WinOrbit: Related Software and Files

Related Software and Files

• Tom Kelso's data base - the definitive source!
  
• AMSAT database - Amateur Radio and other public-interest satellites
  
• European Kep Database - mirror site.

Format Converters
Utility programs to simplify conversion of Unix files to DOS format (see the italicized note above!):

• TXT-CVT 1.0 - A Windows File Manager add-on to convert text files to or from DOS/Windows, Macintosh, and Unix formats. Very handy if you are having trouble with satellite data downloaded from the internet. From Tempest Software (by Ray Lischner, lisch@tempest-sw.com). Freeware.
  
• You can also use the MS-DOS EDIT program (v 1.0, part of MS-DOS 5.0) to convert a Unix file. Simply open the file and save it again with the same name! Thanks to Jens Henrik Jensen for this suggestion.

Freeware Zip/Unzip software (I used version 5.1 to create the archive file):

• UUNET archive Info-Zip's Zip/Unzip 5.2 programs for DOS. Read more about this freeware at the Info-Zip home page.
  

Enhanced Data Files
Additional data or updates of files used by WinOrbit:

• W6GRV (ex-N6JKQ)'s LATLONG.QTH - Updated file with the latest DXCC info (June 1997), by Rob Smith. Ready to use.
  
• W6GRV (ex-N6JKQ)'s SPECIAL.QTH - Same as above, but with all entries "commented-out". Handy for planning DX contacts - just remove the '*' from one or more entries of interest, and then use for "Show DX" or to print "Mutual Visibility" tables in WinOrbit.
  

Note: both the above files have .TXT extensions, to avoid automatically overwriting your existing files. You'll have to rename them.

• Basic world map (USERMAP0.ZIP, 16259 bytes) UnZip this to get the bitmap file, and put it in your WinOrbit directory, before starting the program. This is a monochrome bitmap in blue and green, but the exact appearance will depend on your software (it's black and white in Paintbrush). The original map is from coastline data such as that available at the US government National Geophysical Data Center. If you want to make your own map, you can use this as a starting point. If you make really nice map, let me know, and I'll put it up here for others to share, too.

For some unusual (if not entirely realistic) visual effects, try one of these USERMAP.BMP files:

• World Relief Map (USERMAP1.ZIP, 143781 bytes) UnZip this to get the bitmap file, and put it in your WinOrbit directory, before starting the program. The exact appearance may depend on your video driver. It will look better in WinOrbit 3.0, too. Try the view from space with this. The original map is from the US government National Geophysical Data Center: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/global/seltopo.html and shows ocean floor relief as well as land forms. Thanks to Gerard Durand for the suggestion.
  
• Another World Relief Map (USERMAP2.ZIP, 28211 bytes) UnZip this to get the bitmap file, and put it in your WinOrbit directory, before starting the program. The exact appearance may depend on your video driver. This is a simplified relief map based on data (coastlines and elevations) from from the US government National Geophysical Data Center, and is easier to read, as well as having slightly better resolution, than the previous file.
  
• Another World Map from Mike Norton, KF6NCY. (USERMAP3.ZIP, 431949 bytes) UnZip this to get the bitmap file, and put it in your WinOrbit directory, before starting the program.
  

• The Satellite's Encyclopedia - A definitive list of over 1700 satellites by Jean-Phillipe Donnio. This software can be linked to WinOrbit, making information available with a single keystroke.
  
• OSCAR Satellite Summary - Amateur Radio Satellite descriptions by N7HPR.