[Elecraft] Rotating Antenna from a remote location.

[Fred Jensen]

Another choice is to run a  PC at the radio site which runs the rotator 
control software, and then use a remote control program to get into the 
computer from your control location.  Tom at W7RN does this using 
TeamViewer [free for non-commercial use].  When I log in, I see the GH 
control screens, I can drag any of the antennas to any azimuth, plus I 
have access to the KPA500 control utility, and a couple of camera 
images, one of the shack in general and a close up of the K3 and the 
antenna switch indicators so I can see if any are busy with on-site 
operations.  Works pretty slick.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2016
- www.cqp.org

On 4/3/2016 10:15 AM, Rick Tavan wrote:
> Easy, Don, but there are lots of choices.
>
> First you need a rotor control box with a digital interface. Many
> have them, usually with a conventional serial port connection. If
> yours does not, consider the Green Heron universal controller. It can
> control most rotors out there.
>
> Second, you need software to interface to the controller. Some
> logging programs can be set up to control some digital rotor
> controllers and that may be the simplest way to go. You will probably
> need a remote serial port.
>
> If you don't want to rely on logging programs or if your logger
> doesn't support your rotor/controller, you will need stand-alone
> software.
>
> Some controllers provide their own stand-alone software and there are
> also third-party programs available (see below). There are two ways
> these programs can run - local-only or client-server. If you choose
> software that runs local-only, you can run it on a computer at the
> radio site and access it via a remote desktop program from the
> control site OR you can run it at the control site with a remote
> serial port to the controller at the radio site.
>
> If you choose software that runs client-server, you run the server
> version on a computer at the radio site and the client version on a
> computer at the control site. Often it's the same executable at both
> sites and you just select different options. This is what I do, using
> PstRotatorAz from YO3DMU. It can run either locally or client-server
> and interfaces most rotor controllers and logging programs. Setup is
> less than obvious but help is available online and once it's working
> it's very robust, surviving many sorts of configuration changes and
> starts and stops, an excellent program. Extra added attractions
> include presets, turn-to-prefix, logging program interfaces, and a
> module that controls a SteppIR antenna controller, also remotely.
>
> GL & 73,
>
> /Rick N6XI
>
> On Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 9:11 PM, Don Strom <d6rep at live.com> wrote:
>
>> Am getting ready to order K3S with the remote rig duo from
>> Elecraft.
>>
>> Any one out there that is rotating their antennas remotely?
>>
>> If so, very interested in what you are using to do the job.
>>
>> Thanks!  Don  W0EAR