[Elecraft] iPad as wired remote for Elecraft rig?

[Nick Garner]

Hello Everyone,
When I first started work on Pigtail, the original plan was to make it a
wired accessory.  With the assistance of a lawyer (required) I went through
the whole licensing and NDA process to make approved hardware and the very
first prototype was working on the bench a couple months later.  It plugged
into the 30 pin connector on iOS devices.  As I got deeper into the
process, unless I was making thousands of them it just wouldn't be feasible
without the cable costing a lot of money.  I switched over to Bluetooth
which is also restricted when it comes to serial data and found many of the
same roadblocks.  I eventually went with WiFi because it's universal and
there's no licensing restrictions.  When first considering WiFi I thought,
"But... there's not going to be WiFi on top of the mountain..."  The wifi
module I'm using can operate independently of any wireless networks so that
problem went away and off I went.  And with the switch from the 30-pin
connector to Lightning on iOS devices, I'm pretty happy I did.

I'm giving a talk at Dayton later this week on the process I took and
mistakes I made when going through the process of making Pigtail.  A large
portion (and goal) of the talk is how to DIY for anyone who wants to make
something like this themselves.

73,
Nick
N3WG


On Mon, May 13, 2013 at 8:42 AM, Mike Heitmann <n0so at att.net> wrote:

> Hi Andrew,
>
> Apple is pretty restrictive with what / who / how the USB and Bluetooth
> Interfaces get used in iOS. As a result, not much has been developed for
> the
> wired or bluetooth interface for iPad/iPhone, WiFi, however,  is another
> story.
> I've been happily using  the HamLog app with two devices: the Pigtail and
> the
> Piglet, with my KX3. It works very well.
>
>
> The Pigtail or Piglet device (you only need one of the two) connects to
> your KX3
> serial port and creates a  "virtual serial cable" to the KX3. The HamLog
> app
> talks to the KX3 via an "adhoc" type  WiFi connection providing rig
> control and
> logging capability.
>
>
> It works great in the field for portable operations, and when I get home I
> can
> export the HamLog adif contact log file,  then upload the file to my main
> logging program on the PC in my shack.
>
> Take a look at:
> http://pignology.net/
>  And some of the demo video:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXeqeV5-8TI
>
> Mike, N0SO
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Andrew Moore <andrew.nv1b at gmail.com>
> To: Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Mon, May 13, 2013 9:18:33 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] iPad as wired remote for Elecraft rig?
>
> I've searched a lot and can't find the answer so I'm asking the group.
>
> Is it possible to use the iPad as "detachable head" for a K2, K3 or KX3,
> using a direct connection (no Bluetooth / PC / wireless / Internet)?
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