[Elecraft] KX-2 Remote

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Consider adding a local phone and a touchtone decoder to do some basic functions, on off, resets, and etc.  More reliable than the internet and it makes the station "legal" having a secondary means of control. 

Bob, K4TAX


Sent from my iPhone

> On May 14, 2019, at 9:22 AM, Barry Baines via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> Ken:
> 
> 
> 
>> On May 13, 2019, at 10:48 PM, Kenneth P Alexander <ve3hls at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I'm considering buying a KX2 for remote operation; CW and digital.  The
>> radio will be set up in VE3.  I am retired and living in Thailand.  I can't
>> get a Thai license because Canada and Thailand do not have a reciprocal
>> licensing agreement.
>> 
>> I'm planning on using Win4K3Suite to control the rig and will have the
>> power supply and remote computer on a UPS.  That said, I'm sure there will
>> be occasions when I will have to shut down and re-start the KX2, but this
>> seems to be impossible because the 2-button on/off switching can't be done
>> remotely.
> 
> Something to seriously consider is the robustness of the remote connection,  Given that you’ll be depending upon internet that spans the globe, the ham site will be remote and presumably not occupied for the majority of the year, and where a software failure or PC hiccup can destroy your ability to operate, please think about establishing a system that can be managed.  I’m also struck that given all of the effort to put a remote ham site in service, you’re thinking of a (very good) QRP transceiver where QRP adds to the complexity of making actual contacts.
> 
> I operate remotely 85% of the time where my station is in SE Georgia and I’m in Texas or New England.  When something goes wrong at the ham site,  it will be typically be 5-6 weeks before I’ll be back at the site.  In your case, I suspect that you will not be able to visit your ham site as frequently.  If your ‘host’ is not a ham, it may be difficult for that individual to help resolve any problems if he/she is not familiar with your equipment.
> 
> So here are some suggestions/comments for your consideration:
> 
> 1.  Use a transceiver that allows for remote power on/off as a feature.  
> 
> 2.  Avoid having to depend upon a PC at the remote site.  PCs can have hardware failures.  PCs can fail to reboot.  A UPS may help mitigate power surges and short time power loss, but if the site is remote what are the chances of extended power outage?  True, PCs can be configured for ‘boot on power-up’ but what if the PC fails to reboot due to loss of power or while doing a Windows update (which Microsoft continues to make it more difficult to prevent from happening)?  If you’re depending upon a PC at the remote site to make things work, you’re also creating a single point failure.  
> 
> Do I use a PC in the shack? Yes, but it is not controlling critical systems so that if the PC is offline I can still operate.  I can control it remotely with VNC Viewer.  
> 
> 3. What level of internet is available at the remote site?  If it is relatively slow DSL (in Georgia I had to initially contend with 6 Mbps downlink/768 Kbps uplink until two years ago), you’ll need to use something that takes relatively little bandwidth to control the radio and feed audio both directions.  Given the distances between Thailand and Canada, you may also have to contend with internet latency.
> 
> 4. Will you need to control other devices such as an amplifier or rotor?  If so, look for devices that provide a web-based interface so that you can avoid a PC in the shack and simply use a browser on the PC,  tablet or smartphone in Thailand.
> 
> 5. Think about remote access.  Will you need to be able to remotely configure and/or activate/deactivate your equipment from Thailand?  
> 
> 6. Presumably you will be traveling to Canada to install your remote site. Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time necessary to not only do the install but to extensively test your system through a remote connection including ‘disaster recovery.’  You don’t want to end up back in Thailand and then realize that a connection was missed, something did not reboot/come back online, something was wired backwards, etc.  
> 
> 
> So with these considerations in mind, here is what I use for my remote station that meets the above criteria.  I am not suggesting that my ’solution’ is necessarily applicable to your situation or budget. Rather, I’m suggesting that taking the time to think through what it will take to establish a reliable remote system that meets your needs is critical to your enjoyment and that selecting the transceiver is but the first step in designing your system.
