[Elecraft] Can KPA500 Operate Remotely?

[Barry Baines]

Jack:

One potential solution is to use the Remote Rig RC-1216H to control the KPA500 via a web page.  See:

http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=1010#tabs-3 <http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=1010#tabs-3>


These are available through Ham Radio Outlet in the US. I’m using two of the devices to remotely control my KPA-500 as well as my Orion rotor through a Green Heron RT-21 controller where the ham shack is in Georgia and I’m in MA or TX.

The key advantages are:

-Web-based, so any device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PC, etc.) can be used to control them from wherever I am.
-Display is a rendition of the KPA-500 front panel, providing complete control as if you’re sitting in front of the amplifier.
-No need for a PC, Arduino or Raspberry Pi to be running 24/7 at the shack, improving remote reliability as these devices may require an occasional reboot
-Easy to configure 
-Can be managed by the router for static addressing and UDP Port for port forwarding (essential for remote access)
-Highly reliable— I’ve never lost a connection due to a RC-1216H “hiccup” in the past 18 months.  

As these are Ethernet devices, you can run a Ethernet Cat5 connection directly to area of the amplifier and plug in the RC-1216H, or put in a Wireless Access Point at the amplifier location and plug the RC-1216H to connect to your Local Area Network (LAN) through WiFi.  This approach eliminates the need for control wiring between your operating position and the amplifier, but it does introduce a potential failure point if the WiFi goes down. 

This is not necessarily an inexpensive solution, but I’ve found this this approach to be highly reliable and works well with low speed DSL access (e.g.  768 Kilobaud upload/6 MB download service) from a rural ISP that services my ham site.  


FWIW,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
(Currently in West Roxbury, MA)




> On Jun 7, 2017, at 10:08 AM, k5aj at gmx.com wrote:
> 
> Hi,  Can a KPA500 be operated remotely, for example, in a different room from the operator?
> Specifically would such remote operations be possible via USB cable or additional hardware,
> or even via IP using additional hardware on the amplifier side.
> The need is to be able to switch remotely between standby and oper.  Ultimately this might
> allow both a flex radio and KPA500 to be separated from the operator.
> Thanks very much,
> Jack
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