[Elecraft] new K3/0 Mini

[Barry Baines]

Mitch:

> On Feb 28, 2019, at 5:50 PM, Mitch Wolfson DJ0QN / K7DX <dj0qn at gmx.de> wrote:
> 
> Barry,
> 
> Understand your standpoint now, but that is the opposite of what you wrote below.  You said that you wanted to be able to run the KAT-500 utility remotely, which prompted me to let you know about the serial servers that would be the solution. The Apple part of course makes that somewhat more complicated.

I don’t believe I changed anything in my posting.  I originally stated that I was already controlling the KAT500 remotely through a serial-to-ethernet interface.  (My original post stated, "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 like it because it requires a PC to run it”)   By “direct controllability” I mean not using a PC running specific software (KAT500 utility)  requiring virtual com ports and instead using a web-based interface such as the RC-1216H for ease of use and compatibility with a multitude of devices to control it.  Until such an interface is available, however, I’m forced to stick with the current solution of using a PC, virtual serial port(s), serial-to-ethernet converter, and KAT500 utility software.  

Much about remote operating boils down to personal preference.  There is no ‘right’ answer; rather how one uses their station,  lessons learned over time, and new technical offerings will cause evolution of how ‘best’ it can be done on a case-by-case basis. How I manage my station today is totally different that what I did back in 2014.  

> 
> Hopefully someone on the list will now know about these devices which are wonderful to use for remoting.


I agree these devices are very helpful;  without the Lantronics EDS4100 my setup would be much more “kludgy” to manage the KAT500 remotely.


73,

Barry, WD4ASW


> 
> 73,
> Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX
> 
> -- 
> Mitch Wolfson  K7DX / DJ0QN
> 10285 Boca Cir, Naples, FL 34109
> Skype: mitchwo
> USA: Home:+1-239-221-9600 - Mobile:+1-424-288-9171
> Germany: Home:+49 89 32152700 - Mobile/WhatsApp:+49 172 8374436
> 
> On 28.02.2019 14:52, Barry Baines wrote:
>> Mitch:
>> 
>>> On Feb 28, 2019, at 11:27 AM, Mitch Wolfson DJ0QN / K7DX <dj0qn at gmx.de> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Barry,
>>> 
>>> I have been using serial to ethernet servers for over 10 years to control rotors, amplifiers and other serial devices. You set these up once and can forget about them. You install a virtual serial port on the control PC for which you can use any kind of client software to control that device, but there is of course no web interface. No local PC on the radio side needs to be running. I use these devices instead of the (expensive) dedicated RC-1216H devices that only provide a web interface. My favorite ones are the Lantronix UDS2100, which I have bought over Ebay.
>> I’m currently using the Lantronics EDS4100 serial-to-ethernet which works well.  As you note, one creates a virtual com port on the controlling PC running Windows.  This device can manage up to four serial ports at the remote site.  Thus, I have the virtual com configuration installed on Win-7Pro machine in the shack as well as on a Win10Pro virtual machine running on my MacBook Pro running Parallels that’s with me.
>> 
>> However, that’s the problem…  I want to use web-based devices because I have no desire to run a Windows in the shack or where I am.  A web-based device such as the RC-1216H is much more convenient, doesn’t require a PC to access and avoids having to specially configure the controlling computer such as is required to manage a Lantronics device that is only compatible with Windows OS.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used my iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc. to remotely manage my station to turn on/off devices (through West Mountain Radio’s 4005i) or even reboot computers (through Digital Loggers Pro Switch).
>> 
>>> Note that the WebSwitch 1216H (not the RC-1216H) allows rotor control and also has a serial port server to provide a virtual serial port. This port can however only be used for the rotor, plus the web interface and virtual serial port can not be used at the same time.
>> 
>> To further clarify:
>> 
>> The RC-1216H can be configured to manage the KPA-500,  the SteppIR,  ACOM-200A, Expert 1K-FA, and specific rotators.  According to the RC-1216H manual, “At the moment it support Prositel rotators with the D-type control box, AlfaSpid rotators,  rotators controlled by Green Heron control box and other rotators with serial interfaces with the DCU-1 protocol.”  In my case, the RC-1216H is compatible with the Green Heron RT-21 control box. Along with managing the rotor direction, jt can also power on/off the Green Heron controller through a relay box (such as  from West Mountain Radio) that allows 12 VDC to power on/off a 120 VAC device.  Keep the Green Heron power switch set to ‘on’ and I have  remote on/off capability for the Green Heron itself through the RC-1216H.    Thus, I have two RC-1216H devices:  one to manage the KPA500 and the other to manage my Green Heron/Orion rotor system.
>> 
>> The Webswitch 1216H is certainly an alternative for rotor control and people do get confused with the two model designations.  When I ordered the RC-1216H from HRO, they sent me the webswitch 1216H in error.  I like the RC-1216H because it is a simple RS232 cable connection between the RC-1216H and Green Heron;  configure the RC-1216H to manage a rotor, and it basically works out-of-the-box.    There are eight predefined aziumth bearings that can be labeled as well as the ability to direct the antenna to a specific bearing.
>> 
>> In summary, the trend is for more seamless web-based management of remote devices both in the consumer market and amateur radio as it eliminates the need for specific hardware/software to remotely manage devices.  If I could replace using KAT-500 Utility software with a web-based device such as the RC-1216H  to manage the tuner, I could stick with running Apple devices (and avoid running Windows under Parallels on a MacBook Pro) and be able to fully control my K3 station from anywhere (in conjunction with the K3/0-Mini).
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> Barry, WD4ASW
>> (Keller, TX)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> 73,
>>> Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Mitch Wolfson  K7DX / DJ0QN
>>> 10285 Boca Cir, Naples, FL 34109
>>> Skype: mitchwo
>>> USA: Home:+1-239-221-9600 - Mobile:+1-424-288-9171
>>> Germany: Home:+49 89 32152700 - Mobile/WhatsApp:+49 172 8374436
>>> 
>> 
>