Software for Acorn Risc Computers
Introduction
I have been programming virtually daily for many years on the Acorn Risc Computer family (BASIC, C and ARM assembler). Much of the material is to do with the use and management of amateur radio satellites. Some items listed are command line utilities, some are ported from the BBC Microcomputer, some is instructive, and some is WIMP multi-tasking. The following software runs on any variant of the Acorn Risc Computer.
!TLM13 is a RiscOS compliant program to display Oscar-13 400 bps PSK telemetry. Just connect your AO-10 or P3 Data Demodulator MK II to the serial port or dual serial port expansion card, and access to all the engineering and text block telemetry is available at your finger tips.
There is a program control window, four data windows for Status, Navigation, Power and Temperature data, and a window for the Text blocks. CRCC checking optionally validates/rejects data, and comprehensive data logging, replay and log file filtering facilities are provided. Data from the Oscar-13 telemetry archive can be replayed with this software.
The program supports on-line help, !Boot file generation and comes with full program documentation and telemetry specifications. Expansion serial ports may be used. Additional instructions for adapting MK I decoders for RS232 and CRCC output (if desired) is supplied. This program is identical to that used by AO-13 command stations DB2OS, G3RUH, VK5AGR, W4SM and ZL1AOX. Fully multi-tasking, the program requires 80k of memory, and RiscOS 3.1 or later. Currently at version 1.10.
When the Phase 3D satellite is near to launch, a new version of this program will be released, called !P3DTLM, which reflects the new telemetry assignments. [available]
!Track13 is a RiscOS compliant embodiment of Plan13 routines (see below). It installs on the Icon Bar, and its two windows may be popped up at any time to check on your favourite satellite! Extremely clearly coded, to enable you to understand not only the basics of Wimp programming, but also satellite tracking calculations. The program requires 32k of memory, and RiscOS 2 or later. Currently at version 0.14.
When the Phase 3D satellite is near to launch, a new version of the program will be released, called !TRACK40 [available].
!NPL This program will dial the UK's National Physical Laboratory TRUETIME service and reset the CMOS UTC clock in your computer. Your modem must support CCITT V22 (1200 baud full duplex) and the Hayes command set. Currently at version 1.02. For RiscOS 2 onwards.
!GPS This program resets the computer's clock from a GPS receiver connected to the serial port. It reads the ASCII plaintext messages $GPRMC and $GPGGA. For RiscOS 2 onwards.
Plan13 is the seminal satellite tracking code from Oscar News 85 Oct 1990 (56 kB) that has fathered many other authors' programs. It's clearly coded to offer the user not only an essential utility, but also the ideal program from which to teach yourself the basics of satellite tracking calculations. As supplied it produces a line output for planning purposes, like this:
OSCAR-13 - G3RUH AMSAT DAY 5106 1991 Dec 25 [Wed]
ORBIT: 2704 AP/RAAN: 273/54 ALON/ALAT: 180/0 SAZ/SEL: 310/16 ILL: 79%
UTC MA MODE RANGE EL AZ SQ RR ECL? HGT SLAT SLON
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1745 18 B 15300 8 92 72 2.9 vis 11031 22 70
1800 24 B 17918 16 83 60 2.9 ECL 14252 30 73
1815 29 B 20444 22 77 50 2.7 vis 17170 36 75
1830 35 B 22810 26 72 43 2.5 vis 19812 40 76
Window13 computes the mutual windows between two stations via AO-13 according to user supplied dates, elevation, squint and MA criteria. Indispensable.
Satfoot draws the footprints of up to 20 satellites at once, including the Sun and Moon, superimposed on a precision mercator's map of the world. Time (Y,M,D,H,M,S) may be instantly changed by single key strokes, and there is a fast-forward mode. Four colours all changeable. Status line gives conditions as seen from one of 20 locations. Fast search for rise/set. Planning is fast and incredibly simple. Two maps supplied, Europe or Australasia central. Keplerian elements can be updated from NASA 2-line sets. Ported from the BBC Microcomputer.
!IPS a release of the IPS operating system described elsewhere on these web pages.
Ordering
A disc can be obtained from the author for postage only. Methods of payment
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Last updated: 2020 Jul 05 - broken links fixed. (Original page 2001 Dec 20)