Hello Bob, in the SatPC32 menu "Tracking", "MA" enter 128. The program will then show you the time of apogee and the satellites's position at that time. With WinListen calculate (for a longer period) the times at which the satellite is in range for you and look at the MA values. Currently the apogee position of FO-29 is far away from your location (over Antarctica). This position changes very slowly.
Regarding your yesterday's question (antenna direction calibration). With SuMListen you can calculate very precisely the time at which the Sun is exactly in the South for your location (that is not 12.00 local time, for example it is 12.30:40 CET for my location today). The elevation 0 of the antenna can be calibrated with a spirit level. .
A "software solution" to calibrate your antenna: With program SuM (menu "Rotor" you can correct azimut and elevation of the antenna until it points exactly to the Sun. SuM doesn't provide to store the correction values but you can store the found values with SatPC32 (menu "Rotor"). They will then be used also by SuM at next program start.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob- W7LRD" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 7:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] apogee prediction?
Hello (again)...Is there a way (program) that one can predict when the apogee of a given satellite will favor a given grid square? Specifically FO29 varies from about 813 km to 1351km. One can potentially "stretch" the footprint when it is at apogee. 73 Bob W7LRD (sunny) Seattle _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.oHelrg/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb