Portable PREDICT Plus
A Two-Floppy Linux for Satellite Work
Peter Ellis VK1KEP tells us AMSAT has announced the release of Portable
PREDICT Plus, a miniature two-floppy distribution of Linux that
includes several ham radio and OSCAR satellite communication applications.
Portable PREDICT Plus boots from a pair of floppy disks and runs entirely
in RAM. There's no need to download huge CDROM images, install Linux,
compile code, configure a kernel, or re-partition your hard disk to run
this software.
A third "data disk" is used to save configuration and home
directory files, and can be used to import Keplerian orbital data into
the system during set-up.
Portable PREDICT Plus includes PREDICT, PB/PG, FODtrack, PacsatTools,
MoonTracker, minicom, setserial, and a small collection of AX.25 applications
and utilities including kisson, kissoff, kissattach, kissparms, listen,
mheard, call, and beacon. There's even a program included to play audio
CDs.
Portable PREDICT Plus is based on a Linux kernel version 2.6.7 and offers
8 "virtual consoles" for true multi-tasking.
It is capable of supporting moonbounce, analogue and digital (Pacsat)
satellite operations (including the new ECHO satellite), satellite and
terrestrial packet radio communications including ISS operations, as well
as the generation of APRS-style beacons. Portable PREDICT Plus supports
KISS and 6pack mode terminal nodecontrollers, and runs on 32-bit PCs from
386s on up.
Portable PREDICT Plus is available in two forms: One that builds the
disksets under Linux, and another that builds the disks under a DOS/Windows
environment. The DOS/Windows version contains some extra tutorial information
to assist those new to a Linux computing environment.
Downloads are about 3 megabytes.
Additional information is available from the author,
John A. Magliacane, KD2BD at:
http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html
Direct links to the software:
Linux version:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/Linux/ppplus-0.90.tar.gz
DOS/Windows version:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/PC/tracking/pplus090.zip
Source: Wireless
Institute of Australia
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