[Elecraft] new K3/0 Mini

Thu Feb 28 11:56:33 EST 2019

Fred:

> On Feb 28, 2019, at 8:20 AM, Fred Massey <fhmassey at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> A K3/0 that could directly connect over the internet with a K3s (K3s+ or
> K4) is really needed.  The remoterig is relatively difficult and old tech.
> The client server architecture like flex is using is what is needed.

I use the existing K3/0-Mini and Remote Rig with my K3 and the Flex-6700 through Maestro remotely.  Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages and in essence we’re comparing apples to oranges.  

The K3 approach through Remote Rig is admittedly ‘kludgy’ given external boxes, cabling, and settings.  However, once up and running it is very good and reliable. Most importantly, the system requires little bandwidth for radio control and audio. I can use the K3 remote system controlling a K3 station in rural southeast Georgia which has a DSL connection and max upload of 1.2 MBps.  In most cases, it is 768 Mbps.  In addition, it is a ’self-contained’ system where no one else has connectivity and the connection is directly between the remote and the K3.  I am not dependent upon Elecraft to maintain a system for managing my connections.  However, this approach also requires separate means to manage the KPA500 and KAT500.

The Remote Rig RC-1216H provides a web interface for the KPA500 and I use a second RC-1216H to control the rotor (Green Heron RT-21 managing an Orion Rotor).  Of course, there isn’t a panadapter remote option which would take uplink bandwidth. What I miss is the direct controllability of the KAT500 which requires the KAT500 utility to be controlled remotely.  I’ve done this using a Serial-to-Ethernet converter, but I don’t llke it because it requires a PC to run it.  I hope at some point that Remote Rig would upgrade the firmware to manage the KAT500 so that I can use any web-capable device (iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, etc.).  

Overall, the system works very well and I’ve been using it since September 2014 without problems.  I now keep a K3/0-Mini system at two different locations (Texas and New England) both of which cannot support a ham station on site.   

The Flex System overcomes some of the weaknesses of the K3 approach and of course it has a remote panadapter capabiity.  But it has taken Flex over five years to provide the remote capability at significantly higher cost and requires greater upload bandwidth.  SmartSDR 2.0 was introduced in 2017 which means for four years I could only operate the Flex-6700 when at the shack.  Flex’s approach is dependent upon a server-based system to establish a secure link, a license fee if you’re upgrading from Version 1 to Version 2 or Version 2 to (just announced) Version 3 of SmartSDR.  Flex Radio has to maintain a server system to control access remotely.  The PGXL amplifier can be controlled directly through Maestro or a PC running SmartSDR v2.xx operating from a remote site.  However, the “Tuner Genius”  that is promised to go with the PGXL has not been released, so I’m limited to using my EFHW antenna to the KAT500 and the K3 setup since I do need to use a tuner with it.  I will say that the bandwidth requirements of the Flex under the current V2.49 SmartSDR is significantly less than in the past so it works more reliably in “Low Bandwidth" mode.  I also keep a Maestro in both Texas and New England.  

Having two different remote systems with different feature sets does provide some advantages:

-Redundancy. In the event one system has a remote issue, I have the other to use as a backup.

-Flexibility.  I like to ‘listen’ so much of my time is spent listening or participating on nets.  The K3 setup works well since I’m not particularly “hunting” for signals where a panadapter would be useful.  Simply turn on the K3 and I’m on the last frequency I was tuned or I can enter the frequency of interest.  I have the tuner and amplifier as needed, and 500W is usually more than sufficient for my needs.    The Flex is more helpful if I’m searching the bands with a panadapter/waterfall, but the PGXL is only helpful on 10-15-20 where I have a yagi and don’t need to a tuner capable of handling the PGXL.  Due to bandwidth issues, the Flex system does sometime ‘hiccup’ due to missed packets though this happens a lot less than previously.

