With the release of beta version R36.BETA1, our long-anticipated K4 Remote feature is now available to all K4 owners. A K4 can be either a client radio or a server radio, with no additional hardware or software needed beyond an Internet router at each end.
K4 field testers, who have helped us refine and test the Remote experience over several months, have described K4 Remote as a "game-changer" and "very easy to use." Now we're anxious to help everyone else who's interested in Remote get started. All we ask is that you Read The Manual :) The K4 operating manual has been updated with a chapter on Remote setup and operation. You can find it on the radio itself by tapping the "?" button, or on our K4 manuals web page. An introductory excerpt from the manual appears below. Other new features include: - "RX AUDIO GAIN BOOST" MENU ENTRY: This menu entry allows users who prefer high overall audio output to specify additional gain. - AGC THRESHOLD can now be set to values 2 and 3. These lower thresholds may be useful for those who prefer more aggressive AGC on weaker signals, such as on quiet bands or with preamps OFF. - DIVERSITY-ON BUG FIX: When diversity is turned on, we no longer copy preamp, attenuator, or RF gain settings from VFO A to VFO B. This was creating extra work for operators, especially on 160 m. (Also applies on band change with diversity already ON.) - FSK TRANSMIT BANDWIDTH NOW MUCH NARROWER: Now using controlled sigmoidal tone-shift method to greatly reduce FSK TX bandwidth. Full release notes are attached. 73, Wayne N6KR ======================================== Remote Front Panel Emulation -- Overview ======================================== Remote front panel emulation is typically used to access a server K4 from another location at your home or property, or one at a location with better antennas or propagation. This remote server radio may be your own, or one anywhere else in the world that another operator has allowed you to use (by prearrangement). A client device is used to emulate the front panel of the server radio, as if you were at the server location. Instead, you might be at your home, in a hotel room, in an RV – or virtually anywhere network connectivity is available. The K4's implementation of remote makes such operation simple, seamless, and immersive. You'll have complete control over the distant station. No special interface devices are needed – just a router at each end. There is also no need to change your K4's cabling for computer logging, data modes, etc. The client seamlessly routes commands, data, and audio from these to the server as required. Several client devices and applications are supported: (1) another K4, (2) our K4/0** compact front-panel unit, or (3) our VK4 Windows application**, or (4) a third-party iOS** application. Other apps and platforms may be available in the future. (**In development.) A K4 used as a client can be disconnected from the server, when desired, to use the radio with local antennas. The K4/0 is a control-only device (no RF), with the same display, knobs, and switches as the K4 itself, in an enclosure just 4" deep. ====================================================== ====================== R36.BETA1 ===================== ====================================================== May 3, 2024 ------------ NEW FEATURES ------------ - REMOTE SETTINGS BUTTON ADDED TO LCD: There's a new button ("globe" icon) in the lower left-hand corner of the LCD, next to the "?" (INFO) button. Tap this to access the client or server settings screens. Refer to the REMOTE feature details below, and the REMOTE section of the manual, for details on client and server setup. - REMOTE FRONT PANEL EMULATION (AKA "REMOTE"): The new Remote feature allows you to easily control a K4 transceiver anywhere in the world over the Internet. The K4 can act as either a client or server, and no additional hardware or interface devices are required beyond a router at each end. Additional client devices and software are in development, including our K4/0 remote front panel unit, VK4 Windows application, and a third-party iOS app. (Additional client software applications may be developed in the future, thanks to the K4's large host command set and streaming capability.) - REMOTE FRONT PANEL EMULATION DOCUMENTATION: The latest K4 operating manual includes a comprehensive section on setting up Remote. Please read this section carefully if you plan to use your K4 as a Remote server or client. To get to the REMOTE section, start at the Table of Contents (under "III. Operation"), then click on REMOTE near the bottom of the list. - "TX MONITOR LEVEL, REMOTE" MENU ENTRY: This menu entry sets Remote TX monitor audio level *only* for CW M1..M4 message play and FSK/PSK tones. It does not affect normal paddle-sent CW sidetone in Remote, which is regenerated locally at the client K4. - "RX AUDIO GAIN BOOST" MENU ENTRY: This menu entry allows users who prefer high overall audio output to specify up to 6 dB of additional gain. NOTE: The default setting (0 dB) is generally recommended. Higher settings should be used only if the maximum AF GAIN setting is not adequate for the operator. (The max of 6 dB is intended to reduce the possibility of AF-stage clipping on strong signals.) - AGC THRESHOLD can now be set to values 2 and 3. These lower thresholds may be useful for those who prefer more aggressive AGC on weaker signals, such as on quiet bands or with preamps OFF. - DIVERSITY-ON BUG FIX: When diversity is turned on, we no longer copy preamp, attenuator, or RF gain settings from VFO A to VFO B. This was creating extra work for operators, especially on 160 m. (Also applies on band change with diversity already ON.) - FSK TRANSMIT BANDWIDTH NOW MUCH NARROWER: Now using controlled sigmoidal tone-shift method to greatly reduce FSK TX bandwidth. ----------------------- FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS ----------------------- === K-POD COMMANDS === - K-POD LED AND AUX COMMANDS IMPLEMENTED: These include KPLEDROFF/ON, KPLED1OFF/ON...KPLED4OFF/ON, and KPOUT1OFF/ON..KPOUT3OFF/ON. Note that because the 4th LED is not used by the KPOD, it can be turned on and off without sending the KPod the "KPLEDROFF" command. === SERVER K4 SOFTWARE UPDATE COMMANDS === Basic server K4 setup is now done via the server setup screen, including password and max connected clients. But you may still wish to use commands from the list below to remotely switch between releases and update your K4's software. RLP; Select Production version RLX; Select Prior Production version RLB; Select Beta version RLF; Select Field Test version (RLN; Select Nightly version; developer-enabled K4s only) RL; Returns currently selected release (RRP; RRF; etc.) PS88; Update currently-selected release to latest PS89; While connected to a server, update the firmware on the server to the currently selected release on the server. RRThost:port?password; Connect client to server (host is IP address or hostname of the server) RRN; Disconnect RRPmypassword -- set Password RRP; - display current Password CC; ClientConnectedCount: Returns -1 you are a client, if 0 if no clients connected, any other number is indicates how many clients are connected RS; query Remote Set state. RS1; enables remote set. This only affects commands that are client-only such as MLxnnn; Full list TBD. RS0; disable remote set RS/; - Toggle between RS0; and RS1; mode ---------------------- K4 REMOTE KNOWN ISSUES ---------------------- - DVR FUNCTIONS NOT YET IMPLEMENTED. - XVTR MENU FUNCTIONS NOT YET IMPLEMENTED. - FREQUENCY MEMORIES: The current implementation saves quick memory (and GP memory) data on the client radio for each individual server to which you connect, based on the target radio's serial number. It creates a different freqMemory in a sub-directory for each remote K4 to which you connect. So, if you connect to a server first, then reprogram all the per-band quick memories, they will be stored and usable on the client while connected. They do not change any other quick memory, including the clients "normal, unconnected" memories. Then you can use them on the client. This behavior is unexpected and may change in the future. - TX / MAIN RX / SUB RX functions: During Remote operation, these usually apply to the SERVER radio. In the future an asterisk (*) will be added to all functions that apply to the server. - LOGGING CONSIDERATIONS FOR REMOTE CONTACTS: Be careful logging contacts when switching between local and remote. Your radio has the same LAN IP address and COM port numbers whether operating locally or connected to a remote server. Your logger can't tell the difference but your logs need to document the actual locations of the active radios. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com