
                                   -------------------------
                                    TrakBox Updater 2.0 Beta
                                   -------------------------

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Contents
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What is the TrakBox Updater ?
What's new in version 2.0 Beta ?
How to install TrakBox Updater 
How to configure TrakBox Updater 
How to use TrakBox Updater with WISP 
The TBU.ELE file.
The TBU.LOG file.
Uninstall TrakBox Updater.
Known problems.
Copyright


=============================
What is the TrakBox Updater ?
=============================
The TrakBox Updater is a utility  program for the TAPR/JAMSAT TrakBox.
The program will only work if the TrakBox is in TERMINAL MODE !
The Updater updates the keplerian data and the clock of the trakbox every time the program
is started.  It's very helpful particularly when used with Windows95 and
WISP obtainable from AMSAT.


===============================
What's new in version 2.0 Beta ?
===============================
The version 1.xx of the TrakBox Updater required a lot of extra DLL and OCX files which were
needed to run the program, giving rise to some problems in distributing the program.
From version 2.xx on the program is entirely new having been rewritten to use only two exe files.
The search for the keplerian  element files is improved.
You don't need  to provide a UTC offset anymore.


================================
How to install the TrakBox Updater ?
================================
First you must understand  that the TrakBox Updater program will only run on Windows95 & NT.
It does not run under Windows 3.1.

The TrakBoxUpdater program is distributed in one ZIP file containing the following three files:

 - TBU.EXE     213.504 bytes (the main program)
 - TBUCON.EXE  205.824 bytes (the configuration program)
 - TBU.TXT     (this text file)

Unzip the files to a directory of your choice C:\TBU for example.

==================================
How to configure TrakBox Updater ?
==================================
First  you must run the TBUCON.EXE file. This will show you a menu from which you must
configure several essential parameters.

-Com Port    : Just enter the Com port to witch the TrakBox is connected.

-Baud-rate   : Enter 9600 baud unless you have configured your Trakbox to a different speed.

-Rom version : This is MOST important. This is required for the time update function to work.
               If you have Rom version 3.30 or lower, then don't check this option.
               If your Rom version is higher than 3.30 you must check this option for 
               the time update to work correctly. 

-Update Keplerian Elements : 
               When this option is checked the program will search for
               a new Keplerian Element file and update the Trakbox if required.
               If the option is not checked the program will take no action
               with respect to updating the files.

-Update Time : 
               When this option is checked the program will update the time of the TrakBox
               from the Computer Clock in UTC time.
               Note that if you are using WISP you might want to update the computer clock 
               regularly from UO-22 as UOSAT keep this running very accurately.  
               When this option is not marked no time update will take place.

-Last Keplerian Element file used : 
               Display's the last  file that has been  uploaded to the trakbox.
               The files used to update must have a filename like ORBSxxxN.ELE, where
               xxx holds the number of the file. Now by changing the number to a lower
               value, you can let the program upload again the latest kepfile.

-Path :        This is the path the program will follow to search for new kepfiles. 
               Make sure that the last character is "/".  
               If you forget this the program will have problems.
               Note that this path also must contain the file FREQ.DAT !!!!!!!!!

Now you can run TBU.EXE, but make certain that the TrakBox is in TERMINAL MODE.


======================================
How to use TrakBox Updater with WISP ?
======================================
The main reason I wrote the TrakBox Updater was, to use it with WISP. 
If you run it daily from within WISP, your Trakbox will always have the latest keplerian elements
and very accurate time provided, of course, you maintain these elements in your computer. 
Updating your clock from UO-22 and automatically downloading kepfiles from KO-23 is a good 
way to go.

To setup the TrakBox Updater in the schedule of WISP you can follow this example:

Select  -Schedule Events
        -New
Name         : TrakBox Updater
Program      : TBU
Starting Dir : C:\TBU 
Time         : 0002 (will start TBU 2 minutes after housekeeping)
Run          : Daily
Associate    : No Satellite

Mark   -Activate
       -Display in schedule
OK
CLOSE

This should do the job


================
The TBU.ELE file
================
When TrakBox Updater finds a new kepfile, the new file is rewritten to a file
called TBU.ELE in the path of the kepfiles. This is the actual file which
will be uploaded to the TrakBox. This file would hold the filtered kepfile, the
latesed kepfile with all the rubbish removed. However in this betaversion the filter
is not yet implemented. The TrakBox seems to have no problems with unfiltered kepfiles.
You can use this file to check witch kepler-elements are actually uploaded to the TrakBox.


================
The TBU.LOG file
================
In the kepler path you can find a file called TBU.LOG. This is a small text file
witch is created everytime TBU.EXE has runned.
The file contains some info like this :

TrakBox Updater Started :1997/08/13 02:00:00  (This is Local time, not UTC)
Last KeplerFile Uploaded: orbs219n.ele
Last KeplerFile Found  : orbs220n.ele
Uploaded new keplerfile
Updating clock TrakBox

In the above example, the TrakBox was completly updated, kepler and clock.
The last file uploaded was orbs219n.ele, but the program found a newer file,
orbs220n.ele, this file was uploaded to the TrakBox. Next the clock was updated
with the UTC time of the computer.


=========================
Uninstall TrakBox Updater
=========================
If you wish to completely uninstal the TrakBox Updater program then follow these steps :
 - delete the files TBU.EXE, TBUCONF.EXE, TBU.TXT
 - delete the TBU.ELE and TBU.LOG in the keps directory
 - delete the file TBU.INI in the c:\windows directory if you have installed windows
   on the C drive.

Now TBU is completely removed from your system.


==============
Known problems
==============
-Monitor while keps are updating
 When the keps are updated to the TrakBox, the monitor shows some single
 characters between the lines. This is only a display problem and won't effect
 the actual update.

-When WISP is running a pass of a satellite and TBU is started, the pass of the
 satellite will be lost, TBU will take over the TrakBox. After TBU is finished,
 everything will work fine for the next pass. 

-The Beta version does not checks the comport and connections to the TrakBox, so
 make shure the comport is setup correctly.

-Keep in mind that this beta version can contain some bugs, aldo I do my best to
 prevent them. 
 If you should find some you can let me now.


=========
Copyright
=========
This program is for Amateur Radio Use only.
It may be distributed for free as long as the files are not altered in any way.
Distributing for profit is not allowed without contacting the author.
If you should have the (bad)luck to meet me visually, you must buy me a beer.
 (I prefer HOEGAARDEN hi)

For info or suggestions you can contact me at :

Wuyts Erwin
Gaston Fabr Laan 166a
2610 Antwerp
Belgium

e-Mail : satcat@belgium.online.be
packet : ON7VN@ON1ANR.#AN.BEL.EU
satellite : KO-23, KO-25 UO-22


=======
Credits
=======
I would also thank David Medley, KI6QE for helping me out and testing of the program. 
Note that this is a Beta version, I released it in the hope you guy's will test it
further out and could report me abnormal situations. I hope the program could be usefull
for you.

 
