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Remote Controlfor the
Ham Radio Station
Operate your station from anywhere
Don SteinbachAE6PM
Santa Clara County Amateur Radio AssociationMarch 10, 2014
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Why Remote?
• Zoning restrictions• Condo or Apartment living
– Unfriendly HOA or landlord• Poor antenna location
– Small lot, obstructions– High noise level
• Dual residency / Vacation home– Maintain local contacts/nets
• Convenience– Get equipment out of the house– Travel with minimum equipment
• Combine resources– Partner with others for “Super Station”
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My Motivation
• Desire to operate my SF Bay area station while on travel– Operate from Butte, Phoenix, Pacific Grove,
San Diego and ??• High noise level on 40-meters in Butte, MT
– Magnetic loop is very effective, but received signal levels are marginal
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Objectives
• Keep primary station equipment in Saratoga– Transmitter, receiver, power supplies, antennas
• Operate the primary station from any remote location– Laptop computer and headset
• Use the internet for communication between locations
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Literature Search
• Remote Operating for Amateur Radio (ARRL book)• VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs (ARRL book)• Remote Radio Control Made Easy (QST Aug 2012)• Remote-Controlled HF Operation over the Internet (QST Nov
2001)• Remote Control of Accessories via the Internet (QST Apr 2013)• A Ham Radio Public Utility HF Station (QST Nov 2002)• K7RLD Remote Ham Operation (Internet)• Internet Remoting Toolkit (Internet W4MQ)• Tools & Techniques for Remote Operation (K6TU presentation)• How To: Wake on LAN/Wake on WAN (Internet
smallnetbuilder.com)
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Cost: Make or Buy
• Commercial off the Shelf (COTS)– Can be expensive
• RemoteRig ~ $490• Web-controlled power strip ~ $150
– Definitely consider internet operability if buying a new radio
• Build It Yourself– Low cost ~ $50– Implement with purchased and/or homebuilt
hardware– Simple circuits -- not difficult to design or build
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Design Requirements
• Needs– Ability to turn station power on and off remotely– Transceiver capable of computer control (CAT)– PC to control the transceiver– Ability to operate the PC remotely– Audio connection to/from the transceiver
• Wants– Ability to turn the PC on and off– Monitor station dc power, rf power, swr, etc– Ability to switch antennas
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Design Requirements
• Deferred/Don’t Care– CW Operation
• Has been done by others – requires some more research
• Possible latency issues– Antenna rotator control
• I don’t have a rotatable antenna– “Wake on LAN”
• My PC BIOS doesn’t support• Review of literature indicates this could be
another giant time sink
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Architecture
Complete Station PC and Headset
Software:Skype
Software:SkypeLogMeInHam Radio Deluxe
Audio
Control
Power Antennas
Audio
HOST CLIENT
Data
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Host (Station) Hardware
• Transceiver (Exists)• Power Supply (Exists)• PC (Exists/modify)• PC/Radio Audio IFU (Build)• DTMF Controller (Build or buy)• Telco Isolator (Build)• Remote Power Controller (Build)• Station Control Unit (Optional/Modify)• WaveNode™ (Optional/Buy)• Network TV Camera (Optional/Buy)• Answering Machine (Exists)
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Host (Station) Software
• PC Control– LogMeIn
• Transceiver Control– Ham Radio Deluxe
• Audio– Skype
• Station Monitoring– WaveNode
• Antenna Switching– WaveNode
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PC/Radio Audio IFU
Provides DC isolation and level adjustment for audio channels between transceiver and PC
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PC/Radio Audio IFU
..
..
tipr ing
s hell
.. tipr ing
s hell
..
..
....
..
..
tipr ing
s hell
T2
Tx L e vel
Rx L evel
T1 C1
C2
R1
R2J3
J1 J2
P C M IC
P C L INE7
8
DA T A I/O
J1 -J3 1 /8" s tereo jack
FT-84 7
RIG M IC
J4 8 -pin (m ) m ic co ne c torR1 ,R 2 10 k A B T ype WR3 4 7 0K
C1 ,C 2 T1 ,T2 M id com 6 7 1-93 7 3 6 00 :60 0E nc lo sure R ad io S h ack 27 0 -1 89 3
P C
R3
Audio from radio
Audio to radio
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PC (EeePC)
Added connections for controlling power switching
Found a schematic on the Internet.