-Space.  I spend 90% of my operating time running remote.  At my locations in Texas and New England I have the Maestro and K3/0-Mini sitting on my 30” x 60’ office desk by the 27” Apple Display with West Mountain Radio external speakers that can be used with either system.  The Remote Rig equipment, cabling, network ethernet switch, 120 VAC surge protected hub that powers the Remote Rig equipment, network switch, Maestro, Speakers, K3/0-Mini are either sitting on the floor or held in place with cable ties attached around the desk legs, out-of-the-way and out-of-sight.  Of course, the ham shack itself in Georgia is a different matter given the amount of equipment installed, but the operating position has the real estate to handle it. (approximately 12 ft. x 30” of desk space).  

-Equipment Complexity:  The K3/0-Mini and Remote Rig RRC-1258 are relatively simple devices.  I’ve not had any issues with these devices and while there have been firmware upgrades they are few and not necessarily required.  The Maestro is a much more complex piece of equipment which is essentially a device with built-in tablet that takes significant time to boot up and has firmware that controls the various knobs and indications and of course communicates with the Flex server to establish a connection to my Flex-6700.  Any update to SmartSDR (the most recent was last December 2018 to v2.49 while Flex has announced that v3.0 will be available in March 2019) requires an update to the Flex-6700 and Maestro.  This can be done remotely, but it also reflects the greater complexity of the system.

My original Maestro (purchased new in 2017) has been recalled once at no charge and sent back once for non-warranty repairs.   

-Isolation.  Running remote reduces the potential for surge issues where I’m actually operating as there are no external antennas.  

At the ham shack in Southeast Georgia, I have the K3 equipment physically separate from the Flex Equipment going through separate ethernet switches and isolated with Fiber Optic Converters for CAT5 connections to help reduce the probability of surge problems or a  ethernet switch failure in the shack taking down both systems. RF connection of both systems to the antennas and dummy load is thorough an Antenna Genius which provides high isolation between antenna ports. The DSL modem and separate router are in the house while the ham shack itself is located in an air conditioned room located in the detached garage.  I run a fiber optic cable between the house and ham shack to further isolate the network equipment in the house from the shack. 

Bottom line is that I like both systems and each system offers capabilities that the other does not have.  Given that I’m over 1,100 miles from the ham shack most of the time, I’ve benefited from redundancy because things can go wrong and cannot be fixed until my next trip to southeast Georgia. Over the past year I’ve had issues with one or the other system but usually the other system is still up and running.  

From the user’s perspective, I do suggest that one needs to to carefully consider how exactly they will operate their system and what level of investment ($$$, sweat equity, real estate) they’re wiling or able to put into a remote system.  Flex’s approach is certainly successful, but it is a complex and more expensive system that has taken many more years to develop than what Flex initially announced.  Electraft’s approach is ’simpler’ in terms of making it possible to operate remotely, but it does appear relatively ‘kludgy’ given that it could certainly be streamlined if they thought it is worth the time and effort.    If one is focused on ’pickup and go’ remote operation, the Flex Maestro (or SmartSDR on a laptop or SmartSDR for iOS on an Apple iPad) is certainly easier to manage than taking the K3/0-Mini with remote Rig setup.  i have transported both the Maestro and K3/0-Mini w/Remote Rig in their respective Pelican Cases between locations before so I appreciate the steps needed to take down and setup this equipment.  I later purchased used K3/O-Mini and Maestro devices to eliminate the need to transport (and take up space in my vehicle) between Texas (Fall/Winter) and New England (Spring/Summer) when cargo space is at a premium when transporting the XYL, family dog and the clothing and other items needed at the other QTH.   

FWIW,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
(Keller, TX)

> 73,
> Fred
> AE4ED
> 
> On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 8:12 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM <cx6vm.jorge at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Hello
>> 
>> any idea if will be a new control radio for remote? Like K3/0 Mini with
>> remoterig integrated inside it?
>> 
>> Maybe for Dayton will have it?
>> 
>> --
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
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