Elecraft

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

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David Fleming-2

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

On Thu, 8/25/11, Phil Hystad wrote:

> As far as browsing memories idea mentioned below, one way
> to do this is to do a full page sweep by flicking a page
> aside and bringing up a new page. Each page is the
> same basic interface for the KX3 but each new page is a
> different setup with memories, modes, and so on.

Now THAT is an excellent idea. Imagine flipping through any number of "virtual" KX3's (or K3's) like pages in a book. One for CW, one for SSB, one for RTTY, etc.. Each with it's own custom memories, macros, eq, agc, filters, etc. Wow! That would be très cool!

I received a couple of emails asking how the app would connect to the radio. There are several options. WiFi/Serial and Ethernet/Serial adapters are available that could provide the serial communication with the rig. Either of these would allow the app to connect over the local network (or internet) without having a computer attached. The downside is the cost. These adapters are relatively expensive. It could also be done with a helper app. I have developed a small "serial server" that runs on a PC or Mac connected to the radio. The iPad app connects to the helper app over the network. The helper app simply forwards commands from the iPad app to the radio, and forwards responses from the radio to the app. It works well and costs nothing. Since most folks already have computers attached to their rigs, this would be the most popular option - I expect. :) A google search shows there are other options out there. Most appear to be "hacks" and involve
jailbreaking the device.

David, W4SMT
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

David and others...

I was thinking of doing an iPad app at one time and decided that one way that would be reasonably easy is to create a server on my iMac that did all the heavy work and the interface to the K3 or KX3 or whatever. Then, the iPad to server interface is via web services to the server on your local computer that then handles all of the comms interface to the K[X]3.

Now, if Apple would add a "Service Bus" to iCloud in a manner similar to the AppFabric service bus in Microsoft Azure Cloud then it would even be better. That way, you do away with all the server connection problems (firewall, routers, IP issues, and so on) by hosting your server connection in the cloud itself and not on your own computer. Your computer at home is still involved but now it is a client to the service connection point in the cloud rather then a server connection and therefore none of the big issues. It is a rather cool feature that we are making use of in our business (we are doing a Azure cloud hosted application).

phil

On Aug 25, 2011, at 7:54 PM, David Fleming wrote:

> On Thu, 8/25/11, Phil Hystad wrote:
>
>> As far as browsing memories idea mentioned below, one way
>> to do this is to do a full page sweep by flicking a page
>> aside and bringing up a new page. Each page is the
>> same basic interface for the KX3 but each new page is a
>> different setup with memories, modes, and so on.
>
> Now THAT is an excellent idea. Imagine flipping through any number of "virtual" KX3's (or K3's) like pages in a book. One for CW, one for SSB, one for RTTY, etc.. Each with it's own custom memories, macros, eq, agc, filters, etc. Wow! That would be très cool!
>
> I received a couple of emails asking how the app would connect to the radio. There are several options. WiFi/Serial and Ethernet/Serial adapters are available that could provide the serial communication with the rig. Either of these would allow the app to connect over the local network (or internet) without having a computer attached. The downside is the cost. These adapters are relatively expensive. It could also be done with a helper app. I have developed a small "serial server" that runs on a PC or Mac connected to the radio. The iPad app connects to the helper app over the network. The helper app simply forwards commands from the iPad app to the radio, and forwards responses from the radio to the app. It works well and costs nothing. Since most folks already have computers attached to their rigs, this would be the most popular option - I expect. :) A google search shows there are other options out there. Most appear to be "hacks" and involve
> jailbreaking the device.
>
> David, W4SMT
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M0XDF

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

In reply to this post by David Fleming-2

If this is to be used to control and possibly log from a KX3, then it needs to be a direct connection between the IOS device and the KX3 - so supporting a bluetooth serial adapter might be the way to go
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???
--
Whales have calves, Cats have kittens, Bears have cubs,
Bats have bittens, Swans have cygnets, Seals have puppies,
But guppies just have little guppies. - Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

On 26 Aug 2011, at 03:54, David Fleming wrote:

Nick Garner

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

I actually have this in the works, to interface radios to HamLog on iDevices and Android. The first basic prototype is working on the breadboard. I'll mention it here when it's ready to go.

