[SADXA] On the Air, Sort Of...3D2AG Rotuma, Legit or Not?

Wed Jan 13 18:36:34 EST 2016

Thanks all.  One thing I discovered is that LoTW allows you to specify
unique station locations for awards tracking, so I set up multiple separate
stations for the remote locations and tag the QSO with that.

Mike, yes there are fees for some.  The remotehamradio.com is normally $99
(I got a $20 discount so paid $79) membership fee and they gave me 30
minutes to start.  I've only used 20 so far.  But once those are gone,
rates will be per-minute and typically $0.49/minute which seems like it
could add up awfully fast!  And you can't just listen for free or cheaper,
sometimes I just want to tune around.  Also it can be frustrating when I
want to log in and the station is already in use by someone else.  The
basic membership only allows access to a few lower-power stations; for $900
more they offer about 8 more "premium" stations.  Truthfully I'd like to
set up my own remote and forget about per-minute fees, even if it did cost
thousands more on the up-front.

There are clubs who set up remote stations for their membership to use,
that seems like a great way to spread the costs and allow restricted
members to continue to enjoy the hobby.  Similar to club-owned repeaters I
suppose.

73,

Keith KR7RK

On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 10:06 PM, Ron Jones <K7RJ at comcast.net> wrote:

> Well put, Dick. Like you said, whatever is right for you.
> I would add that throughout ham radio history, we have always used and
> improved the latest technology. (CW, AM, SSB, digital, etc. etc) I see
> remote controlled stations as just another example of hams jumping in and
> pushing technology in interesting ways. Should the contacts you make with
> your own remote station count toward awards? I don't see a big argument
> there. Especially in this day and age with so many people living in
> restricted areas. As far as using one of those $100 per hour mega stations
> so you can nab that rare one, well, that is your call and I'm neutral about
> it, as long as it is legal and doesn't break any of the rules that we all
> have to live by.  Besides, if you are remoting into a station in New York,
> you aren't blocking my receiver here in Arizona! HI HI
>
> 73 and good DX
> Ron K7RJ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SADXA [mailto:sadxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Richard
> Solomon
> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 6:58 PM
> To: Southern AZ DX Association E-Mail Reflector
> Subject: Re: [SADXA] On the Air, Sort Of...3D2AG Rotuma, Legit or Not?
>
> My thinking on the DXCC Program is that
> is personal. People will argue both sides,
> much like Code vs No-Code, Incentive
> licensing, SSB vs AM, Spark vs CW ....
> and so it goes.
>
> If you feel it is right for you and it's not
> against any rules, then go for it.
>
> What I can't stand is people who try to
> impose their beliefs on you. That's why
> today, one half of the world wants to kill the
> other half of the world, all in the name of
> God.
>
> So it all boils down to a simplistic answer:
>
> WFWL
>
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ
>
> On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 3:38 PM, Wes (N7WS) <wes at triconet.org> wrote:
>
> > I think ARRL has editorialized on this, but as I recall, they punted.
> >
> > So I think it's on you to decide.  But the fact that you're asking.....
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/12/2016 3:28 PM, Keith Schlottman, CPA, PFS wrote:
> >
> >> I know this is a controversial topic, and I am very interested in
> hearing
> >> any comments.
> >>
> >> Today I made my first QSO using a remoterig setup.  It's a nice setup,
> >> using a K3S control head so it "feels" exactly like using a normal home
> >> station.
> >>
> >> Except...the remoterig unit uses the internet to link me to another
> >> station.  I used remotehamradio.com to connect to a W6 in San Jose, and
> >> that station has a K3 on their end with a 500 watt amplifier and a
> SteppIR
> >> beam.
> >>
> >> Using the setup, I logged 3D2AG/p on Rotuma Island on 20m phone.  I used
> >> an
> >> Elecraft hand mic and it sounded to me just like I was working him from
> my
> >> old home station, no noticeable lag and just like a typical SSB contact
> >> down in the noise. And while my station was linked to the W6 via the
> >> internet, the connection from W6 to 3D was a completely normal
> rig-to-rig
> >> RF contact complete with QSB, lids, band conditions etc.
> >>
> >> Rotuma isn't a total new one for me (have them on 10m CW), but it would
> be
> >> a new 20m and new phone entity for me.  The ARRL DXCC Desk has ruled
> that
> >> they will allow DXCC credits for remote QSO's (as long as it's from the
> >> same country, it would add to my total).
> >>
> >> When I had my home station, my own SteppIR setup, I had a more "purist"
> >> attitude and would not have been interested in using a remote to any
> >> station other than my own (in fact, I originally bought the remoterig
> >> intending to use it to control my base from my office, but never
> actually
> >> set it up).  But now I have no ability to set up a home station, and I'm
> >> craving ham radio badly.  The remote stations seem like an opportunity
> to
> >> chase DX and enjoy some radio, not the ideal situation but better than
> >> nothing.  (I've also been using a portable go-box on occasion but that
> has
> >> its own challenges).
> >>
> >> I've also found a local setup which is only a couple of miles from my
> >> home,
> >> that has a remoterig setup with a tuned vertical, and the owner has
> given
> >> me permission to use it.  Eventually I may try to locate a local site
> >> where
> >> I could put up my own remote station to operate from (anybody got space
> >> for
> >> another tower hihi).  Somehow it seems like I'd enjoy it more if I knew
> it
> >> was my own equipment setup and it was in my own town.
> >>
> >> Logging in to a remote setup has the obvious advantage of finding a
> >> station
> >> that has better propagation to the DX.  Somehow that makes me feel a bit
> >> guilty about logging them.
> >>
> >> So...what do you guys think?  Is it OK to chase DX using remote setups?
> Is
> >> there a dividing line between acceptable versus going too far?
> >>
> >> 73 and gud DX
> >>
> >> Keith KR7RK
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-- 

---------------------------------------------

Keith Schlottman, CPA

http://www.schlottmancpa.com

keith at schlottmancpa.com

(520) 298-8488

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