Jerry, 

Looks like a very cool/useful program.  Definitely, continue development.

What more?  Weather data, perhaps.  I can help with beta testing if you need.
Cheers,

David Fields

N4HBO

On Jul 10, 2017, at 11:11, Jerry Gable jerrygable@... [GPSL] <GPSL-noreply@...> wrote:

 

Since GPSL I have been thinking about chase software.  I haven't found any that does what I think it should.  I have looked at http://flighttrack. surfingsatellites.org/ but that is about the only one I know about.  I am looking for one that can be used offline in those bad reception areas balloons like to find.

I decided to start looking at what it would take to write one and have started playing with writing my own.  I have played with the pieces and think I have the stuff to pull this off.  The screenshot below is what I have running now.  The numbers on the right for the balloon are all test but the parser is working and mapping position reports to the map.

The question is: Is anyone else interested?  If I do it jus t for myself I'm not convinced it is worth the effort.

Here are my goals for the tool.

• Must work offline. 
  
• Maps must be able to be cached.
• Must be able to deal with internet loss as well as PC restarts
  
• Show my location and the balloon being chased.
• decode GPS NEMA data for my location
• Allow multiple trackers to provide data from the balloon (failure backup and faster update times)
  
• Simple interface to allow use in moving cars (not driver)
  
• Show what the balloon is currently doing
  
• Receive APRS from a radio (KISS mode) and APRS-IS.
• S how pre-flight prediction
• Update prediction with real time data from the balloon
• Run on windows laptop. (Tools allow for Apple laptop & linux builds as well)
  

So am I doing this for myself or is there interest in this from you?  If yes, what would you like to see in it?

 

Jerry Gable
Balloon Flight Prediction tools
http://www.s3research.com