[Elecraft] remoting a kpa/kat500 without a PC

[Barry Baines]

Jeff:

> On Dec 30, 2015, at 8:55 AM, Jeff <kb2m at comcast.net> wrote:

snip…
> 
> I’m looking for a different solution to control the amp and tuner with. I could get a remoterig box to control the amp and tuner, but I’m also looking for other solutions. I remember reading about a way to use the K3 via macros to control the amp and tuner but now can’t locate this info. Anyone know where I can find the procedure to do this with a macro in the K3? I will be up there for a few weeks and would like to try this approach first before I buy the additional remoterig boxes. Thanks for any help….


Your experience reaffirms my decision to avoid using a PC at the radio site to serve as an interface to the Elecraft equipment.  PCs will at some point hang up or otherwise fail, introducing a single failure point that takes out everything attached to it.

Like you I’m using Remote rig for interfacing between the radio at the ham shack in Georgia and my ‘home site’ in Massachusetts.  For my purposes (SSB) this has been a reliable way to stay on-the-air.  However, rather than use a PC at the shack to control the KPA500, KAT500, and my rotor (Orion), I’ve taken three approaches:

1.  I’m using the Remote Rig RC-1216H to control the KPA500. This provides a web interface to control the amplifier, providing ‘front panel’ that includes the controls available on KPA-500 front panel including power on/off, standby on/off, amplifier temperature, band selection and including power output and reflected power Led-like display as on the amplifier.   It has been 100% reliable and works like a champ.  Best of all, it means I can control the amplifier with an Apple Macintosh computer running Mac OS 10.xx, an iPad or an iPhone and not be limited to Windows. 

BTW, this device also works with Expert Amps, Acom Amps, SteppIR,  and certain other rotors, though a RC-1216H is configured for only one of these devices.  See: http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=1010# 

Ham Radio Outlet now carries these devices after I kept bugging them to offer it last year as they were already carrying the other Remote Rig ‘boxes.’ I purchased mine in February 2015 and have been very pleased with it.


2.  For the KAT-500 I’m using a serial-to-ethernet converter from Lantronix (EDS-4100) that allows me to connect to the KAT500 from a PC where I am.  I also use this same serial-to-ethernet device to connect my Orion Rotor as it can handle up to four serial connections independently.  Configure the EDS-4100 locally for the serial devices to be connected and install the Lantronix software on the Windows PC and the system thinks it is communicating directly with up to four serial devices (designating four com ports on that PC)  when in fact it is over the internet to the radio site.  This allows me to run the Elecraft KAT-500 software where I am without being dependent upon a computer at the radio site. I also run PSTRotoAz.exe at the computer where I am to direct my rotor.  

See:  http://www.lantronix.com/products/eds4100/   I purchased mine through Amazon.  Note that Lantronix only supports Windows machines.  

Now, if only Remote Rig came out with an updated RC-1216 to allow a web-based connection to the KAT500…


3.  I’m running the West Mountain Radio RigRunner R4005i for internet-based power control to power on/off the Orion Rotor and other accessories. Again, this is a web-based interface allowing me to use Mac OS 10.xx or a windows-based PC to manage the connections.  I’ve had mixed results in using an iPad/iPhone probably due to a difference in how these devices interact with web-based interfaces. If I add a login/password to the R4005i configuration, the iPad/iPhone doesn’t deal with it well.  

See:  http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=rr_4005i


In addition, I also have a USB-to-Ethernet device (Digi International’s AnywhereUSB) that allows me to run the Wave Node WN-2 and certain other USB devices remotely.  I initially purchased this to use with my Flex-5000 and Alpha amplifier.  It works well and allows me to monitor power output and SWR as measured externally as provided by the WN-2.  It did not do well with controlling the Alpha amplifier using the software available from RKR Designs (v1.4).  I suspect that the timing delays going over the internet causes problems, but it did work well connected to a PC in the shack.  I have not tried controlling the Alpha through the Lantronix serial-to-ethernet device;  I will do that at some point when I’m back at the radio site. 

I will also point out that AnyWhereUSB does not deal with Audio USB well;  for example, it doesn’t deal with Fun Cube Dongles at all.  Likewise, as with the Lantonix device, the AnywhereUSB only works under Windows (not Mac OS).  

See:  http://www.digi.com/products/usb-and-serial-connectivity/usb-over-ip-hubs/anywhereusb


The key to making this all work is the ability to connect to the radio site’s LAN and be able to “see” the IP devices (Serial-to-ethernet, USB-to-Ethernet and Remote Rig).  This can done a variety of ways including VPN or via DDNS and Port Forwarding.  In my case, I had a commercial firm configure two Sonic Wall routers for me (one for each location) where essentially one LAN can interact with the other well enough where the web-based devices (RC-1216H and RigRunner), Serial-based devices (Lantronics), and AnywhereUSB in Georgia are recognized by the computer in Massachusetts without having to resort to VPN.  It essentially provides a seamless process for controlling my amateur radio HF station without having to resort to a PC at the radio site. It also removes to some degree a ’single point failure’.  For example,  if the RC-1215H were to fail, I could still turn on and operate my rotor along with the K3 and KAT500 sans amplifier.  

I suspect that over time there will be more web-based interfaces developed for a variety of amateur radio applications, thus avoiding the need for PC at the shack to allow remote connection.  In the meantime, I’m pleased with how my shack has evolved to allow improved remote operation.


73 & Happy New Year,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Westborough, MA











> 
> 73 and a HNY Jeff kb2m