[Elecraft] Remote operation K3

[Mitch Wolfson DJØQN]

Hi Ron,

In all the remote stations that I have been involved with, this has been 
the most complex issue to solve. However, I will give you a short 
summary of various methods that can be used.

There are three general methods:
1) Antenna switches controlled remotely
2) Relays used to control separate switches remotely
3) Amplifiers with built-in antenna switches

Here are details:

1) Antenna switches controlled remotely:
This can in turn be split into two categories:

a) Switches with full serial control:
   http://www.arraysolutions.com/eightpak.htm

b) Switches controlled through band decoders
   Lots of examples, but can be complex and expensive:
   http://microham.com/index1.html
   http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=RCS-10LX
   http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/ratpak.htm
   http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/sixpak.htm
<http://www.dxengineering.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=85&SecID=33&DeptID={5B8FC0A3-1D03-4603-B76D-F4F0DA53D8C1}>
   etc.

2) Relays used to control separate switches remotely
This can as well be split into two categories:

a) Relays controlled via AC through an IP switch (web power switch). 
Examples include:
   http://www.koukaam.se/products.php?cat_id=19
   http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html
   etc.

b) Relays controlled directly through ethernet. Examples include:
   http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=166
   http://www.telepostinc.com/N8LP-Remote/index.html
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ethernet-Relay-controller-module-WEB-server-IP-/110726704273?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DPI.WATCH%26its%3DC%252BS%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D15%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D2517210939834087953#ht_4711wt_1185>
   http://home.arcor.de/dh2iw/bundles.html
   http://www.relaiskarten.de/pi-2120223197.htm?categoryId=3
   http://denkovi.com/category/11/ip-relay-boards.html
   etc.

3) Amplifiers with built-in antenna switches
These are examples of amplifiers that can be controlled via serial, USB 
(remote PC only) or ethernet and also can switch antennas:
   http://www.linear-amplifier.com/
   http://www.hfpower.com/  (2000a with 2000S and 2000SW)
   http://www.om-power.com/om2500remote
<http://www.rfconcepts.com/PRODUCTS/New-Products/Alpha-9500-Autotune-Full-Legal-Limit-Linear-Amplifier>

Note that effectively any serial device can be remotely controlled over 
the internet by interfacing it with a serial server at the remote site. 
This can be a device like the ones from Lantronix, or can use a COM port 
from the RemoteRig RRC. USB devices are difficult to remote control, it 
is better to leave them connected to a remote PC and control that PC 
remotely. The best solutions overall are ethernet/IP based, since these 
can be controlled using a  browser.

If you have any further questions, just let me know.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN

On 07.03.2012 23:37, Ron Gould wrote:
> Greetings group.  I have been toying with the idea of using the Remoterig setup but it seems to me other issues need to be addressed here.  I understand the operation of the radio via Remoterig is fairly easy.  What I am wondering is has anyone had any experience using the K3 to switch antenna switches and possibly rotor control.  I need to switch antennas remotely at a minimum and am wondering what others might be doing for this?  I have a antenna switch already which is a DX engineering 8 position one and it is controlled currently manually with their control box.  DX engineering says Ameritron has a RCS 12C which will control their switch.  Has anyone out there interfaced one of these with a K3 successfully or used other methods they might be willing to share?  Thanks in advance.
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> Mitch Wolfson
> DJØQN / K7DX
> Georg-Kerschensteiner-Str. 42, 81829 Muenchen, Germany
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