Table of Contents

QSO Scheduler

The QSO Scheduler panel helps you plan a satellite QSO with a DX station by finding the time windows when the satellite is simultaneously visible from your location and from the DX location.

Click on View / QSO Scheduler to open the panel:

QSO Scheduler panel

Selecting the Satellite and the DX Station

  • Satellite - select the satellite for the QSO from the drop-down list. The list contains the satellites in the currently selected group, see Creating Satellite Groups;
  • DX Grid Square - enter the 4- or 6-character Maidenhead grid square of the DX station. The input box turns pink while the value is incomplete or invalid.

Your own grid square and altitude are taken from the user details in the Settings Window. The DX station is assumed to be at sea level.

Reading the Prediction List

Each item in the list represents one common visibility window for the next 14 days, sorted by start time:

  • Satellite name is highlighted in light yellow for VHF downlinks and light cyan for UHF downlinks;
  • Orbit number follows the satellite name;
  • Wait time on the upper right shows how long until the window starts, or Now in green if the window is already in progress;
  • Start and end times of the common segment are displayed in local time (the label shows Geostationary instead for geostationary satellites);
  • Duration of the common segment and the maximum elevation of the satellite from each station during that segment;
  • Two mini sky-views on the right show the satellite path during the common segment, as seen from your station (left) and from the DX station (right). The green dot marks the start of the segment, the red dot marks the end.

Pass Details

Click on a list item to open the QSO Schedule window with more information about the pass:

QSO Schedule window

The window displays the full sky view for the pass from each station, with the entire pass arc drawn in silver and the common segment highlighted in green. The green check mark indicates the AOS point, the red X mark indicates the LOS point. The text above the charts lists the satellite, orbit number, common segment in local and UTC time, duration, time until the segment starts, and the maximum elevation of the satellite from each station during the common segment.