SatPC32 version 12.6 is now available for download from the author's web site: http://www.dk1tb.de/downloadeng.htm

Version 12.6 has some new features that will be of interest to many satellite operators. The most notable new features are a "Voice AOS announce" function and a separate "Countdown" window that displays the next AOS/LOS for all the satellites in your main satellite group. Also, the program now ignores the new characters in brackets that celestrak.com recently added to their Keplerian element files.

Here is the complete list of changes in the "What's New" file:

1. Previous program versions displayed the AOS and LOS times of the next passes of the shown satellites inside and below the world map. With version 12.6 the program can alternatively count down the remaining hours and minutes until the next AOS or LOS. A new control button enables the user to toggle between the two display modes. The program updates the remaining times with each update of the graphical window (by default every 10 seconds).

2. For a quick overview the program can optionally display in a separate window a countdown of the remaining times until the next AOS or LOS and show the maximum elevation of the next pass of all selected satellites. This window is also updated simultaneously with the update of the graphical window.

3. The programs SatPC32 and Wisat32 can now output an acoustic message when a satellite is rising. Thus it will draw the user's attention to the rising even if he is not watching the screen.

4. The sub tone steering functions of the program have been expanded. These functions support now also the Kenwood TS-790A.

5. The auxiliary program WinAOS has been improved. All passes of a particular satellite can be highlighted by clicking on the satellites' name. This facilitates the overview over the coming passes of that satellite.

6. The programs now ignore any characters in brackets after the satellite names in Keplerian element text files. This allows the user's existing Doppler.SQF file to be compatible with the new Keps file format from Celestrak.

The downloadable version is a "trial" version that requires the user to enter their lat/lon every time they start the program. To make the program fully functional, a registration password must be purchased from AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, or AMSAT-UK. Your existing registration password may be used for the new version.

The author Erich Eichmann DK1TB has donated SatPC32 as a fund-raiser for AMSAT. If you use SatPC32, please support amateur satellite programs by purchasing a SatPC32 registration password.

Version 12.6 must be installed in a NEW directory if you currently use version 12.3 or older. Please read the installation instructions.

Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik