Show HN:EZ-TRAK卫星手部追踪套件
Show HN: EZ-TRAK Satellite Hand Tracking Suite

原始链接: https://github.com/benb0jangles/EzTrak

EZ-TRAK 是一款面向业余无线电爱好者、气象爱好者和教育用途的卫星跟踪软件套件,专为使用便携式天线手动跟踪卫星而设计。它与安装在天线上的专用 EZ-TRAK BLE 设备(需单独购买)连接,以提供实时方位角和仰角数据。 该软件包含三个主要组件:一个用于配置的启动器(位置、卫星选择、TLE 数据源 - Celestrak 或 SatNOGS)、一个显示天线位置极坐标图和过境预测的卫星跟踪器,以及一个可选的旋转器控制应用程序。 主要功能包括动态卫星跟踪、过境预测、BLE 设备集成以获取位置数据、天线指向记录和用户友好的界面。安装需要 Python 3.8+、BLEAK、Matplotlib、Skyfield、NumPy 和 Requests。EZ-TRAK BLE 设备通过蓝牙提供位置数据,并可与 Farabrella 卫星天线配合使用。该软件为专有软件,不提供任何保修。

Hacker News 的“Show HN”板块展示了 EZ-TRAK,一套面向业余无线电和教育用途的卫星跟踪套件。它包括一个连接到可折叠卫星天线的 BLE 设备,用于实时手动跟踪卫星,并提供方位角和仰角数据以优化天线定位。用户认为该项目巧妙之处在于其简洁性,即通过物理方式指向天线。一位评论者询问了可折叠天线,据说是 eBay 上可以买到的“farabrella”。当一位用户注意到链接的 GitHub 仓库似乎缺少 README 中提到的代码时,出现了一个争议点,这引发了关于违反 Show HN 指南的问题,该指南鼓励用户轻松访问和试用。作者表示代码并非免费提供,令一些期待功能性演示的用户感到失望。虽然 GitHub 仓库是私有的,但一些人指出指向演示和 YouTube 视频的链接可能足够。

原文

EZ-TRAK Logo

EZ-TRAK is a comprehensive satellite tracking suite designed for amateur radio operators, weather satellite enthusiasts, and educational purposes. The software interfaces with an EZ-TRAK BLE device which is mounted to a lightweight foldable portable satellite dish antenna to hand track satellites in real-time, providing azimuth and elevation data for optimal antenna positioning.

EZ-TRAK DEMO: https://youtu.be/2A2lW0ONNiE

  • Dynamic Satellite Tracking: Track satellites in real-time with azimuth/elevation display
  • Pass Prediction: Calculate upcoming satellite passes for your location
  • BLE Device Integration: Seamlessly connects to EZ-TRAK BLE device
  • Position Recording: Record antenna pointing data for later analysis
  • Multi-Source TLE Data: Download satellite data from Celestrak or SatNOGS DB
  • User-friendly Interface: Easy-to-use application launcher and configuration tool

1. EZ-TRAK Launcher (eztrak_welcome.py)

EZ-TRAK Welcome

A graphical interface to configure and launch the main applications:

  • Set your geographic location (latitude, longitude, altitude)
  • Configure tracked satellites
  • Set minimum elevation for valid passes
  • Download and verify TLE data
  • Launch main tracking applications

2. Satellite Tracker (eztrack.py)

EZ-TRAK1

The main satellite tracking application:

  • Visual polar plot showing real-time azimuth/elevation of your hand tracking antenna
  • Real-time position display
  • Pass prediction information
  • Track recording functionality
  • Automatic satellite data updates

3. Rotator Control (eztrackrotator.py)

EZ-TRAK Rotator

Optional application for controlling wifi + imu antenna rotator (if available).

  • Python 3.8 or higher
  • Bluetooth-enabled computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
  • EZ-TRAK BLE hardware device
pip install bleak matplotlib skyfield numpy requests
  1. Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/benb0jangles/EZ-TRAK.git
cd EZ-TRAK
  1. Run the launcher application:
  1. Configure Your Setup:

    • Enter your latitude, longitude, and altitude
    • Select satellites to track (e.g., "NOAA 19", "METOP-C")
    • Set minimum elevation (typically 20° for good reception)
    • Download current TLE data
  2. Launch Tracking Application:

    • Click "Launch EZ-TRAK" to start the main tracking application
    • Make sure your EZ-TRAK BLE device is powered on and nearby
  3. Using the Tracker:

    • The circular display shows azimuth (compass direction) and elevation
    • The red dot shows the current position
    • Blue lines show predicted satellite passes
    • Use recording functionality to track your antenna movement

EZ-TRAK2

EZ-TRAK3.

  • Device Not Found: Ensure the EZ-TRAK device is powered on and within range
  • TLE Download Errors: If Celestrak access is limited, try the SatNOGS data source
  • No Satellite Passes: Verify your location settings and satellite selection

The application logs information to the serial console which can be helpful for troubleshooting. Look for messages related to:

  • BLE device connection
  • Satellite TLE parsing
  • Pass prediction calculations

The EZ-TRAK BLE device is available from Ez-Trak sales page. This compact device:

  • Interfaces with Farabrella satellite antenna Buy a Farabrella here to provide positional data
  • Connects via Bluetooth Low Energy
  • Battery-powered for field operation
  • Simple button interface for recording and resetting

All Rights Reserved © 2025 Benb0jangles

This software is proprietary. No permission is granted to copy, distribute, or modify this software without explicit written permission from the author.

This project is provided as-is without any warranty. The software can be used for personal and educational purposes, but redistribution is prohibited.

  • Satellite TLE data provided by Celestrak and SatNOGS
  • Built using Skyfield for satellite calculations
  • Special thanks to the amateur radio and satellite tracking community
联系我们 contact @ memedata.com