

Masat1 Ground Station Client Software


CONTENTS

  I.    Overview
  II.   Installation Guide
  III.  User’s Guide
  IV.   Known Issues
  V.    Report SW errors
  VI.   Contact Information


I. Overview

  The Masat-1 Ground Station Client Software was prepared to process 
  the transmission received from the satellite Masat-1. The SW provides the
  following functionalities:

  -  Audio demodulation
  -  Packet decoding
  -  Packet data visualization
  -  Frequency waterfall plot to aid radio tuning


II. Installation Guide

  0.  If JAVA is not installed on your computer, please download it from the 
      website http://java.com and install it.

  1.  Download the most recent version of the Masat-1 GS SW from the website 
      http://cubesat.bme.hu

  2.  Unzip the compressed file.

  3.a  (Windows)
       The software may be launched by start.bat.

  3.b  (GNU/Linux)
       The software may be launched by the command ./start.sh.


III. User’s Guide

  1. The program may be launched by launching start.bat (Windows) or by issuing 
     the ./start.sh command (GNU/Linux).

  2. On the “Settings” panel the sound card’s settings may be altered.

  3. On the “Settings” panel demodulation must be initiated by pressing the 
     “Start receiving” button.

  Sound card’s microphone settings:
    Microphone BOOST must NOT be selected. This setting can be altered at the 
    volume settings.

  Radio tuning aid:
    Radio tuning is aided by the “Frequency waterfall” panel. In case of CW 
    (Morse code) reception the frequency must be aligned to 1200 Hz. In case of 
    data reception the frequency must be aligned with the other two frequencies 
    (575 Hz, 1825 Hz).

  Verifying packet reception:
    On the “Packets” panel the incoming packets and their properties can be 
    observed. An incoming packet overwrites the corresponding data on the 
    “Telemetry” panel.

  Saving packets:
    The packets are saved automatically into a file named Masat-1_{date}.log, 
    located in the same folder as the GNDClient.jar file. Each incoming packet 
    is added to the file corresponding to the current date.


IV. Known Issues

  - The software may not work on earlier versions of OpenJDK/JRE.


V. Report SW errors

  All feedback is welcome regarding SW errors. You are respectfully asked to 
  check the “Known issues” section before reporting an error, as this section
  contains all known issues of the latest version. If your issue is not listed, 
  prepare your report by providing the following:

  Error report contents:

    - Operating system, 32/64bit
    - Processor frequency, number of cores
    - GS SW version number (date)
    - JAVA version
    - Error description (if the error is HW-related, please also provide a HW 
      description and HW version)
    - How to reproduce the error?
    - If you have any suggestions on the cause of the error, you may write it
      here.

  Error report – sample

    OS: Windows XP, 32 bit
    CPU: 2300 Hz, 2 core
    Version: 2010. 01. 28.
    JAVA version: 1.6.0.23
    Error description: After reopening the sound card the demodulation does not work.
    Error triggered by: pressing the buttons in the following order: Open-Close-Open
    Cause of error: a connection may not be closed properly


VI. Contact Information

  Error reports and other remarks may be sent to:

    Tibor Mezei

    mezei(at)cubesat(dot)bme(dot)hu>
