Admin at 11:23, 22 May 2012

2012-05-22T11:23:12Z

New page

PREDICT is an open-source, multi-user satellite tracking and orbital prediction program written under the Linux operating system by John A. Magliacane, KD2BD. PREDICT is free software. Users may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License or any later version.

Link to the original Predict software: http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html

This page is a collection of screenshots and a beta software release of my attempt to port the software to the Android smart-phone platform.

Below is a list of features that have been known to work:

* Orbital predictions for sun, moon and satellites
* Online updating of TLE (Two Line Element) data sets
* Observer location definitions
* Manually editing of TLE data
* Realtime tracking of sun, moon and satellites
* I2C output, using Sparkfun IOIO board, see http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10748

==Some screen shots==

[[File:P1.jpg|none]]
Main menu

[[File:P2.jpg|none]]
The realtime satellite tracking screen

[[File:P3.jpg|none]]
The Orbital Predictions screen. The 'map' button displays a top-view of the satellite trajectory over your location (see below).

[[File:P8.jpg|none]]
A graphical representation of the satellite pass over as seen from above.

[[File:P4.jpg|none]]
Page with the available TLE sources. Here you can manage which TLE sources the program should use when updating from the web.

[[File:P5.jpg|none]]
Here is where you define the TLE sources. They're basically links to text files where to find the TLE data.

[[File:P6.jpg|none]]
The actual TLE data can be manually added or edited.

[[File:P7.jpg|none]]
You can add location definitions to the program to easily switch between observer locations.

==Installing the program==

-either-
* Navigate to this web page using your android phone
* Find the latest version of the apk file and click on it.
* On the File:Predict.apk page click on the Predict.apk link (with the filesize, and MIME type application/zip)

-or-
* Scan the QR-code for the direct download link.
* Once the code has been recognised, select 'Open Browser'

(download should begin automatically and the file will be stored in your Downloads directory)
* Open your Android file browser and navigate to the Downloads directory.
* Find the file Predict.apk (the .apk extension may not be visible) and click it to install
* Press the 'Install' button

[[File:Predict-launch-icon.png]]

The predict icon once it's installed on your Android device.

Once the program has been installed:

* run Predict on your Android device.
* Update TLE data (Settings - TLE Sources - Update Active TLE's)
* Add your location (Settings - Locations - Add Location)
* Set the time zone (Settings - Time and Date)

==Latest version of the Predict for Android APK file==

* Predict for Android: [[File:Predict-0.1beta4.apk]]

* Direct download link to the latest Predict.apk software:
[[File:Qrpredict 300x300.png|none]]
Scan the above code to start the download.

==Features not implemented (yet)==

* multi-satellite tracking (it's going to be a real challenge to fit all the info on one screen!!)
* predicting of visible satellite passes
* night-colours scheme (switch to reddish colours for night-time usage of the program)
* digitised voice announcements (partially working)
* tcp/ip network master
* On-screen compass heading for quick satellite finding
* much, much more..

==Version History==

* Beta 4 (release date: 21 May 2012)
- Added NTP support to sync with Internet time

- Added 'First-Time Setup' page explaining the various functions

- Added 'Delete all Satellites' and 'Set all Active' in Satellites page

- Predict now communicates with the Sparkfun IOIO board and outputs realtime satellite coordinates as I2C

- Satellite and Location list menus are now alphabetically sorted

- Added build time to 'About' page

- Added alarm when satellite is above horizon in Realtime mode

- moved 'Set Active' checkbox in TLE page to the top of the page

* Beta 3 (release date: 5 May 2010)
- Program now uses conventional lat/lon locations (East of Greenwich is +, West is -).

- Location changes applied without having to restart program.

- Added QR-code for easy sharing.

- Realtime tracking now updates every 200ms.

- Added a 'First-Time Setup' page.

- Predict now only supports 'portrait' orientation

* Beta 2 (release date: 2 May 2012)
- Added dedicated page for sun and moon realtime data.

* Beta 1 (release date: 29 April 2012)
- First beta release, many functions still not complete.

- Realtime single satellite works, AOS and LOS not always updated.

Predict - Revision history

Admin at 11:23, 22 May 2012