Barry,
I have been using serial to ethernet servers for over 10 years to
control rotors, amplifiers and other serial devices. You set these up
once and can forget about them. You install a virtual serial port on the
control PC for which you can use any kind of client software to control
that device, but there is of course no web interface. No local PC on the
radio side needs to be running. I use these devices instead of the
(expensive) dedicated RC-1216H devices that only provide a web
interface. My favorite ones are the Lantronix UDS2100, which I have
bought over Ebay.
Note that the WebSwitch 1216H (not the RC-1216H) allows rotor control
and also has a serial port server to provide a virtual serial port. This
port can however only be used for the rotor, plus the web interface and
virtual serial port can not be used at the same time.
73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX
--
Mitch Wolfson K7DX / DJ0QN
10285 Boca Cir, Naples, FL 34109
Skype: mitchwo
USA: Home:+1-239-221-9600 - Mobile:+1-424-288-9171
Germany: Home:+49 89 32152700 - Mobile/WhatsApp:+49 172 8374436
On 28.02.2019 11:56, Barry Baines via Elecraft wrote:
Fred:
On Feb 28, 2019, at 8:20 AM, Fred Massey <[email protected]> wrote:
A K3/0 that could directly connect over the internet with a K3s (K3s+ or
K4) is really needed. The remoterig is relatively difficult and old tech.
The client server architecture like flex is using is what is needed.
I use the existing K3/0-Mini and Remote Rig with my K3 and the Flex-6700
through Maestro remotely. Both approaches have their advantages and
disadvantages and in essence we’re comparing apples to oranges.
The K3 approach through Remote Rig is admittedly ‘kludgy’ given external boxes,
cabling, and settings. However, once up and running it is very good and
reliable. Most importantly, the system requires little bandwidth for radio
control and audio. I can use the K3 remote system controlling a K3 station in
rural southeast Georgia which has a DSL connection and max upload of 1.2 MBps.
In most cases, it is 768 Mbps. In addition, it is a ’self-contained’ system
where no one else has connectivity and the connection is directly between the
remote and the K3. I am not dependent upon Elecraft to maintain a system for
managing my connections. However, this approach also requires separate means
to manage the KPA500 and KAT500.
The Remote Rig RC-1216H provides a web interface for the KPA500 and I use a
second RC-1216H to control the rotor (Green Heron RT-21 managing an Orion
Rotor). Of course, there isn’t a panadapter remote option which would take
uplink bandwidth. What I miss is the direct controllability of the KAT500 which
requires the KAT500 utility to be controlled remotely. I’ve done this using a
Serial-to-Ethernet converter, but I don’t llke it because it requires a PC to
run it. I hope at some point that Remote Rig would upgrade the firmware to
manage the KAT500 so that I can use any web-capable device (iPad, iPhone, Mac,
PC, etc.).
Overall, the system works very well and I’ve been using it since September 2014
without problems. I now keep a K3/0-Mini system at two different locations
(Texas and New England) both of which cannot support a ham station on site.
The Flex System overcomes some of the weaknesses of the K3 approach and of course it
has a remote panadapter capabiity. But it has taken Flex over five years to provide
the remote capability at significantly higher cost and requires greater upload
bandwidth. SmartSDR 2.0 was introduced in 2017 which means for four years I could
only operate the Flex-6700 when at the shack. Flex’s approach is dependent upon a
server-based system to establish a secure link, a license fee if you’re upgrading
from Version 1 to Version 2 or Version 2 to (just announced) Version 3 of SmartSDR.
Flex Radio has to maintain a server system to control access remotely. The PGXL
amplifier can be controlled directly through Maestro or a PC running SmartSDR v2.xx
operating from a remote site. However, the “Tuner Genius” that is promised to go
with the PGXL has not been released, so I’m limited to using my EFHW antenna to the
KAT500 and the K3 setup since I do need to use a tuner with it. I will say that the
bandwidth requirements of the Flex under the current V2.49 SmartSDR is significantly
less than in the past so it works more reliably in “Low Bandwidth" mode. I
also keep a Maestro in both Texas and New England.
Having two different remote systems with different feature sets does provide
some advantages:
-Redundancy. In the event one system has a remote issue, I have the other to
use as a backup.
