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Dashboard Page

W9KSB edited this page Jun 14, 2026 · 2 revisions

Dashboard Page

The dashboard is the primary operating page in Pi-Sat.

Related pages:

What the Dashboard Is For

The dashboard is where you:

  • watch the active or upcoming satellite
  • view the next pass list
  • choose the frequency profile used for tracking
  • enable or disable RX, TX, and rotator control paths
  • view live frequencies and offsets
  • manually adjust RX or TX offsets
  • watch live map and pass-arc information
  • send manual rotator moves when allowed

Top-Level Device Toggles

The device toggles at the top control whether Pi-Sat is allowed to use those functions in the current running session. These are the live operating toggles. They are separate from any backend config settings that may also allow or block writes.

RX

RX enable controls whether Pi-Sat will use the configured RX control path, or downlink, whether it is a physical radio or SDR.

TX

TX enable controls whether Pi-Sat will use the configured TX control path, or uplink.

Some workflows intentionally leave TX disabled while using RX tracking only. Some transponder profiles don't have a TX path such as a cubesat just sending SSTV.

Rotator

Rotator enable controls whether Pi-Sat will use the configured rotator path.

If this is off, the dashboard still shows tracking information, but Pi-Sat does not actively drive the rotator.

Automation Behavior

If AOS and LOS scripts are configured on the settings page, Pi-Sat can trigger them automatically during real pass events.

Typical examples:

  • start a recording at AOS
  • stop a recording at LOS
  • run your own custom script at the start or end of a pass

Selecting a Frequency Profile

The frequency profile determines how Pi-Sat interprets the selected satellite for tuning behavior.

A profile may define:

  • RX-only operation
  • RX/TX operation
  • frequencies
  • modes
  • inversion or transponder behavior

Why TX May Be Disabled by the Selected Profile

Some satellite profiles are receive-only. When that happens:

  • Pi-Sat still tracks the downlink
  • TX behavior is not used for that profile

This is normal and intentional.

Live Tracking Section

The live tracking section shows:

  • selected satellite
  • azimuth and elevation
  • live map position
  • AOS / LOS timing
  • pass arc status

This is the main situational-awareness block during a pass.

RX and TX Tuning Controls

The dashboard shows current tuning data for RX and TX, including:

  • center frequency
  • Doppler offset
  • manual offset
  • current target frequency

Manual Offset Controls

Offset step buttons allow the operator to nudge tuning without losing tracking.

This exists because real-world signals do not always land exactly where theory says they should. Pi-Sat preserves your manual offset while continuing to apply Doppler changes around it. You can also adjust frequency from the radio or SDR software itself- the communication is a two way street and those changes will be shared with Pi-sat and updated in the GUI as well.

Sync RX / TX Offsets

When sync is enabled:

  • changing one side also adjusts the other side using the profile mapping rules

When sync is disabled:

  • RX and TX can be offset independently

Autotrack

Autotrack determines whether Pi-Sat follows the next valid pass automatically.

When enabled:

  • Pi-Sat stays on the earliest active pass when passes overlap
  • when that pass ends, it advances to the next pass in the list

When disabled:

  • the operator can manually hold a selected target
  • that manual selection stays in focus until the operator changes it or re-enables autotrack

Next Passes List

The pass list exists to show what Pi-Sat is working with and to let the operator choose a target.

It reflects the tracked satellite set, not the full universe of satellites.

If a satellite is missing from the list, it is usually because:

  • it is not in your tracked set
  • it has no predicted pass in the displayed window
  • it is missing from current TLE data

Rotator Section

The rotator section shows:

  • connection status
  • current azimuth/elevation
  • target azimuth/elevation
  • pass-active/manual-mode state

Manual Rotator Control

Manual rotator control is intended for periods with no active pass ownership.

You can:

  • send the rotator home
  • enter manual azimuth and elevation targets
  • use manual movement controls when pass logic allows it

During an active pass:

  • manual mode is disabled
  • the active pass owns rotator control

If Return Home After Pass is enabled in settings, Pi-Sat can send the rotator back to its home position automatically after a tracked pass ends.

Why the Dashboard Exists This Way

The dashboard is built as the single operating surface so the operator can see:

  • what satellite is selected
  • what pass is relevant
  • what the radios are doing
  • what the rotator is doing
  • whether the system is behaving as expected

without bouncing across pages during a live pass.

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