirmation window opens, asks if information is correct. Default is Y (yes), so hitting Y or ENTER confirms that the information is correct and proceeds with the program. Hitting N (no) allows you to re-enter the information. This information is not written to the disk, and therefore, must be entered each time you run the program. AZ/EL [C]orrection - "Enter known Az or EL error". When selected a warning window is opened for 5 seconds, then the entry window appears. If error is CONSISTENT and small, enter the amount to be added or subtracted for calculated angles to be accurate for YOUR system. If you CONSISTENTLY find the satellite at a higher value than calculated, tell me to ADD the difference (ie +1.7) or SUBTRACT (ie -1.3) if lower. Satellite calculations will be corrected accordingly, so that screens and printouts will more accurately reflect where you should point your antenna to find a particular satellite. You will have to re-enter correction value(s) each time you run this program. [S]ingle Satellite(s) - "Calculate satellite one at a time". Selection of this option opens a window displaying Site/Ships Name, latitude and longitude. You are prompted to enter position (longitude) of the satellite you wish to solve pointing angles for. Enter is made in decimal form (ie 133.0) followed by <ENTER>, then you will be prompted for East or West (E for East or W for West). If calculated elevation is less than 7.0 degrees you will see a message "That Satellite is NOT visible!". A small window will open asking if you would like to "Calculate Another" satellite. Answering N (no) closes both windows, returning you to the Main Menu, answering Y (yes) closes the small window and re-prompts entry of position and E/W. All [V]iewable Satellites--"Calculate all viewable satellites" based on your location on the globe. You are prompted to choose "Printer or File" to send output to, then satellite location, name and band info is read from data file (sat.dat) ... numbers are crunched and the results are sent to your printer or file. Your printer must be recognized (by DOS) as device PRN (LPT1). Make sure its "on line" and loaded with paper. Most printouts are nearly a full page and MAY exceed the printable area of a single sheet, and in some areas the printout will definitely be more than a single page I recommend using tractor feed paper. If the printer is not really ready, or runs out of paper before output is finished, a printer error window will open. Pressing ESC will close the error window and return you to the Main Menu. The "File" choice outputs to a file named TEMP in the same directory path as the program. This option allows you to use DOS's PRINT command (or any text printing program you choose) to print the file if you have a serial printer on one of your comm ports. The information is printed in columns with site/ship name and location as heading. Columns are Location, Satellite Name, Band info, and Pointing Angles (EL and AZ). Satellites below 7.0 degrees are NOT printed. Any AZ/EL error values are added after calculation, but before printing (so printed AZ/EL are corrected for your system). Satellites in inclined orbit won't constantly be where AZ/EL calculated angles say they should be. [E]xit Program- "Exit to DOS" Small window opens to ask you if your sure you want to quit, press N (no) if you want to return to the main menu, Y (yes) if you really want to quit. When you do exit I give you a final 3 second window to say "good-bye!", turn your Caps Lock "off" and return you to DOS.
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