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Q: How do I update my kep’s file.
A: If you are using "uni_trac.txt" as the Keps file (default).
If you are using another name for your Keps file then just rename the uni_trac.txt file that will be produced after the “File” and “Save”command at the end of this note, you could use “Save as” instead. The file name MUST match the file name as defined in the Uni_Trac Main configuration file.
Be on-line on the internet and start the Uni_Trac program.
Mouse click the "Update Keps" box and wait for the data download to be completed (it does not take long).
Mouse click the "Exit" box at bottom right of the Uni_Trac program.
With your file manager e.g. "Windows explorer" go to the Uni_Trac subdirectory possibly c:\uni_trac4 and double click on the just downloaded file uni_trac.txt, this would normally open "Notepad" and you should see satellite information in the form of Satellite name followed by data enclosed in square brackets, the next two line's are this satellite's data. This format is repeated for each satellite name.
The reason for opening this document in "Notepad" or another PLAIN word processor ( Do not use Wordpad or Word or similar) is to be able to remove the characters after the satellite name e.g. [-],[+] and [P].
This is very easily done in "Notepad": First select "Edit" then "Replace", in the Find what box type in [-], leave the Replace box empty the press "Replace All", this removes all the [-] from this file.
Repeat the above by replacing the [-] with a [+] in the Find what box then press Replace All, do the same for [P]. You have now erased all the data in the file NOT required by Uni_Trac.
Select "File" then "Save" on the top menu and you are done with Notepad.
You may now re-start Uni_Trac to use the new Kep's file.
Q: I seem to have corrupted the information Uni_Trac requires for the satellites
A: Sometimes the windows registry may become damaged in the Uni_Trac area.
This problem can be corrected quite simply, however it may be a good idea to make a screen capture of your “Main configuration “ file and for each “Satellite Parameter” file you use. Doing this may save you some time if the data needs to be re-entered at any time in the future.
To flush the Uni_Trac enteries in the windows registry do the following:
Start Uni_Trac and click on the “Control panel” box then Double click on the words “Date:” then “UTC:” and then “Local:” this will then bring up a box asking if you want to clean the registry, select Yes if this is what you want to do. This will close down the Uni_Trac program. Re-start Uni_Trac and read the message boxes that appear. Check that the Main configuration file is correct then re-enter the data for each satellite you are using. Referring to the previously saved data at this time will help.
UNI_TRAC 2000
Q: The LED flashes brightly every two seconds but the program does not run.
A: The LED flashing proves that the micro controller is healthy and has initialized correctly. The first test is to click on the box "Ext Control Port". Two panel will appear at the top of the screen full of figures. The last figure in the lower panel MUST BE the figure 8. If this last figure is not 8 then there is a problem and probably the printer port is not conversing with the card.
Have a look at the panel that appears when you boot the computer. It will briefly show the address of the printer ports among other things. It will show 378 or 278 or 3BC. In UNI.CFG make sure the statement is LPT1 for 378, LPT2 for 278, and LPT3 for 3BC. If the port is correct in UNI.CFG, check the connections from the printer port DB25 pins to the micro controller. It is possible to get very small solder splashes shorting two pins together on the PCB. This will do no harm but will corrupt the data going to the micro controller and the magic figure 8 will not appear. The data corruption may be detected by comparing the figures in both boxes binary wise. The shorted bit will soon become apparent.
Q: What is the function of the counter between 'Read In Uplink' and Read in Downlink'?
A: The counter is the Doppler Frequency Gate, i.e. it counts up to the figure set in the xxx.set and fires the data to the radios when the set value is reached. Clicking the box immediately resets the counter and the radios. The displayed frequency on the UNI_TRAC screen and the radio display may not agree at an in-between time. The key is to watch the counter. If you have set 100 Hz in xxx.set, the radio will be updated when the counter reaches 100, or as stated above, when you click the counter box to force an update. The radios will be updated whether the satellite is above or below the horizon.
Q. When I double-click Inhibit Doppler the frequencies still change on the screen.
A: Inhibit Doppler only stops the data that goes from the micro to the radio. When you restore Doppler (by single clicking the Inhibit Doppler while it is red) the radios will be updated again.
Q: How do I know the function of a button?
A: Holding the mouse over most boxes for a second will usually give a description.
Q: Is there a way to see the data that is being sent to and from the printer port?
A: Single-click on the label 'External Control Port'. This will open two areas at the top of the screen which will show the figures relating to the PC/micro dialog. Clicking once on each of these screen areas will return to normal operation. Double Clicking on the local time box will produce a second form of diagnostics usually asked for by the author when tracking malfunctions. The init button has to be clicked to reset if you do this.
