[Elecraft] iPad/iPhone control app

[Phil Hystad]

David and others...

I was thinking of doing an iPad app at one time and decided that one way that would be reasonably easy is to create a server on my iMac that did all the heavy work and the interface to the K3 or KX3 or whatever.  Then, the iPad to server interface is via web services to the server on your local computer that then handles all of the comms interface to the K[X]3.

Now, if Apple would add a "Service Bus" to iCloud in a manner similar to the AppFabric service bus in Microsoft Azure Cloud then it would even be better.  That way, you do away with all the server connection problems (firewall, routers, IP issues, and so on) by hosting your server connection in the cloud itself and not on your own computer.  Your computer at home is still involved but now it is a client to the service connection point in the cloud rather then a server connection and therefore none of the big issues.  It is a rather cool feature that we are making use of in our business (we are doing a Azure cloud hosted application).

phil

On Aug 25, 2011, at 7:54 PM, David Fleming wrote:

> On Thu, 8/25/11, Phil Hystad wrote:
> 
>> As far as browsing memories idea mentioned below, one way
>> to do this is to do a full page sweep by flicking a page
>> aside and bringing up a new page.  Each page is the
>> same basic interface for the KX3 but each new page is a
>> different setup with memories, modes, and so on.
> 
> Now THAT is an excellent idea. Imagine flipping through any number of "virtual" KX3's (or K3's) like pages in a book. One for CW, one for SSB, one for RTTY, etc.. Each with it's own custom memories, macros, eq, agc, filters, etc. Wow! That would be très cool! 
> 
> I received a couple of emails asking how the app would connect to the radio. There are several options. WiFi/Serial and Ethernet/Serial adapters are available that could provide the serial communication with the rig. Either of these would allow the app to connect over the local network (or internet) without having a computer attached. The downside is the cost. These adapters are relatively expensive. It could also be done with a helper app. I have developed a small "serial server" that runs on a PC or Mac connected to the radio. The iPad app connects to the helper app over the network. The helper app simply forwards commands from the iPad app to the radio, and forwards responses from the radio to the app. It works well and costs nothing. Since most folks already have computers attached to their rigs, this would be the most popular option - I expect. :) A google search shows there are other options out there. Most appear to be "hacks" and involve
> jailbreaking the device. 
> 
> David, W4SMT
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