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Reviews For: Nova for Windows

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : Nova for Windows
Reviews: 15MSRP: 59.95
Description:
Satellite Tracking Software
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.nlsa.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00153.8
KF4HR Rating: 2020-09-14
Still an excellent program Time Owned: more than 12 months.
NOVA for Windows is still an excellent program. If you find the program doesn't activate via the Start Button, start it via Run As Administrator.
W6CJ Rating: 2020-09-14
Didn't work Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Freebie software, did not work, and no longer supported. Probably way past its prime.

Downloaded the SW and patch, followed the directions, and it did not work.

I may just go and pay for a satellite tracking app... if there are any out there that meet these basic criteria:
(A) It can be installed by an ordinary Amateur.
(B) It works. (meaning it will track satellites)



WA4HFR Rating: 2012-02-13
More features than others Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The latest version of NOVA has more features than any of the other satellite tracking programs (both free and paid-for) that I have tried, such as the AMSAT tracking software. This is a two-edged benefit...: with all those features it can be confusing to set up. If you are controlling AZ-EL rotors, it comes with built-in drivers for at least 10 tracking interfaces. The LabJack-12 box is hyper-easy to set up and about half of the AMSAT price for the LVB tracking interface box. NOVA has a couple of bugs, but I have encountered some bugs in other programs as well. I am a "hardware-guy" and my computer-fu is very weak. One benefit of using NOVA is that the program author provides a pretty good level of personal trouble-shooting assistance. I note that several of the older NOVA reviews seen here on eHam.net voice some complaints that result from the reviewer not paying attention to all the features or set-up procedures detailed in the users manual. If all you need is a tracking program for very casual use, then other less complex programs will likely suit you better. I am using NOVA to track and downlink the HRPT digital imagery from the polar-orbit NOAA weather satellites.

KQ6EA Rating: 2007-09-10
This is the "Gold Standard"? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using NFW for several years now, and I have to admit it fails to impress me. Yes, it's pretty, but it requires an add-on to tune the radio, and I've had it crash multiple times, on different PC hardware. Each time it died, it required me to reinitialize the program, dumping all my presets out. Getting it properly configured is not intuitive, and requires a bit of tinkering. I could put up with this with free software, but a commercial product of this alleged quality should do better. I can't see why people rave about NFW so much when there are better alternatives out there, some of them free.
FORMER_W5TD_JOHN Rating: 2007-02-18
Older version was better Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with the previous reviewer, the new version of Nova isn't very good. I still have the older version installed and won't be upgrading anytime soon. I find the older version (not sure which one) seems to work much better for my needs, but then I don't do rotor control and things like that. Of course I also like Windows 98 much better than XP because it never seems to lock up.

73s John W5TD
KC4YMR Rating: 2007-02-18
Could be great, but lots of bugs Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using Nova for a couple of years. I'm currently running registered v2.2b. This could be a great piece of software, but it is riddled with annoying bugs. It randomly 'forgets' settings, the rotator tracking stalls and/or stops switching to the next satellite in the script sequence for no apparent reason. Sometimes the auto track changes observers back to the default, and so it points to the wrong place.
And some obvious shortcuts are missing from the gui. Why can't I click a satellite and have it start tracking it? Why do I have to go through the entire selection process twice (once to view, once to track)?
The more you use it, the more little annoying broken items you'll run into.
W8OTR Rating: 2006-12-10
best sat. program Time Owned: more than 12 months.
best satellite program you can get
W0FM Rating: 2005-07-21
Happy user for years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I also have used Nova for many years and truly admire the functionality and detail. I do, however, have one item on my Nova "wish list". It would be great if, in the panel where the selected satellite's info (AOS, LOS, Until, Distance, etc) is displayed, it would also show the uplink and downlink frequencies and the modes of that satellite for quick reference. Maybe even a way to enter/store that info yourself as it does change.

I am a casual satellite user and I have a couple of reference charts I refer to. Many times when I see a bird coming into my view on Nova, by the time I look up the frequencies and modes and tune the rig, the pass is half over.

Seems like this would be a simple and valued addition to an already great program.

Terry, WØFM
KC4QH Rating: 2005-07-21
Excellent Customer Service and Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like people who submitted earlier posts, I got immediate and personal assistance from Michael. I could not configure my rotor (G-5400) to the computer. Mike asked me to email the data folder to him. He looked at my settings and told me how to fix it. After hours of my trying, he got it up and running in a few minutes. He also helped me with some of the KEs and satellite database. The product itself performs for what I want it to do. I read other reviews from users desring additional functionality. While that may be true for them, I found the product to inform me of the satellite position, availability and most importantlt - steering. I recommend for anyone using yagis on satellites, or just wanting to know more about their position.
N1SS Rating: 2005-02-10
Best starter sat tracking software available; best buy for $$ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Amaze your friends, school teachers, students and anyone else who sees what this software can do with up-to-date KEPS. TNX Michael -- you get the "done-good" award *****