[Elecraft] iphone remote control for the KPA500

[Jeff]

So it looks like I will need to acquire a Remote Rig RC-1216H . There are cheaper ways to power on and off equipment, I’m now using NEO’s with the Flex 6500. A much simpler, better, and less costly  approach  to this would be a phone APP to control the KPA500, and monitor it’s functions. But I think the amp would have to be modified by Elecraft to be remotely powered on and off? I don’t need a tuner here as my antenna is a SteppIR BigIR, so it follows the radio’s TX frequency...

Missing Dayton this year, still under construction from Matthew...
73 Jeff kb2m


From: Barry Baines 
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:43 PM
To: Jeff 
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] iphone remote control for the KPA500

Jeff: 

  On May 16, 2017, at 8:03 PM, Jeff <kb2m at comcast.net> wrote:


  Is anyone working on an iPhone remote control APP for the KPA500? 

Not a problem today if you use the Remote Rig RC-1216H to control the KPA500 (available through HRO).  It uses a web interface which looks just like the KPA500 front panel; the amplifier interface utilizes the RS232 serial connection, so I control my KPA500 with my iPad or MacBook running Safari or Chrome.  Likewise, I use a second Remote Rig 1216H to control my Green Heron Rotor Controller (RT-21), so I can manage my antenna pointing with the iPAD/iPhone/MacBook with ease.

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

Note that the RC-1216H can manage various amplifiers and antenna rotators.  Unfortunately, the firmware does not support the KAT500 or the Alpha 9500.

The RC-1216H is an excellent device for managing compatible devices when operating remotely;  e.g. my shack is in SE Georgia and I’m in New England, Texas, etc.  


At this point the only devices that I must use a Windows OS is with the KAT500 and the Antenna Genius 8x2 antenna switch.  The antenna switch allows me to select which transceiver (K3 or Flex) is  active on a given port.  The Antenna Genius has a LAN connection, so I can access it relatively easily remotely and run the windows software from wherever I am.  

I use a serial-to-ethernet converter to interface with the KAT500 so that the computer at my location can control the KAT500 at the shack without a PC in the shack.

Lastly, I use the West Mountain Radio 5-port R4005i to turn on/off devices using a web interface that it has.  The allows me to remotely activate the Flex6700, control preamps and other accessories, etc.    So again, it can all be done with an iPhone/iPad/MacBook or any web-capable device.

To the extent that I can run a shack without running Windows and a PC, the happier I am.  

FWIW,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
(Currently in Mercer, PA enroute to Hamvention…)



  I move my KPA-500 with me when I travel from my winter home to my summer home. When down south for the winter I use the KPA500 with my FLEX 6500 that has a wonderful iPhone remote control APP.  It would be nice to be able to control the KPA500 via iPhone also...

  73 Jeff kb2m 



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