Q: Can you explain more about the operation of the LED? I notice that when the UNI_TRAC PC program is not running, the LED flashes rather brightly about once every 2 seconds. When UNI_TRAC is running the LED flashes dimly and it looks like it is in step with the data being sent to the radios. Sometimes the LED is on brightly and continuously.
What does this tell me?
A: The LED can be thought of as a health indicator. You are right about the first two comments. When the LED burns continuously it indicates that the UNI_TRAC micro controller has not started properly. You need only to press the reset button to regain control of "the box" i.e. continuous bright blinking until the UNI_TRAC program starts.
Q: Will the power down feature of my PC affect UNI_TRAC operation?
A: will not affect the micro. Most computers power down the hard drives and the screen and this has no effect on UNI_TRAC. It will continue on using the LAST data sent to it from the PC. You can in fact switch the printer port cable out with no destructive effects to radio, ECP, or rotators, until you reset it manually, in which case the outside world is TOTALLY disconnected. A long part of the development was spent on these safety features.
Q: What are the various kinds of printer ports and does it make any difference how I set my CMOS?
A: There are three common types of printer ports:
SPP = Standard Parallel Port (uni-directional)
EPP = Enhanced Parallel Port (bi-directional)
ECP = Extended Capability Parallel Port (bi-directional).
However the CMOS printer port setup is of no consequence to UNI-UNI_TRAC as the program writes directly to the printer port at a machine code level.
Q: How are the Read In Downlink and Read In Uplink used?
A: Consider this: You hear a signal you want to net to. The frequency on the dial, if the signal is coming from a satellite, is Doppler shifted. Pressing the downlink button results in the following actions:
Stores instantaneous Doppler shift. Reads frequency from rig back into UNI_TRAC.
Subtracts instantaneous Doppler from read-in frequency.
Updates "Frequency at Satellite" with result of subtraction above.
Returns to real time and Doppler shifts "Frequency at Satellite" to compensate time away from real time.
You would not do this on the digital birds. The frequencies are preset in the xxx.set.The exception being when you are searching over a large portion of the band for a new unpublished frequency. Trimming the digital stuff is done with the sliders and the result is noted in order to edit the xxx.set later. When operating with the analog satellites the FULL DOPPLER TUNING Mode in invoked where both the up and down links are automatically adjusted to net the rig to the QSO being heard.
Q: How do I select the frequency interval between Doppler updates?
A: A general rule is that too frequent updating will overburden the UNI_TRAC micro unnecessarily. Therefore you should choose the largest interval that will keep the uplink within the pass band of the satellite receiver and the downlink within the pass band of the station receiver. The type of modulation, the characteristics of the satellite receiver, and the orbit, which determines the rate of change of frequency, should be considered. With respect to modulation obviously SSB requires tighter tuning than FM. With the FM digital satellites 100 to 300 Hz is adequate. The digital satellite receivers have an AFC circuit which means that uplink tuning is not very critical. For the downlink it is only necessary that the received signal be within the pass band of the station receiver. With respect to orbit, a rapidly changing Doppler will require more frequent updating. In general the low orbit satellites will have a greater rate of change and a nearly overhead pass has more change near the high elevation part of the pass than the portions near AOS and LOS. A Molniya orbit satellite has a very slow change of Doppler when near apogee. So when using SSB you can choose even 10 Hz and still not overburden UNI_TRAC.
Q: Doppler caution while testing.
A: With an LEO satellite the uplink frequency should increase throughout the pass and the downlink frequency should decrease. When the satellite is below the horizon UNI_TRAC generates Doppler changing frequencies which is useful while checking the operation of the UNI_TRAC to radio links. However, you may observe that the behavior of the frequencies is opposite to that of an above the horizon pass. Clicking the Tracking Test/Forced Parking will change the sign of the elevation which is useful for testing the rotators. However this is still a faux pass. Do not expect the Doppler to behave in the correct way of a real pass.
Q: Can I use the pass-through connector on my scanner to connect to UNI_TRAC?
A: No.
Q: What if I want to make an AO-10 schedule and use full Doppler and I say I'll meet you on 145.910 at the satellite. Now with corrections the windows in UNI_TRAC will show different frequencies for both up and down. Is there a way to do this?
A: Just enter 145.910 in your AO-10.set file. Subtract 145.910 from 581.005 MHz and put the result into the uplink space. Then everybody else can use the Full Doppler function to net to you. The figure 581.005 MHz only relates to AO-10 and is a function of that satellites published pa
ss band figures.
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