I have a couple of questions regarding how to use Orbitron with my Yaesu FT-847. I have just started experimenting with this setup and I have got it operating under PC control via the serial port, using a null-modem cable(recommended) and comm rate of 57600 baud.

The first question is: when trying to listen to linear transponder equipped satellites like VO-52, I find that I am forced to tune the receiver by typing in the frequency in Orbitron, and then the radio tracks that frequency. This makes searching the transponder extremely difficult. What I am hoping to accomplish is that I can tune the receiver with the VFO, and have the computer only handle the RATE of doppler-shift, and keep the transmitter co-ordinated in order to avoid having to "find my downlink" whenever transmitting. My radio can co-ordinate TX/RX on it's own via it's "satellite" features, but it can't compensate for doppler since it doesn't know the KEPS, obviously. Every time I try to use the VFO dial on my radio, it shifts, and then the PC takes over and puts the receiver back to where orbitron tells it to be. is this issue unique to me, or am I doing something wrong?

The second question is: can the PC-controlled tuning of the transciever be "smoothed-out" so that while listening to CW while doppler shift is rapid, the radio takes smaller, and more frequent steps, thus avoiding hugh shifts in received audio frequency which makes deconding impossible. It seems to be updating about once per second, and I can't find any settings in orbitron to have an update period shorter than this. Ideally, I would like the period to be about 5 to 10 times per second. Again, I think I must be doing something wrong, but I have spent some time already, and have failed to see the solution.

Thanks,

Auke de Jong VE6PWN DO33go Edmonton, AB