[LOGic] More on remote operation
K0DAN
k0dan at comcast.net
Thu Dec 4 19:08:29 EST 2008
Yep, gonna do what you say. Long CAT5 run not feasible anyway.
I have line of line of sight from the hamshack tindow to the barn windo,
and am hoping I can put panel antennas in each window and keep the
antennas/lines indoors. It's about a 150' path. I took the laptop down there
and had signal until I entered the barn..with some antenna gain and a more
optimally placed WIFI router, I think I should have plenty of signal (famous
last words).
I don't know why I (and others) have had experiences with WIFI just
disappearing, only to come back a few minutes later. Not good for remote
radio applications!
dt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mel Martin" <ve2dc at videotron.ca>
To: "LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic logging
program" <logic at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
> Wifi is very reliable if signal strength is sufficient. Use a couple of
> directional antennas... they can be purchased with a lot of gain. Copper
> to the shack would be hazardous (I have quite a bit of negative experience
> with long serial cables for Unix networks) and fiber, though ideal, would
> be pricey and would need to be run in a pipe.
>
> K0DAN wrote:
>> Hi Dan...
>>
>> The plan here is to run XP Pro on the remote PC, with as little extra
>> hardware/software as possible.
>>
>> The remote station will be in an outbuilding, about 150' from the
>> hamshack (in order to reduce feedline loss for a VHF/UHF station). The
>> planned interconnect is indeed wireless, so the issue of having to revive
>> wireless connections is a concern.
>>
>> I run a little WIFI in and around the house, and it seems to work OK but
>> I prefer CAT5 connections. Have never had trouble with losing WIFI
>> connections around the home, however when I travel, I find WIFI to be
>> very intermittent...ie the connections come and go, even if the signal
>> strenth is goo. I've never figured that out...unless it's an interference
>> issue and the hardware hops frequencies? Lots of variables in a WIFI
>> cloud.
>>
>> What have you done to beef up the reliability of your WIFI connections?
>> Other than current hardware, and plenty of signal strength, I don't know
>> what else can be done?
>>
>> In my case, should I need to hot/cold/warm reboot the remote PC &
>> station, I can find software and the previously-mentioned X-10 remotes to
>> do that job. And hopefully reboot is a measure of last resort.
>>
>> I too have avoided Vitsa, and hope to continue to, but I think the days
>> of being able to buy XP on new PC's is coming to a close.
>>
>> I hope to avoid buying a new PC for the remote station, but have not
>> decided on the hardware yet. Am waiting to find some kind of cabinet in
>> which to house the radio & computer equipment. I used to have a bunch of
>> Motorola Compa cabinets, which would have been ideal for this project,
>> but they're all gone. The outbuilding doesn't have heat or air (and is
>> not the cleanest environment, including insects and an occasional rodent)
>> so I need to find a cabinet with doors to at shelter the hardware to some
>> degree. And a PC which is small, well filtered and ventilated, and which
>> can withstand summer heat and winter cold.
>>
>> 73
>> Dan
>> K0DAN
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Bookwalter" <n8dcj at yahoo.com>
>> To: "K0DAN" <k0dan at comcast.net>; "LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for
>> discussion of LOGic logging program" <logic at mailman.qth.net>;
>> <k6jw at scdxc.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 8:40 PM
>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
>>
>>
>>> Dan
>>>
>>> As i have mentioned i have had many PC's (Windows OS) running for long
>>> periods of time , long periods of time i mean > 6 months , a couple for
>>> much longer than a year with no reboots. I must mention that the OS's
>>> were Win 2K Pro and XP Pro , the one area that i have had trouble with
>>> is when they run with wireless Ethernet cards , in this case you either
>>> have to reboot often or do a repair of the connection. I assume if you
>>> are running remotely that more than likely you are not running
>>> wireless.... although i can see where that could happen , if that is the
>>> case there are ways to reset the wireless Ethernet connection
>>> pragmatically. I do not believe i have ever had a situation where I had
>>> to do a "cold" reboot to re-establish connections to peripherals in the
>>> kind that would be used for a remote site. I will admit that there have
>>> been times when i have "warm" rebooted just because i thought i should ,
>>> you know it seems fashionable to do it etc.... even
>>> when i was running a cluster under Linux i did the same thing , why , i
>>> don't know ....
>>>
>>> I think that with the modern Windows OS's you can do it , (meaning W2K
>>> Pro and XP Pro) , i don't think i would get near Vista with remote stuff
>>> , although that is just a feeling , since i have no experience with
>>> Vista and MS is pushing Windows 7 so hard as a replacement i feel that
>>> Vista is the Windows ME of late.