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DTMF Controller (Decoder)
Decodes DTMF tones from telephone line and provides 16 independent logic-level outputs
DCI2 kit from Ramsey
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Telco Isolator
Provides AC and DC isolation from the telephone line
Added to resolve polarity issue with DTMF Controller connection
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Telco Isolator
..
..
RIN G
TIP
To D T M F C on tro lle r
C1 T1
C1 2 uF 30 0V m y larT1 M idcom 67 1-9 37 2 6 00 :60 0
(G rn )
(R e d)
Te lep ho n e L ine
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Remote Power Controller
Provides opto-isolated switch closure to PC for power control and relay drive for AC power switching
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..
..
..
9
11
20
18
1
2
3
4
5
6
..
5
3
19
7
+..
....
..
..
..
..
A C P o w er S trip+ 5V
+ 5V
OF F
..
..
Re d
E ee P C
ON
+ 9V
(M od if ied )
+ 9V
+ 9V
..
+ 5V
..
Gn d
Y el
2.93 V O.C .
# 4 *
# 6 *
# 7 *
W ht
Y el
Orn
Grn
B lu
B rn
Gn dB lk
W as D *Re d
* 74 H C1 54 Ou tpu t
7 9
# 5 *
2,9
6
Re set
Th re sho ld
Tr igg er
Disch arge
V +Ou tpu t
Co ntrol
12
..
..
..
+ 5V
1 0 K
+ 5S W
+ 5S W
13
8
+ 5S W
IC 1 B
IC 4
K 2
IC 3
IC 1 A IC 2 A
IC 2 B
K 1
1 N 4 7 3 3
1 N 4 0 0 6
1 0 K
31 0 K
1 0 K
DC
12
DT
MF
Co
ntr
olle
r
2 2 0
1 0 K
+ 5V (Re gu la ted )
N.C .
10
5
1
4,73,8
# 8 *
IC 4 : 5 5 5 T im er
IC 3 : 4 N 27
IC 1 : 7 4 04IC 2 : U L N 28 03K 1: A ro m a t TQ 2E -L2 -1 2 vK 2: Tyco P C LH = 2 02 D 1S
Remote Power Controller
+ 9V (Un re g )
2
1 0 K
1 0 M1 2 0
7
6
4
5
1
11
1014
2 17
1812
.0 11 /3 5
+
10
1
AC Power Control
PC Power Control
Power Control Timer
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Remote Power Controller
..
..
..
9
11
20
18
1
2
3
4
5
6
..
5
3
19
7
+..
....
..
..
..
..
A C P o w er S trip+ 5V
+ 5V
OF F
..
..
Re d
E ee P C
ON
+ 9V
(M od if ied )
+ 9V
+ 9V
..
+ 5V
..
Gn d
Y el
2.93 V O.C .
# 4 *
# 6 *
# 7 *
W ht
Y el
Orn
Grn
B lu
B rn
Gn dB lk
W as D *Re d
* 74 H C1 54 Ou tpu t
7 9
# 5 *
2,9
6
Re set
Th re sho ld
Tr igg er
Disch arge
V +Ou tpu t
Co ntrol
12
..
..
..
+ 5V
1 0 K
+ 5S W
+ 5S W
13
8
+ 5S W
IC 1 B
IC 4
K 2
IC 3
IC 1 A IC 2 A
IC 2 B
K 1
1 N 4 7 3 3
1 N 4 0 0 6
1 0 K
31 0 K
1 0 K
DC
12
DT
MF
Co
ntr
olle
r
2 2 0
1 0 K
+ 5V (Re gu la ted )
N.C .
