Remote Operating

[w7aqk]

Hi All,

I've been tinkering with remote operation.  It's been on my "wish list"
since I saw my first demo by Paul, W9AC, at FDIM a few years ago.  He was
using his TS-480, which is a fairly easy rig to set up for remote operation.
I say "easy", but there is some complexity to it.  However, it is very
intriguing.

Right now I'm using my TS-480, and I've acquired the Swedish "RemoteRig"
system to accomplish the task.  This is a very nice system!  It makes the
process somewhat less complex than what W9AC was using.  However, what I
really have my eye on is the possibility of doing remote operation with my
K3.  Obviously, the K3 is a far better radio than the TS-480, and to have
something like that available on a remote basis would be very cool indeed.

Elecraft currently has the K3/0 unit available, and I got to see it in
action when Eric came down for our Tucson Hamfest a month or so ago.  Eric
was remote operating his K3 back in California, and it was very impressive
indeed.  He really has a Cadillac system set up, and some great software
which allows him to control just about everything in his shack--including
his antennas and amplifier!  The RemoteRig accessory package is part of the
system.

Eventually I may opt for the K3/0, but what I'm really hoping for is that
Wayne's inference that "someday" the KX3 might be a possibility to match
remotely with a K3 at your base location.  I sure hope this comes to pass,
since I also have a KX3.  The K3/0 is probably more capable, but it also has
more bulk.  However, since the architecture of the KX3 is different from the
K3, I suspect there will still be something else required to hang on the end
of the KX3 to enable remote operation.  I further assume that the RemoteRig
system (or something similar) will also be required.

Remote operating opens up a lot of doors.  For me, it's potentially very
beneficial.  We travel in the summer a good bit, and I can remote back to my
home station without having to drag along a lot more equipment and antenna
options.  Motel stays can be a lot more enjoyable!!!  Then there is the
plight of folks with deed restrictions.  What if you could set up something
remotely somewhere, outside the restriction area, and have a reasonably
competent station?  I'm sort of one of those too.  My antennas are
definitely compromise due to deed restrictions.

I can tell you, just from what I've been able to do so far, that remote
operation has improved to where just about all modes are possible with
reasonable efficiency.  I'm primarily CW, and the keying issue is pretty
effectively resolved with the RemoteRig system.  I can't do QSK, and there
is a very, very slight delay, but it's nominal.  It's not the "end all"
solution, but it's pretty darned good!  With my TS-480 I just have to carry
the remote head, the small RemoteRig control side box (another box is
connected at the other end with the radio itself), a computer, and a small
power supply.  You only need the computer to connect you to a WiFi system.
You do have to set up a "virtual private network (VPN) connection on the
computer, but once you do it once, you just activate it each time you begin
operation.  No additional software is required, although you can use some if
it suits you better.  It can get more complex at the base station end,
depending on what controllability features you want, like turning things on
and off, antenna control, etc.  The control head functions just as it would
if you were directly connected to the rig itself.  As long as the WiFi is
half way decent, you are in business!  A K3 based remote system would be
pretty much the same arrangement except you substitute the K3/0 for the
TS-480 remote head.

If this peaks anyone's interest, you might want to download the manual for
the RemoteRig system.  It describes how to set up  a system for various
rigs, including the K3.  Also, I'm sure others have considerably more
advanced setups than I have, so there may be a lot of additional info
available from this group, including corrections of anything I may have
misstated here.  I'm still in the "novice" class on remote operation, but
what I've been able to do so far is pretty fascinating.

Dave W7AQK


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[Mitch Wolfson, DJØQN / K7DX]

Hi Dave,

To save Wayne the hassle of typing this again, here is a mail from him
that covers the KX3 as a control panel for the K3.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     [KX3] Using the KX3 to control a remote KX3, K3, or K2
(limited and experimental)
Date:     Fri, 7 Sep 2012 10:19:17 -0700
From:     Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
Reply-To:     [hidden email]
To:     Gary Slagel <[hidden email]>
CC:     Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]


Gary wrote:

 > I'm wondering if it would be easy to set up a kx3 to k3 remote
 > option as it seems the kx3 architecture is pretty similar to the k3.

Hi Gary,

The front panels of the KX3 and K3 are quite different, so there can't
really be a 1-to-1 correspondence of KX3 controls mapping to K3
controls.

That said, the KX3 does have the ability to do very limited remote
control of another KX3, K3, or even a K2. This feature is presently
experimental and incomplete, but feel free to give it a try. (All
public releases of KX3 firmware have included this feature...we just
haven't said much about it yet.)

NOTE: The KX3 *does not* implement the ultrafast rig-control protocol
that is present in the K3 and K3/0. Instead, we created a moderately
fast version of the traditional "autoinfo" mechanism (AI). What this
means is that if you want the best remote-control performance, you
should control a remote K3 with another K3 or a K3/0, not a KX3.

Using the KX3 as a Controller:

First, you'll need to connect the two rigs together somehow. The
simplest method, and the one recommended for trying the remote-control
feature, is to use a "null-modem" cable. For example if you're using
two KX3s, connect their ACC1 jacks together using a 3-conductor cable
that has the tip and ring connections cross-wired. If the remote rig
is a K3 or K2, you can make a cable with a DE9 at that end and a 3.5
mm plug at the KX3 end, again cross-wiring the RXD and TXD signals.
You could also use the internet or even wiFi, with PCs or RemoteRig
boxes as intermediaries, and we'll have an app note on that at some
point.

