ITSTAMP -- Adds Azimuth and Elevation to a Timestamped Data File ==================================================================== Copyright 1991,1992 Paul Williamson, KB5MU. All rights reserved. You may use this program freely for non-commercial purposes related to Amateur Radio. Any other use of this program requires a license. ==================================================================== Last Revised: 11/26/92 KB5MU Also Revised: 03/01/02 KB5MU (contact info only) ITstamp is designed for use in analysis of satellite-related data. If you have a series of observations taken at known times, it can be useful to determine the position of the satellite relative to the observer at the time of each observation. This program will allow you to do this simply. This program takes as input a file containing timestamped ASCII data records, and appends to each record (line) the azimuth and elevation of a specified satellite from a specified station at the timestamp time. Except for the timestamp itself, the input records may be of any single-line format you like. Starting ITstamp ---------------- The command line format is: ITSTAMP [] If station is not specified, the local QTH is assumed. Satellite and station info is taken from the standard InstantTrack database. For example, the command itstamp 92112618.log 92112618.out ao-16 kb5mu will cause ITstamp to read the file of observations 92112618.LOG and write the output file 92112618.OUT with information added for the satellite AO-16 and the groundstation KB5MU. Details for the satellite and station are taken from the InstantTrack database, which is located following the same rules InstantTrack itself uses (see IT.DOC). As usual, if your satellite name or station name contain spaces (or some other funny characters), you will have to enclose them in double quotation marks on the command line. For example, itstamp 92112618.log junk.out "ATS 3" "San Diego" Input and Output File Formats ----------------------------- The input records have the following format: The output records have the following format: , , , If the input record starts with a number, that number is taken to be a Unix time (number of seconds since January 1, 1970), in decimal. The number may be preceded by white space, but it must appear within the first 80 columns. There is no restriction on how long the input record may be. The azimuth, elevation, and range from the specified station to the specified satellite are computed and appended to the end of the record, and the resulting record is written to the output file. If the input record does not start with a number, it is copied to the output file unchanged. Azimuth and elevation are in degrees, represented as decimal integers in the ranges [0,360) and (-90,90] respectively. Range is in kilometers, represented as a decimal integer. Credits ------- The computational routines used in this program are taken from InstantTrack by Franklin Antonio, N6NKF. Source Availability ------------------- I believe that source code should generally be released under the same terms as executable code, especially for small, free programs directed at a technical audience (like this one). However, this program contains some of the key routines from InstantTrack. The source code to InstantTrack is held to be proprietary, and is not mine to release in any case. So, source code for ITstamp is only available to source code licensees of InstantTrack (at present, that's nobody). If it's any consolation, remember that ALL proceeds from InstantTrack sales go to support AMSAT. Support ------- As usual, this program is offered as-is, with no warrantee. I will probably try to fix any bugs that are found, and I will entertain requests for additional features. If you have questions, comments, bug reports, or items for the wish list, please contact me by email: kb5mu@amsat.org Don't send me any money. If you feel obligated to contribute, please send your contribution to your local AMSAT. --------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on InstantTrack, see http://www.amsat.org/amsat/instanttrack/