73,
Nick
N3WG

On Aug 26, 2011, at 4:10 AM, "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> If this is to be used to control and possibly log from a KX3, then it needs to be a direct connection between the IOS device and the KX3 - so supporting a bluetooth serial adapter might be the way to go
> 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???
> --
> Whales have calves, Cats have kittens, Bears have cubs,
> Bats have bittens, Swans have cygnets, Seals have puppies,
> But guppies just have little guppies. - Ogden Nash (1902-1971)
>
> On 26 Aug 2011, at 03:54, David Fleming wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 8/25/11, Phil Hystad wrote:
>>
>>> As far as browsing memories idea mentioned below, one way
>>> to do this is to do a full page sweep by flicking a page
>>> aside and bringing up a new page. Each page is the
>>> same basic interface for the KX3 but each new page is a
>>> different setup with memories, modes, and so on.
>>
>> Now THAT is an excellent idea. Imagine flipping through any number of "virtual" KX3's (or K3's) like pages in a book. One for CW, one for SSB, one for RTTY, etc.. Each with it's own custom memories, macros, eq, agc, filters, etc. Wow! That would be très cool!
>>
>> I received a couple of emails asking how the app would connect to the radio. There are several options. WiFi/Serial and Ethernet/Serial adapters are available that could provide the serial communication with the rig. Either of these would allow the app to connect over the local network (or internet) without having a computer attached. The downside is the cost. These adapters are relatively expensive. It could also be done with a helper app. I have developed a small "serial server" that runs on a PC or Mac connected to the radio. The iPad app connects to the helper app over the network. The helper app simply forwards commands from the iPad app to the radio, and forwards responses from the radio to the app. It works well and costs nothing. Since most folks already have computers attached to their rigs, this would be the most popular option - I expect. :) A google search shows there are other options out there. Most appear to be "hacks" and involve
>> jailbreaking the device.
>>
>> David, W4SMT
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Oliver Dröse

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

In reply to this post by David Fleming-2

> I received a couple of emails asking how the app would
> connect to the radio.. There are several options. WiFi/Serial
> and Ethernet/Serial adapters are available that could provide
> the serial communication with the rig.

Why don't use Bluetooth? I developed a small BT module that connects
directly to the RS-232 port of the K3 (and is available as a low cost kit
from the German FUNKAMATEUR magazine). Works like a charm controlling the
K3's serial interface, I use it all the time for rig control during
contests, etc.

> It could also be done with a helper app. I have developed a small
> "serial server" that runs on a PC or Mac connected to the radio.
> The iPad app connects to the helper app over the network. The
> helper app simply forwards commands from the iPad app to the
> radio, and forwards responses from the radio to the app. It works
> well and costs nothing. Since most folks already have computers
> attached to their rigs, this would be the most popular option - I expect.

Why would somebody want to control the radio from an iPhone or iPad with a
PC or Mac connected to the radio? If I need to rely on a PC/Mac for the
radio interconnection anyway isn't it easier to use this for rig control
directly then? ;-)) Bigger screen, more comfortable, etc.

To my mind a control app for a PDA (no matter what OS and/or manufacturer)
only makes sense if you can use it "real portable" meaning no dependencies
to other hardware or a network, just a simple 1:1 connection between PDA and
radio. But that's just my personal opinion. ;-))

73, Olli - DH8BQA

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David Fleming-2

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

Oliver Dröse <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Why don't use Bluetooth?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but it is my understanding that at this point in time Apple does not support the Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP). There are hacks that apparently work, but they require a jailbroken device. I'm not very familiar with Android, so I'm not sure if SPP is supported there or not.

I agree that Bluetooth SPP would be the way to go. Once it's properly supported by iOS. Hopefully at some point it will be.

David, W4SMT
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Oliver Dröse

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

Thanks for the info, David.

Was not aware that Apple was not supporting BT-SPP (I am using another brand
smartphone) which has been around since the beginning of BT and is supported
by virtually every OS and BT stack I know of (well, I didn't know about iOS
obviously ;-)).

73, Olli

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Fleming" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 12:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] iPad/iPhone control app

Oliver Dröse <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Why don't use Bluetooth?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but it is my
understanding that at this point in time Apple does not support the
Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP). There are hacks that apparently work,
but they require a jailbroken device. I'm not very familiar with Android, so
I'm not sure if SPP is supported there or not.

I agree that Bluetooth SPP would be the way to go. Once it's properly
supported by iOS. Hopefully at some point it will be.

David, W4SMT
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Bob Nielsen-2

Re: iPad/iPhone control app

In reply to this post by David Fleming-2

I haven't tried it on my Nook Color (running CyanogenMod 7) but it appears that Android supports SPP:

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/bluetooth/BluetoothSocket.html

73, Bob N7XY

On Aug 26, 2011, at 3:01 PM, David Fleming wrote:

> Oliver Dröse <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Why don't use Bluetooth?
>
> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but it is my understanding that at this point in time Apple does not support the Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP). There are hacks that apparently work, but they require a jailbroken device. I'm not very familiar with Android, so I'm not sure if SPP is supported there or not.
>
> I agree that Bluetooth SPP would be the way to go. Once it's properly supported by iOS. Hopefully at some point it will be.
>
> David, W4SMT
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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