Zenith Satellite Tracker

A modern web-based satellite tracking application designed for amateur radio operators and satellite enthusiasts. Zenith provides real-time satellite tracking, pass predictions, and radio integration features.

Features

• Real-time Satellite Tracking

  • Interactive world map with satellite positions
  • Satellite footprints and ground tracks
  • Detailed satellite information panels
  • Polar radar visualization for pass analysis

• Pass Predictions

  • Upcoming pass list with detailed timing
  • Schedule view with customizable time periods
  • Minimum elevation filtering
  • Pass notifications (optional)

• Sked Planning

  • Find mutual visibility windows with other stations
  • Grid square-based location input
  • Customizable elevation and time period filters
  • Detailed pass information for both stations

• Radio Integration

  • CSN Technologies S.A.T integration for automatic radio control & antenna tracking
    • Radio control panel with VFO management
    • Transponder information display
    • CTCSS tone selection

• APRS Integration

  • APRS message interface
  • Pre-defined message macros
  • Position reporting
  • Message history tracking
  • Requires Zenith APRS for full functionality
    • Please refer to the Zenith APRS documentation for setup instructions

• Roves Integration

  • Hams.at API integration for rover activations
  • Upcoming roves display
  • Direct links to Hams.at for detailed information

Requirements

• Web Server

  • PHP 7.4 or higher
  • SSL/TLS certificate (required for geolocation and notifications)
  • Web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.)

• Client-side

  • Modern web browser with JavaScript enabled
  • SSL/TLS connection (required for geolocation and notifications)

Deployment Options

Local Network Deployment (Recommended for CSN S.A.T Integration)

• Ideal for use with CSN Technologies S.A.T
• Can be run on a local server (e.g., Raspberry Pi)
• Allows direct communication with S.A.T on the local network
• Recommended setup:
  • Install on a local server within the same network as your S.A.T
  • Configure local SSL certificate
  • Access via local network IP address or hostname

Internet Deployment

• Suitable for remote access
• Requires public SSL certificate
• May require additional configuration for S.A.T integration

Getting Started

1. Server Setup

   • Install a web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.)
   • Install PHP 7.4 or higher
   • Configure SSL/TLS certificate
   • Place the application files in your web server's document root
   • Ensure PHP has write permissions for any data directories

2. Installation

   • Clone the repository to your web server
   • Configure your web server to serve the application over HTTPS
   • Access the application through your web browser using HTTPS

3. Configuration

   • Click the "Options" button to configure:
     • Your location (latitude/longitude or grid square)
     • Satellite selection
     • Radio settings
     • API keys (Hams.at, Cloudlog)
     • Notification preferences

4. Basic Usage

   • Browse the map to see satellite positions
   • View upcoming passes in the sidebar
   • Click on satellites for detailed information
   • Use the schedule view for pass planning
   • Configure radio integration if available

Dependencies

• Server-side

  • PHP 7.4 or higher
  • Web server with SSL/TLS support

• Client-side

  • D3.js - Interactive map visualization
  • Satellite.js (4.0.0) - Satellite position calculations
  • jQuery (3.7.1) - DOM manipulation
  • DataTables - Table management

Browser Support

Zenith is designed to work in modern web browsers including:

• Chrome (latest)
• Firefox (latest)
• Safari (latest)
• Edge (latest)

Note: The application must be served over HTTPS due to the use of HTML5 features like geolocation and notifications.

Device Support:

• Currently optimized for desktop/laptop computers
• Tablet and mobile device support coming in a future update
• Some features may not work optimally on touch devices at this time

Support

Zenith is primarily maintained by a single developer. Please keep this in mind when seeking support:

• GitHub Issues

  • Should only be used for reporting bugs or code-related issues
  • Server setup and configuration questions should not be posted as issues
  • Feature requests are welcome but may take time to implement

• GitHub Discussions

  • Primary platform for community support
  • Ask questions about setup and configuration
  • Share your experiences and solutions
  • Help other users with their questions
  • Visit GitHub Discussions to join the community

• Limited Support

  • No guaranteed response time for issues or questions
  • Server setup and configuration support is limited
  • Users are encouraged to help each other in the community

• Community Support

  • Consider asking for help in amateur radio forums or communities
  • Share your setup experiences with other users
  • Document and share solutions you discover

Contributing

Contributions are welcome, but please follow these guidelines to help manage the project effectively:

• Before Starting Work

  • Open a discussion to discuss your proposed changes
  • Wait for confirmation before starting significant work
  • Check if similar work is already in progress

• Pull Request Guidelines

  • Keep PRs focused and limited to one feature/fix
  • Include clear descriptions of changes
  • Update documentation as needed
  • Ensure code follows existing style and patterns
  • Test changes thoroughly before submitting

• Response Time

  • No guaranteed response time for PR reviews
  • Complex PRs may take longer to review
  • Be prepared to make requested changes

• Scope Limitations

  • Major architectural changes require prior discussion
  • New dependencies must be justified
  • Backward compatibility should be maintained
  • Mobile/tablet support is planned for future updates

• Code Quality

  • Follow existing code style
  • Include comments for complex logic
  • Write clear commit messages
  • Ensure all tests pass

Remember that Zenith is maintained by a single developer in their spare time. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

License

Zenith Satellite Tracker is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) v3. This means:

• You are free to use, modify, and distribute the software
• Any modifications must be shared under the same license
• If you host a modified version as a service, you must make the source code available
• Commercial use is allowed but the source must remain open
• You cannot take this code and sell it as a proprietary product

For more information, see the full license text or visit gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.

Acknowledgments

• AMSAT for satellite information
• Hams.at for rover data
• CSN Technologies for S.A.T integration
• All contributors and users of the project

Support the Project

Zenith is completely free and open source, built with passion for the amateur radio community. If you find this project useful and would like to support its continued development, consider sponsoring me on GitHub. Your support helps maintain and improve Zenith, as well as my other open source projects.

Every contribution, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated and helps ensure the future of Zenith and other open source tools for the amateur radio community.