[ICOM] IC7000 Remote Options?

[Steve]

Scott's method is a good idea. I always forget about the "serial" end 
of the USB CI-V boxes.  Is not the signal really TTL level at that point?
Regardless, that should be easily extended with UTP or even shielded 
UTP may be better to further reduce the chance of the cable turning 
into an antenna.
I have used simple 3.5mm male to female extension cables (several of 
them) all plugged together to give me about 50 foot of length. This 
was to control Icom R7000 and R9000's through the original Icom CT-17 
level convertor.
These were cheap old radio shack shielded stereo extension cables and 
they never caused a problem.  You should be able to throw one 
together (as single length) for a few bucks worth of parts and wire 
if you do not have it laying around already!
As Scott said, the signal at that point is very robust and no USB 
oddities will get ya!

At 03:49 PM 8/22/2011, you wrote:
>Scott, ah good to know. yeah I was thinking about that route as 
>well.. It would be a whole lot easier then trying to run the USB, 
>but wasnt sure about the power/length issue with the 3.5mm. With the 
>cost very minimal for just the ends, this may be worth a shot.
>
>So the Heil headset/foot pedal is all controlled with an adapter 
>cable plugged into the radio via a catV connector that is only using 
>5 of the 8 available pins.  I have a spare catV run right next to 
>the radio already, so I was thinking of using the 8 wires in the 
>spare catV cable.. 5 for the Heil setup and the other 3 for the 
>3.5mm, plus then I wouldn't have to rerun any new cables down the wall.
>
>I still have to confirm with Heil that I wont have any issues, or 
>cross talk.. but that would be the best scenario all around I 
>think..   It would keep the radio where its at, and I could remotely 
>tune it with HRD etc.. but then the headset and foot pedals would be 
>right there with me too..
>
>Then the other issue I might have is what Kelly/VE4XT pointed out in 
>an earlier email:
>
>"Seems to me you open yourself to a bunch of issues either way. Your long USB
>cable or CAT6 cable may make an excellent receive antenna (bad)"
>
>So yeah I agree, this could be a 'bad' issue.. might be a way I can 
>ground or isolate the catV wire, so its not desired as a receive 
>antenna though.. I will just have to careful with planning this out.
>
>Thanks everyone for your advice/experience and answers!!
>
>Dave
>N5DJR
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On Aug 22, 2011, at 2:18 PM, Scott Honaker wrote:
>
> > Extending the USB end of the cable would be complicated.  There should be
> > little issue extending the 3.5mm (serial) end of the cable.    The serial
> > CI-V data is quite robust and relatively low speed.
> >
> > Scott N7SS
> >
> >
> >> Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:45:08 -0500
> >> From: "Rossbach, David" <dave at rossbachs.com>
> >> Subject: [ICOM] IC7000 Remote Options?
> >> To: icom at mailman.qth.net
> >>
> >> Hello, I have an IC7000 that I am currently using with the remote head and
> >> a Heil PSE6-IC headset with footpedal.  I have the radio 
> connected to a Mac
> >> via USB CI-V and utilize the MacLoggerDX program.
> >>
> >> The setup is currently on the first floor in my living room and Im wanting
> >> to move it upstairs into my office.. Both of the rooms up and down share a
> >> common outside wall.
> >>
> >> I was thinking of trying to get a cable run done with the 16foot OPC1444
> >> remote head cable and then extend the USB CI-V cable via a 16 foot 3.5mm
> >> cable.  I realize that the capabilities of USB drop after 16foot 
> and 16 foot
> >> is really pushing the limits of the wall run distance.
> >>
> >> So I was wondering if anyone on the list  has ran into something similar
> >> and wanted to know what you decided to use to remote your IC7000 
> to another
> >> room in the house?
> >>
> >> I suppose another option would be to use a program like HRD to remote the
> >> radio, but not sure how the audio and foot pedals etc would all 
> work without
> >> purchasing additional hardware?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Dave
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > ----
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> > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
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>
>----
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