KC9XG's ASatLogger - Beta APRS Satellite Earth Station Application.

ASatLogger was designed as a Windows application for use by Earth Stations to facilitate communications with Amateur Radio APRS and Packet Satellites.  ASatLogger can communicate with and control Kenwood D7/D700/D710's connected to a local serial port. 

Packets received from satellites can be relayed to the APRS Internet System and FindU.com.  Packets can be logged to disk for a permanent record of satellite communications.  Your Earth Station can be configured to allow other Satellite enthusiasts to connect passively to monitor Satellite communications via your station.  An authorized user can control the attached D7/D700/D710 and execute the majority of ASatLogger functions over the Internet using the TNC Virtual Access Server.

ASatLogger can completely reconfigure your attached D7/D700/D710 and ASatLogger itself thru the use of .TNC files.  .TNC Files allow the user to change all required TNC and radio settings in seconds to access a different satellite.  No knowledge of programming TNC's, D7/D700/D700 required.  TNC files for common satellites and radios are distributed with ASatLogger. 

When ASatLogger is used with its internal satellite tracker or in conjunction with a compatible Nova DDE Server and D7/D700/D710 multiple satellites can be tracked at one time if Nova "Script Tracking" is used. .  The D7 and D700 radio VFO's are then adjusted automatically to account for doppler shift.  No manual tuning required except when using the D710. 

D710 NOTE:  It is not possible to monitor packet activity and control the Kenwood D710 radio with a single serial port connection.  ASatLogger only provides a connection to the D710 control head and cannot control radio frequency or adjust for doppler.  It will log and forward any packets received from the D710 control head.  The user must manually adjust the VFO to account for doppler shift.

Beta testers with one of the following radio's are needed: D7, D700, D710.  Contact kc9xg at comcast.net if you would like to participate.

ASatLogger now includes "Dupe Checking".  This option ensures that duplicate packets will not be sent to the APRS-IS within the specified "Dupe Interval".  This feature can also be used with the proposed 6 meter Meteor Scatter network to eliminate duplicates where the sending station may send multiple duplicate messages within a 60 second period.

ASatLogger Beta version is available for download at the bottom of this page.  Several of the help files and a.TNC control file are also available for viewing.

Initial ASatLogger setup is easy and should only take a minute or two to configure for APRS operation.   You can enter your position information in one of 5 ways, including nearest airport, Maidenhead grid square and 3 different lat, lon formats.  Several optional settings are provided to help configure ASatLogger for use on the APRS-IS (for relay to Findu.com), serial port setup, date format and allowing remote user connections.  Once all entries are completed, ASatLogger is ready for operation, no further setup is required.

The APRS-IS Server features allow ASatLogger to connect to the APRS-IS and to pass valid APRS packets from the serial port.  These packets may then appear on FindU.Com.  The TNC Virtual Access Server allows Internet uses to monitor packets received from your radio.  It can also be used by an authorized user to remotely control your radio over the Internet.

The My Station tab allows you to enter your callsign, APRS-IS validation number, location, additional text used as a filter when logging on to the APRS-IS.  This information is also used to create APRS packets for relay to the APRS-IS or a satellite.

The Serial Port tab  provides for complete communications and control of the latest  D7* APRS radio's..  Various display and logging features are also available here.  Radio and TNC modes can be changed via button presses.  Commands can be sent directly to the attached radio.

The Satellite tab controls the source of satellite tracking data and displays information about current and upcoming passes.  This tab allows you to specify which satellites are tracked.  The tracking sources include the ASatLogger Internal tracking routines or a NOVA DDE compatible application.  The Internal routines are used to generate scheduled pass information, under all conditions, since this info is not available from NOVA DDE.

The Tracking tab is the heart of satellite tracking and radio control.  These features are designed around a Nova DDE Server and Kenwood D7/D700/D710 radios.  The Satellite info obtained from the Nova DDE server or the ASatLogger Internal tracking routines is used to automatically configure the attached radio for individual satellites, using .TNC files (See below).  The radio VFO's (with the exception of the D710) are adjusted as needed for Doppler shift.  If Nova "Script Tracking" or ASatLogger Internal tracking is used, it is possible to track multiple satellites automatically, 24 hours a day. 

A configuration editor allows users to customize .TNC control files for later use.   Supports commands for Kenwood D7/D700/D710 radios and execution of ASatLogger Virtual Access Server remote commands.  .TNC files can be used to quickly switch D7/D700/D710 settings to new satellites.  Many .TNC files are included with the ASatLogger distribution.

Serial port setup is simplified.  Displays installed comports and available comports.  Does not support flow control.

Download Beta ASatLogger062.zip file for windows by clicking here.

View ASatLogReadMe file here
View SatHelp file here
View TNCHelp file here
View Virtual Access Server (allows remote users to connect to ASatLogger over the Internet)  help file here
View Remote Commands help (Commands to control ASatLogger remotely)  file here
View a .TNC (controls radio settings, operations) file here
View Tracking help file here.

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