>>>
>>> There are also many ways to do a soft/warm reboot remotely that i
>>> wouldn't hesitate to do that either , although on a remote machine i
>>> would limit the amount of non-essential (to remote operation) software
>>> that was installed , put a good HARDWARE firewall in front of it and
>>> remote desktop (on a non standard port) into your machine and you have
>>> total control , i do it every day between work->work , home->work and
>>> work->home machines.
>>>
>>> i am sure i missed some of your points/questions with my rambling , if
>>> so ask me again and i will give you my experiences....
>>>
>>> Dan N8DCJ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>> From: K0DAN <k0dan at comcast.net>
>>> To: LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic logging
>>> program <logic at mailman.qth.net>; k6jw at scdxc.org
>>> Cc: n8dcj at yahoo.com
>>> Sent: Monday, December 1, 2008 8:28:43 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
>>>
>>> Dan:
>>>
>>> Do you ever need to warm/cold boot the PC's (and peripherals), even if
>>> momentarily, to break a lockup, reestablish network connections, etc.,
>>> etc.? Does coldboot actually remove power from the secondaries of the
>>> power supply?
>>>
>>> I'm not trying to give you a hard time here, I'm just trying to explore
>>> how much "exercise" PC's running 24x7 (especially remote PC's) require.
>>> And am not so much exporing fire risk (altho that's always worth some
>>> study) as I am just lockups, debugging, and other voodoo associated with
>>> networking.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Dan
>>> K0DAN
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Bookwalter" <n8dcj at yahoo.com>
>>> To: <k6jw at scdxc.org>
>>> Cc: <logic at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 3:36 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
>>>
>>>
>>>> at home I have 2 pc's and the rig that run 24/7 and have for years....
>>>> at work I have 18 or so PC's in the lab that pretty much run 24/7 and
>>>> all through the plant there are probably 4-500 machines always on and
>>>> we have never had a fire.... the biggest problem we have is with the
>>>> few pc's that do get shut off , the hard drives do not like to sit not
>>>> spinning for very long...
>>>>
>>>> just my .02 worth
>>>>
>>>> Dan N8DCJ
>>>>
>>>> J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote:
>>>>> Well...maybe I am being overly cautious. The computer that leaked
>>>>> its smoke (you know: if the smoke leaks out, the machine won't work
>>>>> anymore) was new and hadn't been running more than a couple of hours
>>>>> when it happened. It's true that I've never seen anything like it in
>>>>> any "run-in" computer I've used over the past 25 years. Maybe I should
>>>>> reconsider...
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>> --Jeff, K6JW
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mel Martin" <ve2dc at videotron.ca>
>>>>> To: "LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>> logging program" <logic at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 12:27
>>>>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
>>>>>> Well that's unusual. I have been responsible for literally thousands
>>>>>> of computers over the years, always left on, and I have never seen or
>>>>>> even heard of one catching fire. I have seen them fail with some
>>>>>> pretty funky smells, but never actually catch fire. I know such
>>>>>> things can happen... but most of the fires I have heard about are to
>>>>>> do with laptops and their batteries. Perhaps you are being overly
>>>>>> cautious. A smoke detector coupled to a breaker might be a
>>>>>> solution... such things must exist.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regarding security, my caution stands... when you power up after a
>>>>>> long interval your computer is vulnerable. It takes time for all the
>>>>>> updates to be done. The biggest risk is OS exploits which need to be
>>>>>> patched as soon as fixes are available.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi, Mel!
>>>>>>> The simple answer to your question is that I once left a computer
>>>>>>> running that suddenly developed a short in the power supply and
>>>>>>> caught fire. Fortunately, I was in the house and smelled the smoke
>>>>>>> before the fire spread. It's made me a bit nervous about leaving
>>>>>>> town with a computer running. Of course, a fire could happen anytime
>>>>>>> the computer is running, but it seems to me that the risk would be
>>>>>>> reduced if it were only running when I was using it.
>>>>>>> Anti-virus updating is automatic, so that's not really an issue.
>>>>>>> The UPS is well advised.
>>>>>>> 73,
>>>>>>> Jeff, K6JW
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mel Martin" <ve2dc at videotron.ca>
>>>>>>> To: "LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>>>> logging program" <logic at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 10:51
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] More on remote operation
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Why would you not leave your computer running? This is the proper
>>>>>>>> course of action... Shutting down computers on the Internet for a
>>>>>>>> long period of time means that when you wake them up their OS
>>>>>>>> patches, virus signatures and such are out of date. Modern
>>>>>>>> computers can be configured to go into a very low state of activity
>>>>>>>> after a prolonged period of activity. I would also strongly
>>>>>>>> recommend a UPS for your computer and router.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mel, VE2DC
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Glad someone opened the general topic on the reflector. I'm
>>>>>>>>> using TRX-Manager with LOGic8 for rig control with a Mark-V. CW is
>>>>>>>>> accomplished via parallel port, and sound/voice via Skype. Digital
>>>>>>>>> modes go through a RIGblaster. Remote access is through
>>>>>>>>> logmein.com. I've been researching ways to turn on the computer
>>>>>>>>> and rig remotely but haven't yet settled on a final scheme. There
>>>>>>>>> are several possibilities and commercially available devices to
>>>>>>>>> accomplish this. Some work strictly via the internet and some use
>>>>>>>>> telephone activation.