Next, go into the menu at the KX3 intended to be used as the
controller and set AUTOINF to RIG CTRL. This puts the KX3 into a
benign, no-transmit, no-RX-audio state, and causes most control
changes to be sent to the remote radio. If the remote rig is a K3, its
sub receiver is turned OFF by the KX3, since a KX3 front panel has no
way to control the sub receiver yet.

IMPORTANT: As with RemoteRig installations, audio in/out and CW keying
are handled separately--not through the controller. That is, you can't
use the local KX3's mic, phones, or key jacks; you have to either wire
the corresponding devices to the remote rig directly, or provide
dedicated media channels for these. The RemoteRig boxes do this. You
connect the mic, key, and headphones directly to them, not to the
controlling KX3 (or K3, or K3/0). At the remote end, these signals are
then connected to the appropriate connectors on the K3 (etc.).

In a future release we might be able to send CW from the controlling
KX3 by embedding the characters in command packets, as well as allow
the use of the MSG play buttons.

At present the KX3 can control the following functions on a remote
radio:

VFO A
VFO B
Mode
AF gain
Filter BW (PBT on the KX3, WIDTH on the K3)
RIT offset
RIT clear

We hope to greatly expand this set of functions in the future. But
again, if want full control of a remote K3, you'll need another K3 or
a K3/0.

73,
Wayne
N6KR



On 03.11.2012 16:29, Dyarnes wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I've been tinkering with remote operation.  It's been on my "wish list"
> since I saw my first demo by Paul, W9AC, at FDIM a few years ago.  He was
> using his TS-480, which is a fairly easy rig to set up for remote operation.
> I say "easy", but there is some complexity to it.  However, it is very
> intriguing.
>
> Right now I'm using my TS-480, and I've acquired the Swedish "RemoteRig"
> system to accomplish the task.  This is a very nice system!  It makes the
> process somewhat less complex than what W9AC was using.  However, what I
> really have my eye on is the possibility of doing remote operation with my
> K3.  Obviously, the K3 is a far better radio than the TS-480, and to have
> something like that available on a remote basis would be very cool indeed.
>
> Elecraft currently has the K3/0 unit available, and I got to see it in
> action when Eric came down for our Tucson Hamfest a month or so ago.  Eric
> was remote operating his K3 back in California, and it was very impressive
> indeed.  He really has a Cadillac system set up, and some great software
> which allows him to control just about everything in his shack--including
> his antennas and amplifier!  The RemoteRig accessory package is part of the
> system.
>
> Eventually I may opt for the K3/0, but what I'm really hoping for is that
> Wayne's inference that "someday" the KX3 might be a possibility to match
> remotely with a K3 at your base location.  I sure hope this comes to pass,
> since I also have a KX3.  The K3/0 is probably more capable, but it also has
> more bulk.  However, since the architecture of the KX3 is different from the
> K3, I suspect there will still be something else required to hang on the end
> of the KX3 to enable remote operation.  I further assume that the RemoteRig
> system (or something similar) will also be required.
>
> Remote operating opens up a lot of doors.  For me, it's potentially very
> beneficial.  We travel in the summer a good bit, and I can remote back to my
> home station without having to drag along a lot more equipment and antenna
> options.  Motel stays can be a lot more enjoyable!!!  Then there is the
> plight of folks with deed restrictions.  What if you could set up something
> remotely somewhere, outside the restriction area, and have a reasonably
> competent station?  I'm sort of one of those too.  My antennas are
> definitely compromise due to deed restrictions.
>
> I can tell you, just from what I've been able to do so far, that remote
> operation has improved to where just about all modes are possible with
> reasonable efficiency.  I'm primarily CW, and the keying issue is pretty
> effectively resolved with the RemoteRig system.  I can't do QSK, and there
> is a very, very slight delay, but it's nominal.  It's not the "end all"
> solution, but it's pretty darned good!  With my TS-480 I just have to carry
> the remote head, the small RemoteRig control side box (another box is
> connected at the other end with the radio itself), a computer, and a small
> power supply.  You only need the computer to connect you to a WiFi system.
> You do have to set up a "virtual private network (VPN) connection on the
> computer, but once you do it once, you just activate it each time you begin
> operation.  No additional software is required, although you can use some if
> it suits you better.  It can get more complex at the base station end,
> depending on what controllability features you want, like turning things on
> and off, antenna control, etc.  The control head functions just as it would
> if you were directly connected to the rig itself.  As long as the WiFi is
> half way decent, you are in business!  A K3 based remote system would be
> pretty much the same arrangement except you substitute the K3/0 for the
> TS-480 remote head.
>
> If this peaks anyone's interest, you might want to download the manual for
> the RemoteRig system.  It describes how to set up  a system for various
> rigs, including the K3.  Also, I'm sure others have considerably more
> advanced setups than I have, so there may be a lot of additional info
> available from this group, including corrections of anything I may have
> misstated here.  I'm still in the "novice" class on remote operation, but
> what I've been able to do so far is pretty fascinating.
>
> Dave W7AQK
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>
> --
> Mitch Wolfson
> DJØQN / K7DX
> Neubiberger Str. 21, 85640 Putzbrunn
> Skype: mitchwo - Home:[phone] - Mobile:[phone]
> Echolink: 3001 - IRLP: 5378

______________________________________________________________
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