-Flexibility. I like to ‘listen’ so much of my time is spent listening or
participating on nets. The K3 setup works well since I’m not particularly
“hunting” for signals where a panadapter would be useful. Simply turn on the
K3 and I’m on the last frequency I was tuned or I can enter the frequency of
interest. I have the tuner and amplifier as needed, and 500W is usually more
than sufficient for my needs. The Flex is more helpful if I’m searching the
bands with a panadapter/waterfall, but the PGXL is only helpful on 10-15-20
where I have a yagi and don’t need to a tuner capable of handling the PGXL.
Due to bandwidth issues, the Flex system does sometime ‘hiccup’ due to missed
packets though this happens a lot less than previously.
-Space. I spend 90% of my operating time running remote. At my locations in
Texas and New England I have the Maestro and K3/0-Mini sitting on my 30” x 60’
office desk by the 27” Apple Display with West Mountain Radio external speakers
that can be used with either system. The Remote Rig equipment, cabling,
network ethernet switch, 120 VAC surge protected hub that powers the Remote Rig
equipment, network switch, Maestro, Speakers, K3/0-Mini are either sitting on
the floor or held in place with cable ties attached around the desk legs,
out-of-the-way and out-of-sight. Of course, the ham shack itself in Georgia is
a different matter given the amount of equipment installed, but the operating
position has the real estate to handle it. (approximately 12 ft. x 30” of desk
space).
-Equipment Complexity: The K3/0-Mini and Remote Rig RRC-1258 are relatively
simple devices. I’ve not had any issues with these devices and while there
have been firmware upgrades they are few and not necessarily required. The
Maestro is a much more complex piece of equipment which is essentially a device
with built-in tablet that takes significant time to boot up and has firmware
that controls the various knobs and indications and of course communicates with
the Flex server to establish a connection to my Flex-6700. Any update to
SmartSDR (the most recent was last December 2018 to v2.49 while Flex has
announced that v3.0 will be available in March 2019) requires an update to the
Flex-6700 and Maestro. This can be done remotely, but it also reflects the
greater complexity of the system.
My original Maestro (purchased new in 2017) has been recalled once at no charge
and sent back once for non-warranty repairs.
-Isolation. Running remote reduces the potential for surge issues where I’m
actually operating as there are no external antennas.
At the ham shack in Southeast Georgia, I have the K3 equipment physically
separate from the Flex Equipment going through separate ethernet switches and
isolated with Fiber Optic Converters for CAT5 connections to help reduce the
probability of surge problems or a ethernet switch failure in the shack taking
down both systems. RF connection of both systems to the antennas and dummy load
is thorough an Antenna Genius which provides high isolation between antenna
ports. The DSL modem and separate router are in the house while the ham shack
itself is located in an air conditioned room located in the detached garage. I
run a fiber optic cable between the house and ham shack to further isolate the
network equipment in the house from the shack.
Bottom line is that I like both systems and each system offers capabilities
that the other does not have. Given that I’m over 1,100 miles from the ham
shack most of the time, I’ve benefited from redundancy because things can go
wrong and cannot be fixed until my next trip to southeast Georgia. Over the
past year I’ve had issues with one or the other system but usually the other
system is still up and running.
From the user’s perspective, I do suggest that one needs to to carefully
consider how exactly they will operate their system and what level of
investment ($$$, sweat equity, real estate) they’re wiling or able to put into
a remote system. Flex’s approach is certainly successful, but it is a complex
and more expensive system that has taken many more years to develop than what
Flex initially announced. Electraft’s approach is ’simpler’ in terms of making
it possible to operate remotely, but it does appear relatively ‘kludgy’ given
that it could certainly be streamlined if they thought it is worth the time and
effort. If one is focused on ’pickup and go’ remote operation, the Flex
Maestro (or SmartSDR on a laptop or SmartSDR for iOS on an Apple iPad) is
certainly easier to manage than taking the K3/0-Mini with remote Rig setup. i
have transported both the Maestro and K3/0-Mini w/Remote Rig in their
respective Pelican Cases between locations before so I appreciate the steps
needed to take down and setup this equipment. I later purchased used K3/O-Mini
and Maestro devices to eliminate the need to transport (and take up space in my
vehicle) between Texas (Fall/Winter) and New England (Spring/Summer) when cargo
space is at a premium when transporting the XYL, family dog and the clothing
and other items needed at the other QTH.
FWIW,
Barry Baines, WD4ASW
(Keller, TX)
73,
Fred
AE4ED
On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 8:12 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM <[email protected]>
wrote:
Hello
any idea if will be a new control radio for remote? Like K3/0 Mini with
remoterig integrated inside it?
Maybe for Dayton will have it?
--
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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