> 
> 
> A.  The transceiver at the ham shack is a K3.  This transceiver is designed for remote operation.  I use the K3/IO-mini which mimics the front panel of the K3.  I use the Remote Rig RRC-1258MKII "pair” for interfacing the two devices with one unit at the ham shack connected to the K3 and the other unit connected to the K3/IO-mini where I am.  The beauty of this approach is that 1) I have complete control of the K3 operating it as a K3, 2) I can turn on/off the K3 with no problems, and 3) There are a variety of built-in audio Codecs within the remote rig available that allow you to select one based upon the quality of the internet connection.  With only 768Kbps upload at the shack, I had no problems with audio quality while controlling the K3 as the remote site was uploading to the internet from other devices for other purposes simultaneously.
> 
> B. The Remote Rig RC-1216H provides a web interface capable of controlling a variety of amplifiers and rotor controllers. I have one to control my KPA500 and one to control a Green Heron rotor.
> 
> C. I use a Digital Loggers Web Power Switch Pro to remotely turn on/off AC devices.  The system can be configured for each AC port (there are 8) to power off, a timer can be configured for a desired interval, and then automatically turn power back on. This allows me to reset my DSL modem, my router, the radio’s power supply, and other devices as needed.  Again, equipment can ‘hiccup’ so being able to restart something as needed is very handy.  The Web Pro Power Switch can also be configured to determine if an internet connection is lost and if so, power cycle the modem and router.  
> 
> D. For devices that use 12 VDC, I use a West Mountain Radio R4005i that allows web access to control five ports.  This allows me to remotely turn on/off preamps, other radios, etc.  
> 
> E. I setup DDNS and port forwarding within the router at the remote site to be able to access the Remote Rig setup,  Digital Logger and other devices.  This allows easy connection to access everything in the shack from anywhere.  Each device has its own UDP/TCP port identifier so that using a browser makes it possible to access individual devices.  
> 
> F. I will also note that I have a KAT500 tuner which does require a PC connection to be able to control remotely. However, I installed a Lantronics Serial-to-Ethernet converter that allows a PC where I am to access the KAT500 directly without having to use the PC in the shack.  Hopefully, Remote Rig will someday modify the RC-1216H to be able to control the KAT500 through a web interface.  
> 
> My system has also evolved considerably since 2014 when I purchased my K3/KPA500/KAT500   I’ve added web-based devices to control my system.  I added the Digital Loggers device and the Lantronics serial interface.  I added an Antenna Genius that can be remotely accessed as well as configured for automatic band changes.  I also use a Flex given that SmartLink 2.x was introduced in 2017 that made it possible to remotely connect to my Flex-6700 through SmartSDR, SmartSDR for iOS, DogParkSDR, and Maestro without a PC in the shack and my DSL in Georgia now has 2 Mpbs upload speed that can support the wider bandwidth requirements of Flex products.  
> 
> Bottom line is that it takes a considerable amount of time and effort (and money) to install a robust and reliable remote site.  Reliability and ability to manage your equipment remotely are critical for sustained performance.  If the system is offline and can’t be put back into service within a ‘reasonable period’ (whatever that means to you), then you’ve gained nothing.  Remote operation allows me to operate HF anytime as there are restrictions to installing such a system where I am in Texas and New England.  Given the benefits that it has provided me, I believe it has been worth the investment in dollars and sweat equity.  
> 
> 
> FWIW,
> 
> Barry Baines, WD4ASW
> Keller, TX
> (Currently in Boston, MA)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> 
>> Is it possible to "hotwire" the KX2 so it's ON all the time?  Then I could
>> re-start it remotely by putting the 12V supply on a USB controlled relay.
>> I'll be living 12 time zones away and need this to be very reliable.  The
>> setup will be in a friend's summer cottage and he's only there a few times
>> a year.
>> 
>> Many thanks in advance.
>> 
>> Ken Alexander (VE3HLS)
>> So Phisai, Thailand
>> Blog:  bueng-ken.com
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