🇺🇸 Commodore VIC-20 Satellite Tracking: Part 2 (Loading The Software) [TCE #0479]
30Made some progress - finally able to load the software, mostly. First, I gave the computer a good clean and repaired the keyboard: missing [C=] key & key stem, missing spring for [6] key, and part of a key stem stuck in the [6] key that I had to remove.
After some time (and multiple Datasettes), I realised that the tape may have been created using a normal cassette recorder as it came with one of those converter boxes, so a regular Datasette might not work.
I got a converter box out (different one) and hooked up my trusty Texas Instruments Program Recorder ... and after some tone & volume adjustments (i.e. stick both to the middle position) ... I got the programs to load.
There's three versions, in order from oldest to newest ... 1984, 1985, 1986 ... I think:
[1] VICTRAK-MAP
[2] VICTRAK 2.1
[3] VICTRAK+ 1.3
They are written by a ham radio operator it seems (surprise!) ... K7NH ... Neil Hill?
https://www.qrzcq.com/call/K7NH
The last one, VICTRAK+ says it's distributed by "Spectrum West" now, in addition to being by K7NH, and incudes the AUTOROTOR code for controlling an antenna. This one isn't working properly at the moment - (see update below) - I'm not sure if its corrupted or I have the wrong RAM configuration. I tried it with the included 16KByte RAM expansion (so 19.5KByte in total).
{Update 25-Jun-2024}
The VICTRAK+ program loads with 3KByte expansion. I have clean, digitised (WAV) copies of each program now on my Github ... next, to convert to PRG format.
https://github.com/0ddjob/Commodore_VIC20/tree/main/VICTRAK
Oh, and it seems their author, Neil Hill K7NH, passed away in 2018, which was sad to read:
https://forum.orbxdirect.com/topic/162863-neil-hill-is-no-longer-with-us/
From Part 1:
Thought this was interesting - couldn't find much information about it. The software is called VICTRAK+ by a company called "Spectrum West" and the hardware is called AUTOTRAK V20 (for VIC-20).
The software is designed to let you track satellites and predict where they will be at a future date.
The hardware, I believe, is designed to move an antenna automatically to point at the satellite using software called AUTOROTOR ... that's my guess anyway.
It has four LEDs labelled:
CCW (counter clockwise)
CW (clockwise)
DN (down)
UP (duh)
It has also four trimpots labelled 1 to 4 ... to adjust the slew speed of each direction motor?