>>>>>>>>> Once the computer is booted, it can be used via USB porting very
>>>>>>>>> easily to trigger relays that will turn on the radio and SteppIR
>>>>>>>>> controller. The real question is that of the best way to turn on
>>>>>>>>> the computer. Does anyone on the reflector have any
>>>>>>>>> recommendations based upon actual experience with the commercially
>>>>>>>>> available circuit boards that will do this? I hate to go away and
>>>>>>>>> leave everything running for a week or two at a time with no one
>>>>>>>>> at home.
>>>>>>>>> --Jeff, K6JW
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "N6FM Ben"
>>>>>>>>> <n6fm at oregonfast.net>
>>>>>>>>> To: "'LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>>>>>> logging program'" <logic at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 13:23
>>>>>>>>> Subject: RE: [LOGic] LOGic - Remote control and port sharing
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Well, then I would suggest a remote desktop application like VNC
>>>>>>>>>> from which
>>>>>>>>>> you can shutdown ARCP and start TRX, or merely disconnect the
>>>>>>>>>> ports from
>>>>>>>>>> each (they do that) without shutting one down.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> What specifically do you wish the program to do??
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Ben
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>> From: logic-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>> [mailto:logic-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
>>>>>>>>>> On Behalf Of K0DAN
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 12:36 PM
>>>>>>>>>> To: LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>>>>>>> logging
>>>>>>>>>> program
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [LOGic] LOGic - Remote control and port sharing
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks Ben, I have TRX MGR but unfortunately it doesn't do all
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> ARCP2000 does, nor all that I need.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>>>> K0DAN
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "N6FM Ben"
>>>>>>>>>> <n6fm at oregonfast.net>
>>>>>>>>>> To: "'LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>>>>>>> logging
>>>>>>>>>> program'" <logic at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:30 PM
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: RE: [LOGic] LOGic - Remote control and port sharing
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The TS-2000 only has one serial port. You can't control with two
>>>>>>>>>>> programs
>>>>>>>>>>> at
>>>>>>>>>>> the same time.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I would suggest obtaining TRX-Manager' use that instead of ARCP.
>>>>>>>>>>> It has a
>>>>>>>>>>> great number of features to control the 2000 (since the author
>>>>>>>>>>> owns one)
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> can be linked to Logic. That way, setting the rig in Logic will
>>>>>>>>>>> cause TRX
>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>> respond. Only one serial port is required.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Ben
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>>> From: logic-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>>> [mailto:logic-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
>>>>>>>>>>> On Behalf Of K0DAN
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 9:55 AM
>>>>>>>>>>> To: LOGic is open to all radio amateurs for discussion of LOGic
>>>>>>>>>>> logging
>>>>>>>>>>> program
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [LOGic] LOGic - Remote control and port sharing
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I have two rigs interfaced to LOGIC:
>>>>>>>>>>> a) An FT1000MP using a derived USB-Serial port
>>>>>>>>>>> b) A TS2000 using a "real" serial port
>>>>>>>>>>> Right now every thing is in the hamshack, local control. All
>>>>>>>>>>> this works
>>>>>>>>>>> fine.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm in the process of remoting the TS2000 via WIFI.
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm using Kenwood's ARCP2000 control software, which requires a
>>>>>>>>>>> serial
>>>>>>>>>>> port
>>>>>>>>>>> to interface the rig and PC (this steals the serial port from
>>>>>>>>>>> LOGIC).
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Need another serial port so the TS2000 can talk to LOGIC while
>>>>>>>>>>> also
>>>>>>>>>>> talking
>>>>>>>>>>> to the ARCP2000 software.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I searched the LOGIC archives but couldn't find any discussions
>>>>>>>>>>> on how to
>>>>>>>>>>> share serial ports. Or add a USB hub plus more derived
>>>>>>>>>>> USB/Serial ports?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Any suggestions for "best way" to let the rig control software
>>>>>>>>>>> and LOGIC
>>>>>>>>>>> talk to the TS2000 simultaneously? ("Best way" =
>>>>>>>>>>> cheap/simple/inexpensive/reliable!)
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Tnx
>>>>>>>>>>> es 73
>>>>>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>>>>> K0DAN
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -- Mel, VE2DC
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- Mel, VE2DC
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> LOGic mailing list
>>>>> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>>
>
> --
> Mel, VE2DC
> _______________________________________________
> LOGic mailing list
> LOGic at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/logic
>
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