Hello Guys, I plan on testing out a remote internet operation along with fellow ham Joe, K1IKE with hardware from Remoterig.com and am looking for a donation of a trap vertical that will cover 80-10 meters. The setup should be able to allow remote access from HRD. Initially we will probably use an Icom 706 with the rig at one end and the removable control head at another. Check out the website above and also Eham for reviews. This looks like a slick solution to remote control.
The initial reason for trying this is to accommodate a 92 year old active ham who is moving into an assisted living facility.
73,
John, W1AN
John,
I can help out with a vertical – I have an extra one that is exactly like the one we used at your place, but it’s several years older. I can bring it tomorrow to the lunch, or drop it at your place after the meeting if that’s where we want it to end up. Let me know.
Mike, K1DM
Mike, Thanks, I can pick it up and bring it up to the repeater site where we may eventually install it. There is no hurry, as we haven’t decided on all the rig hardware yet. I can work on it in the house up there if it needs refurbishing. I’ll let Joe, K1IKE, know.
John, W1AN
Mike, thanks for dropping off the vertical. I will see if I can get some time and put it together. Possibly this week so we can check it out in the ARRL CW.
John, W1AN
Saturday during the CW test, Joe K1IKE and the son of the OT stopped by to discuss the remote operation. We will use a TS480 for trials. Joe will setup Mikes 6BTV vertical and rig at his QTH for testing before it goes up to the Salem CT repeater site. A mobile HF rig will be used to do a drive around to make sure there is minimal RFI from neighbors up there. The remote rig units are on order. An amp may also be used. Presently I am considering using the repeater controller digital I/O for power switching.
This should be an interesting project. With HRD it will be possible to do some remote contesting….
John, W1AN
After the mandatory completion of the learning cycle and some in house trials we now have a functioning remote station at the Salem, CT repeater site. The RemoteRig units are working well. The OT, Wayne, W3QAN, is successfully checking into the local QCWA net and has had QSOs with his son in MN on 75 phone. He is elated. Mike K1DM has added some radials to the Hustler 6BTV vertical which will definitely help performance but some additional antenna tuning will be necessary, which may happen some time next week. Plans are under way to install a dipole which will increase the tuner band coverage of the TS480 on 75M. We also have local and remote access to the station with Ham Radio Deluxe Server and the Kenwood software locally installed on a little PC (RTTY Meister) in the shack. Separate from the RemoteRig units, VOIP is made possible with some Kenwood software which presently is setup for diagnostics and monitoring. The PC is configured to boot up automatically after a power loss and I have RDP access as well as VNC and Teamviewer access.
I am also experimenting with some other low cost hardware for remote rig control, remote rotor and two way audio. A relay box has been installed to switch 120v and 240v receptacles. More to come. These projects always seem to grow.
John, W1AN