[Elecraft] Remote Operation of a K2

[Julian (G4ILO)]

Trevor,

My K2Net software was developed to solve exactly that scenario.

I use Wi-Fi wireless networking to communicate between my laptop running 
the K2Net client and the desktop running K2Net server. I already had a 
wired LAN so I just added a wireless access point plugged in to the hub, 
and bought a wireless network card for the laptop. You can get them in both 
USB and PC Card versions. The only issue is that the signal radiated by 
these devices is fairly weak, and you can get into a no signal area after 
only a few metres. It is 2.4GHz within a building, after all. In that 
respect the USB adapter is probably better, as it comes with an extension 
cable that would allow you to position it for best signal. If your other 
computer is a desktop then you can get a PCI adapter card for it, but you 
might be stuck with having the antenna at the back of the computer. By the 
way, you might be best advised to go for the older, cheaper 11MBit/s 
adapters and not the newer, faster ones, because the standards haven't yet 
been agreed for the higher speeds and the talk is that when they are, the 
kit might not be upgradeable.

If you don't already have a network hub then, from the manuals, it appears 
that it is possible for two computers to talk to one another using a pair 
of wireless network adapters, without the access point, but when I tried it 
I couldn't figure out the TCP/IP configuration.

K2Net has built in audio streaming for both transmit and receive, so it can 
be used for both CW and SSB. Since I'm keen on data modes, it will probably 
support PSK31 eventually, too. It works very nicely for me allowing me to 
use the K2 from the living room, or from the garden. The only problem with 
the latter is that no-one has invented a computer screen you can read in 
bright sunlight!

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

Trevor Day <Trev@secornwall.com> wrote:

Hi All,
I wonder if any of you can point me in the best direction to achieve what I 
need. Basically, the scenario is this:
I work from home and my work is heavily computer based (I write Tech 
Manuals) and I am also a keen 6m dxer :-)

I currently use a pair of monitors tied to a dual headed video card which 
gives me lots of flexibility. I would like to be able to use one of the 
currently available software packages to control the K2 from my computer; 
this will include the ability to tx CW (and ideally, SSB also) and to be 
able to route the rx audio through my computers sound system.

The radio equipment is on the floor above my workplace and although I could 
theoretically hard wire a LAN connection to the shack I would rather use an 
RF link eg one of the IEEE 802.11b devices currently available from a large 
number of retailers.

Is this possible, and if so, what additional hardware might I need at the 
K2 end to allow it to talk to the link? I am already fitted with the I/O 
port which works fine when connected directly to a laptop. I see the audio 
transfer from shack to computer as the most difficult to achieve neatly, 
but I will be happy to use a separate rf link for this (eg PMR446) if 
required.


All comments gratefully received