[OKDXA] Fwd: Re: Remote Station Operation - Input requested

Mon Nov 24 14:52:09 EST 2014

Gene:

I have considerable experience with remote ops as my K3 and Tokyo amp station has been available for several months now to my longtime high school friend AK5X. Just a couple of days ago I installed remote (using a browser only) rotator control of the Orion 2800 rotor on tower #1 here. Bill, AK5X now twirls the big yagis for 10 and 15 meters wherever he likes. Truly marvelous performance. I am in the country "somewhat" as you know so all we have is a wireless ISP service. With my insistence and upgrade of the router they provide I have been able to stabilize the web for terrific remote control of my station by Bill. Daily we have our coffee as we share the sounds of 10 and 15 meter CW from all over the world.

Let me say without reservation that remote ops and the technology associated with it outdoes anything for excitement this hobby has seen in many many years. AK5X was able a couple of months ago to hear and work his first ever Pakistani station in his 55 years of being a ham living in a big city. 

As you know I have been waiting delivery of some very large arrays to be placed on my new tower #2. Those too, along with remote control of the Prosistel rotor will be available to my friend. 

I have heard rumblings about how working stations from a remote station degrades awards such as DXCC WAZ even a simple WAC etc. Bologney, I say, to use a mild word. Working a station, getting a confirmation and keeping good records are all the same regardless of whether done locally with a 100 watts and coathanger wire (talk about self inflicted punishment!) or with a well equipped remote station sitting in a noise free area. Personally, I simply detest having to wait more than two or three calls to bag a "new one". The bigger the pile the greater the satisfaction of getting in the log. To sit for hours on end hoping the poor dxepedition chaps hear me has always seemed kind of a foolish way to spend time. Of course many city dwellers have to put up with that kind of patience exhibition. Ugggh - I'm happy that my city friend can put the hammer down and then move along racking up band Qs. He and I have been like kids in a candy store using the tools for remote control. It has such high performance Bill literally could contest from the confines of his city location. There have been hurdles getting performance where we like it but they have been more like an itch that gets scratched and then goes away.

For another tale on remote operations I will tell you about W8MJ, a county hunter and airline pilot who made a very good case for his spending two or three thousand a year using the services that have popped up among us like the W2RE fellow (I wish him luck because you won't see me spend money for such a service).  W8MJ asked me "How much have you spent on building your station?" I answered "Oh - maybe a high dollar bass boat or even two". He said "There you go" 35-40,000, plus maintenance when something breaks etc. etc. he says, I pay a monthly usage fee and can use big stuff from the world over. If it breaks someone else fixes it and I merrily go along enjoying operating some of the finest stations in the world. Well, I tell myself, there must be middle ground here somewhere. I mean, fly somewhere, rent a Limo with a driver and do nothing but look out the window at the scenery. Not my kind of radioing. Say Mr. Site Provider - will you jack up the power for me? I'm getting chilly sitting in the back seat! LOL

These are my initial comments about remote ops. I will be glad to keep the OKDXA, the ARRL and/or anybody who wants to argue that remote ops cheapens awards such as DXCC etc. To me remote ops offers an opportunity for many ops to gather awards they could only dream about otherwise. Bill actually now has a shot at the Honor Roll before he passes away! Boo Hoo to those chaps that cry foul.

Bill likes to say he is riding in my sidecar! I have never liked motorcycles but like his analogy. Put on your Barney Fife goggles and hold on bud we are going for a spin! Bill "suffers" from living in the middle of Dallas where dishwashers, TVs, blenders, clothes dryers and who knows what else generates some very nasty RF interference. He shows it to me now and then by doing videos of his P3 panadapter screen. I have pity on him and those in the cities who suffer from like surroundings. 

To conclude this round of comment let me reiterate. Remote control and the quite complex technology, designs and manufacturing behind it are possibly the most exciting developments our great hobby has seen since the advent of PC logging and control. 

Finally, any of you OKDXAers interested in setting up for remote control are welcome to send me a note asking for my experience. Those in the group that know me know i will be glad to help as I can. I don't know it all by any means but will pass along my experiences so far.

73, Jerry K5YAA

iPhone Generated

On Nov 24, 2014, at 11:31 AM, W5LE <w5le at beggstelco.net> wrote:

> 
> David Woolweaver, K5RAV, is seeking the opinions of the OKDXA membership regarding Remote Station Operation.  The link to the proposal is shown below so that you can read it.
> You're asked to post your opinions on the OKDXA reflector.  I will forward them to K5RAV.
> Thanks for your input.
> 73, Gene
> 
> 
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject:    Re: Remote Station Operation
> Date:    Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:40:59 -0800
> From:    Dr. David Woolweaver <drwoolweaver at yahoo.com>
> To:    W5LE <w5le at beggstelco.net>
> 
> 
> 
> Gene:
> 
> See
> 
> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Committee%20Reports/2014/July/Doc_27.pdf
> 
> Page 4 section I.9
> 
> David
> --------------------------------------------
> On Sun, 11/23/14, W5LE <w5le at beggstelco.net> wrote:
> 
> Subject: Re: Remote Station Operation
> To: "Dr. David Woolweaver" <drwoolweaver at yahoo.com>
> Date: Sunday, November 23, 2014, 5:40 PM
>  Where are the proposed
> rules?  Is there a link you can provide me that I
> can direct them to so they can read and know
> what they're commenting on?
>  On
> 11/23/2014 5:32 PM, Dr. David Woolweaver wrote:
> > Gene:
> >
> > The ARRL does not have a comments page.
> It sounds like the best thing is to post on the OKDXA.
> Remote operation is a hot topic and I need to know what the
> members are thinking.  Thanks!
> >
> > David
> >
> --------------------------------------------
> > On Sun, 11/23/14, W5LE <w5le at beggstelco.net>
> wrote:
> >
> >   Subject: Re: Remote Station
> Operation
> >   To: "Dr.
> David Woolweaver" <drwoolweaver at yahoo.com>
> >   Date: Sunday, November 23,
> 2014, 5:22 PM
> >
> >   David,
> >   Do
> >   you have a particular place
> you want them to post them, or
> >   shall they
> >   just post their comments on
> the
> >   OKDXA reflector and I
> forward them to you?
> >
> >
> >   On 11/23/2014 5:14 PM, Dr.
> >   David Woolweaver wrote:
> >   > Gene:
> >   >
> >   > I am asking the DX
> >   groups to provide input on
> the proposed rules governing
> >   Remote Station Operation.
> Could you ask your membership to
> >   post their comments?  The
> Board will be discussing this
> >   issue at the January Board
> meeting.
> >   >
> >   > David
> >
> >
> >
>  
> 
> 
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