csete / Gpredict

Gpredict is a real time satellite tracking and orbit prediction program for the Linux desktop. It uses the SGP4/SDP4 propagation algorithms together with NORAD two-line element sets (TLE).

Some core features of Gpredict include:

• Tracking of a large number of satellites only limited by the physical memory and processing power of the computer
• Display the tracking data in lists, maps, polar plots and any combination of these
• Have many modules open at the same either in a notebook or in their own windows. The modules can also run in full-screen mode
• You can use many ground stations
• Predict upcoming passes
• Gpredict can run in real-time, simulated real-time (fast forward and backward), and manual time control
• Detailed information both the real time and non-real time modes
• Doppler tuning of radios via Hamlib rigctld
• Antenna rotator control via Hamlib rotctld

Visit the gpredict homepage at http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/ for more info.

Requirements

Gpredict is written using the Gtk+ 3 widget set, which is available for most Unix like operating systems, Mac and Windows. Following libraries are required for successful compilation of Gpredict:

• Gtk+ 3 or later
• GLib 2.32 or later
• GooCanvas 2
• Libcurl 7.16 or later
• Hamlib (runtime only, not required for build)

If you compile Gpredict from source you will also need the development packages often with -dev or -devel in the package name, e.g. libgtk-3-dev. On Debian and Ubuntu systems you can install the build dependencies using:

sudo apt install libtool intltool autoconf automake libcurl4-openssl-dev sudo apt install pkg-config libglib2.0-dev libgtk-3-dev libgoocanvas-2.0-dev

To build and install gpredict from source, first unpack the source package:

tar -xvf gpredict-x.y.z.tar.gz

Then change to the gpredict-x.y.z directory and build gpredict:

./configure make make install

The last step usually requires you to become root, otherwise you may not have the required permissions to install gpredict. If you can not or do not want to install gpredict as root, you can install gpredict into a custom directory by adding --prefix=somedir to the ./configure step. For example

./configure --prefix=/home/user/predict

will configure the build to install the files into /home/user/gpredict folder.

If you are building directly from the git repository, you have to run ./autogen.sh instead of of configure. You can pass the same options to the autogen.sh script as you would to the configure script.

If you want to know more about installation options refer to the INSTALL file (not for beginners).

Using Gpredict

Gpredict comes bundled with some example data and will run "out of the box". Once you got the idea of the UI, you can either modify the settings of the default module (click on the small down-arrow in the top right corner), or create a new module through File -> New Module.

You are highly encouraged to have a look at the user manual available at http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/documents.php

User support

User support is provided through the Gpredict forum hosted by the Libre Space Foundation: https://community.libre.space/c/gpredict

Terms and conditions

Gpredict is released under the GNU General Public License and comes with NO WARRANTY whatsoever. If you have problems installing or using Gpredict, feel free to ask for support for example on the Gpredict forum hosted by the Libre Space Foundation https://community.libre.space/c/gpredict

Note that the development environment is being migrated from Sourceforge to Github: https://github.com/csete/gpredict

Mailing lists, old bug trackers, etc, are still available on Sourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpredict

Happy Tracking!

Alexandru Csete OZ9AEC