[Elecraft] Remoting K2 audio (another approach)

[Julian (G4ILO)]

I recently made some PSK31 QSOs using MixW software, controlled remotely 
from a "roaming" laptop with a wireless network card, using the VNC remote 
control software. Control using VNC is a bit sluggish and it seems to put 
quite a high load on my none-too-high-spec PCs (and probably the network) 
but it does work, although I'm sure a more network-efficient method using a 
remote interface talking to a PSK "engine" could be developed.

I do find it useful to be able to hear what's going on when working PSK, 
and of course it's essential to work CW, since MixW can't decode it as well 
as the human brain (except for machine sent high speed CW, when it does a 
lot better than I can.) I looked around for a possible solution, or tools 
that would enable me to knock one up.

At http://lakesoft.com/ I found software components for writing streaming 
audio applications. Better still, there is a set of precompiled demo 
applications (http://lakeofsoft.com/vc/download.html) any one of three of 
which could be used, as is, to both send and receive audio between the 
computer connected to the K2 and a remote PC across a network. With no 
modifications to the settings used for PSK I was able to run the server, 
and hear the audio on the other PC. I was also able to speak into the 
microphone on the laptop and have this audio transmitted by the K2, using 
VOX. I don't know what it sounded like as I transmitted into a dummy load, 
since I've done nothing to RF-proof the computer microphone I used.

Unfortunately the wireless network hardware has stopped talking to each 
other. I don't know if my 5W of RF blew up the receiver, but further 
experiments have ceased for the time being.

73,
--
Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, G-QRP, K2 #392)
G4ILO's Shack: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo