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(meteorobs) A better way to record?

I am planning to write a simple DOS program to run on my laptop PC. It will read keystrokes, and translate each key into a magnitude and LEO/non-LEO and dump each record into a sequential file with timestamp. I will just use 10 keys on the keyboard that most closely match the natural position of my fingers, probably Q,3,4,R,V and N,U,8,9,P. The keys will represent magnitudes -3 to +6, and non-LEO's will get a spacebar.

This shall allow me to observe uninterrupted, not worry about time, batteries, etc. I will run the PC from an inverter connected to the car battery.

Should be a piece of cake. Unfortunatly I've been busy this week, and haven't written the program yet. But its a trivial one, and should be done in a day or so. If anyone wants a copy, I can send it to you on request.

Aloha!
Mike


--- Richard Taibi <rjtaibi@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>    Yes I plan to do that.  Still, it will be a
> challenging task.  I found 
> that if the radio receiver is loud enough the tape
> recorder (via a 
> microphone) will pick up my comments and the time
> signal.  I will use a mike 
> because the recorder will be in the sleeping bag
> with me to keep its 
> batteries warm.  Even with this arrangement I will
> need to pay attention to 
> the radio's volume: the reception waxes and wanes.If
> you let the radio get 
> too low, you will be without the needed time
> markers.
> So vigilance on the sky and on the volume output is
> necessary at the same 
> time.  The experience of doing this is like patting
> your head and rubbing 
> your tummy at the same time.  Of course, we can
> always shout out the minute 
> and the beep that announces it, if your volume goes
> bad at a critical time.  
> Doing graze occultations with David Dunham of IOTA
> gave me some insights on 
> this possible problem.
>    To reinforce what you said, Bob, observers need
> new batteries in the 
> recorder and as spares, as well as spare tapes.  No
> one will want to change 
> batteries at 10:20 UT when the LEOs will be flooding
> the sky.  New tapes are 
> also a good precaution, I think.
>    Do any other observers have ideas?
> Regards to all.  Rich
> 

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