Mitch: > On Feb 28, 2019, at 11:27 AM, Mitch Wolfson DJ0QN / K7DX <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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.
I’m currently using the Lantronics EDS4100 serial-to-ethernet which works well. As you note, one creates a virtual com port on the controlling PC running Windows. This device can manage up to four serial ports at the remote site. Thus, I have the virtual com configuration installed on Win-7Pro machine in the shack as well as on a Win10Pro virtual machine running on my MacBook Pro running Parallels that’s with me. However, that’s the problem… I want to use web-based devices because I have no desire to run a Windows in the shack or where I am. A web-based device such as the RC-1216H is much more convenient, doesn’t require a PC to access and avoids having to specially configure the controlling computer such as is required to manage a Lantronics device that is only compatible with Windows OS. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used my iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc. to remotely manage my station to turn on/off devices (through West Mountain Radio’s 4005i) or even reboot computers (through Digital Loggers Pro Switch). > > 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. To further clarify: The RC-1216H can be configured to manage the KPA-500, the SteppIR, ACOM-200A, Expert 1K-FA, and specific rotators. According to the RC-1216H manual, “At the moment it support Prositel rotators with the D-type control box, AlfaSpid rotators, rotators controlled by Green Heron control box and other rotators with serial interfaces with the DCU-1 protocol.” In my case, the RC-1216H is compatible with the Green Heron RT-21 control box. Along with managing the rotor direction, jt can also power on/off the Green Heron controller through a relay box (such as from West Mountain Radio) that allows 12 VDC to power on/off a 120 VAC device. Keep the Green Heron power switch set to ‘on’ and I have remote on/off capability for the Green Heron itself through the RC-1216H. Thus, I have two RC-1216H devices: one to manage the KPA500 and the other to manage my Green Heron/Orion rotor system. The Webswitch 1216H is certainly an alternative for rotor control and people do get confused with the two model designations. When I ordered the RC-1216H from HRO, they sent me the webswitch 1216H in error. I like the RC-1216H because it is a simple RS232 cable connection between the RC-1216H and Green Heron; configure the RC-1216H to manage a rotor, and it basically works out-of-the-box. There are eight predefined aziumth bearings that can be labeled as well as the ability to direct the antenna to a specific bearing. In summary, the trend is for more seamless web-based management of remote devices both in the consumer market and amateur radio as it eliminates the need for specific hardware/software to remotely manage devices. If I could replace using KAT-500 Utility software with a web-based device such as the RC-1216H to manage the tuner, I could stick with running Apple devices (and avoid running Windows under Parallels on a MacBook Pro) and be able to fully control my K3 station from anywhere (in conjunction with the K3/0-Mini). 73, Barry, WD4ASW (Keller, TX) > > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
