Lesson 4: Satellite Tracking & Prediction

Objectives

• Install satellite tracking software
• Download and update TLE data
• Predict satellite passes
• Optimize reception scheduling

Installation

# Install GPredict
sudo apt install gpredict

# Install SatDump
git clone https://github.com/altillimity/SatDump
cd SatDump
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make -j4

# Install Orbitron
wget http://www.stoff.pl/orbitron/Orbitron_6.0_install.exe

Satellite Tracking

# Update TLE data
wget https://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/weather.txt
wget https://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/amateur.txt

# Predict NOAA passes
predict -q 1 -f weather.txt -t 48 -p NOA*

# Calculate Doppler shift
doppler --satellite NOAA-19 --frequency 137.100 --start-time 2024-01-01T12:00:00Z

Automation

# Automated recording script
#!/bin/bash
SATELLITE="NOAA-19"
FREQUENCY="137.100M"
DURATION="600"

predict -q 1 -f weather.txt -p $SATELLITE | while read line; do
    START_TIME=$(echo $line | awk '{print $1}')
    END_TIME=$(echo $line | awk '{print $2}')
    
    # Start recording
    timeout $DURATION gqrx -f $FREQUENCY -r ${SATELLITE}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).wav
done