1  
  2  Gpredict is a real time satellite tracking and orbit prediction program
  3  for the Linux desktop. It uses the SGP4/SDP4 propagation algorithms together
  4  with NORAD two-line element sets (TLE).
  5  
  6  Some core features of Gpredict include:
  7  
  8  - Tracking of a large number of satellites only limited by the physical
  9    memory and processing power of the computer
 10  - Display the tracking data in lists, maps, polar plots and any combination
 11    of these
 12  - Have many modules open at the same either in a notebook or in their own
 13    windows. The modules can also run in full-screen mode
 14  - You can use many ground stations
 15  - Predict upcoming passes
 16  - Gpredict can run in real-time, simulated real-time (fast forward and
 17    backward), and manual time control
 18  - Detailed information both the real time and non-real time modes
 19  - Doppler tuning of radios via Hamlib rigctld
 20  - Antenna rotator control via Hamlib rotctld
 21  
 22  Visit the gpredict homepage at http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/ for more info.
 23  
 24  
 25  Requirements
 26  ------------
 27  
 28  Gpredict is written using the Gtk+ 3 widget set, which is available for most
 29  Unix like operating systems, Mac and Windows. Following libraries are required
 30  for successful compilation of Gpredict:
 31  
 32  - Gtk+ 3 or later
 33  - GLib 2.32 or later
 34  - GooCanvas 2
 35  - Libcurl 7.16 or later
 36  - Hamlib (runtime only, not required for build)
 37  
 38  If you compile Gpredict from source you will also need the development packages
 39  often with -dev or -devel in the package name, e.g. libgtk-3-dev. On Debian and
 40  Ubuntu systems you can install the build dependencies using:
 41  
 42    sudo apt install libtool intltool autoconf automake libcurl4-openssl-dev
 43    sudo apt install pkg-config libglib2.0-dev libgtk-3-dev libgoocanvas-2.0-dev
 44  
 45  
 46  To build and install gpredict from source, first unpack the source package:
 47  
 48    tar -xvf gpredict-x.y.z.tar.gz
 49  
 50  Then change to the gpredict-x.y.z directory and build gpredict:
 51  
 52    ./configure
 53    make
 54    make install
 55  
 56  The last step usually requires you to become root, otherwise you may not have
 57  the required permissions to install gpredict. If you can not or do not want to
 58  install gpredict as root, you can install gpredict into a custom directory by
 59  adding --prefix=somedir to the ./configure step. For example
 60  
 61    ./configure --prefix=/home/user/predict
 62    
 63  will configure the build to install the files into /home/user/gpredict folder.
 64  
 65  If you are building directly from the git repository, you have to run
 66  ./autogen.sh instead of of configure. You can pass the same options to the
 67  autogen.sh script as you would to the configure script.
 68  
 69  If you want to know more about installation options refer to the INSTALL file
 70  (not for beginners).
 71  
 72  
 73  Using Gpredict
 74  --------------
 75  
 76  Gpredict comes bundled with some example data and will run "out of the box".
 77  Once you got the idea of the UI, you can either modify the settings of the
 78  default module (click on the small down-arrow in the top right corner), or
 79  create a new module through File -> New Module.
 80  
 81  You are highly encouraged to have a look at the user manual available at
 82  http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/documents.php
 83  
 84  
 85  User support
 86  ------------
 87  
 88  User support is provided through the Gpredict forum hosted by the Libre Space
 89  Foundation: https://community.libre.space/c/gpredict
 90  
 91  
 92  Terms and conditions
 93  --------------------
 94  
 95  Gpredict is released under the GNU General Public License and comes with
 96  NO WARRANTY whatsoever. If you have problems installing or using Gpredict,
 97  feel free to ask for support for example on the Gpredict forum hosted by
 98  the Libre Space Foundation https://community.libre.space/c/gpredict
 99  
100  
101  Note that the development environment is being migrated from Sourceforge to
102  Github: https://github.com/csete/gpredict
103  
104  Mailing lists, old bug trackers, etc, are still available on Sourceforge:
105  http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpredict
106  
107  
108  Happy Tracking!
109  
110  Alexandru Csete
111  OZ9AEC