Thanks to all who provided the info on the GSFC 2 line elements that I used to receive in my mailbox every few days.
I currently update all my software through the satellite element update feature within satpc. I download the keps, and run a little script that updates my other tracking programs (and as we all know, one can't have too many tracking programs!).
I recall now that I used the GSFC mailings for Amateur, as well as weather satellites for APT reception. I remember that I was pretty familiar with the interpretation of the 2-line format, and could type them in fairly quick. Don't ask me to repeat this feat today! Was it tedious? I guess you could say yes, but remember that feeling you had when you loaded, then ran a tracking program on your home computer for the first time - that computer being a Sinclair, trs-80, coco, VIC, C-64, Apple II, Osbourne (insert your favorite here)? Remember the elation of printing out, sometimes in the matter of just a few minutes, batch prediction output for the whole week? Oscarlocator was a fine method that worked well for us, but Wow! A home computer in my shack! Then we sat and imagined a day when we could get our computers to aim our antennas, and compensate for doppler.
Thanks to all who filled in the details on my little digression down memory lane. I'm sure there are those of you on the list who's lane goes down much farther than mine, and I'd like to hear the stories. Thanks!
Rich, N8UX