10
5
1
4,73,8
# 8 *
IC 4 : 5 5 5 T im er
IC 3 : 4 N 27
IC 1 : 7 4 04IC 2 : U L N 28 03K 1: A ro m a t TQ 2E -L2 -1 2 vK 2: Tyco P C LH = 2 02 D 1S
Remote Power Controller
+ 9V (Un re g )
2
1 0 K
1 0 M1 2 0
7
6
4
5
1
11
1014
2 17
1812
.0 11 /3 5
+
10
1
AC Power Control
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Remote Power Controller
..
..
..
9
11
20
18
1
2
3
4
5
6
..
5
3
19
7
+..
....
..
..
..
..
A C P o w er S trip+ 5V
+ 5V
OF F
..
..
Re d
E ee P C
ON
+ 9V
(M od if ied )
+ 9V
+ 9V
..
+ 5V
..
Gn d
Y el
2.93 V O.C .
# 4 *
# 6 *
# 7 *
W ht
Y el
Orn
Grn
B lu
B rn
Gn dB lk
W as D *Re d
* 74 H C1 54 Ou tpu t
7 9
# 5 *
2,9
6
Re set
Th re sho ld
Tr igg er
Disch arge
V +Ou tpu t
Co ntrol
12
..
..
..
+ 5V
1 0 K
+ 5S W
+ 5S W
13
8
+ 5S W
IC 1 B
IC 4
K 2
IC 3
IC 1 A IC 2 A
IC 2 B
K 1
1 N 4 7 3 3
1 N 4 0 0 6
1 0 K
31 0 K
1 0 KD
C1
2 D
TM
F C
on
tro
ller
2 2 0
1 0 K
+ 5V (Re gu la ted )
N.C .
10
5
1
4,73,8
# 8 *
IC 4 : 5 5 5 T im er
IC 3 : 4 N 27
IC 1 : 7 4 04IC 2 : U L N 28 03K 1: A ro m a t TQ 2E -L2 -1 2 vK 2: Tyco P C LH = 2 02 D 1S
Remote Power Controller
+ 9V (Un re g )
2
1 0 K
1 0 M1 2 0
7
6
4
5
1
11
1014
2 17
1812
.0 11 /3 5
+
10
1
PC Power Control
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Remote Power Controller
..
..
..
9
11
20
18
1
2
3
4
5
6
..
5
3
19
7
+..
....
..
..
..
..
A C P o w er S trip+ 5V
+ 5V
OF F
..
..
Re d
E ee P C
ON
+ 9V
(M od if ied )
+ 9V
+ 9V
..
+ 5V
..
Gn d
Y el
2.93 V O.C .
# 4 *
# 6 *
# 7 *
W ht
Y el
Orn
Grn
B lu
B rn
Gn dB lk
W as D *Re d
* 74 H C1 54 Ou tpu t
7 9
# 5 *
2,9
6
Re set
Th re sho ld
Tr igg er
Disch arge
V +Ou tpu t
Co ntrol
12
..
..
..
+ 5V
1 0 K
+ 5S W
+ 5S W
13
8
+ 5S W
IC 1 B
IC 4
K 2
IC 3
IC 1 A IC 2 A
IC 2 B
K 1
1 N 4 7 3 3
1 N 4 0 0 6
1 0 K
31 0 K
1 0 K
DC
12
DT
MF
Co
ntr
olle
r
2 2 0
1 0 K
+ 5V (Re gu la ted )
N.C .
10
5
1
4,73,8
# 8 *
IC 4 : 5 5 5 T im er
IC 3 : 4 N 27
IC 1 : 7 4 04IC 2 : U L N 28 03K 1: A ro m a t TQ 2E -L2 -1 2 vK 2: Tyco P C LH = 2 02 D 1S
Remote Power Controller
+ 9V (Un re g )
2
1 0 K
1 0 M1 2 0
7
6
4
5
1
11
1014
2 17
1812
.0 11 /3 5
+
10
1
Power Control Timer
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Station Control Unit
Provides for antenna switching among other things
Power supply board provides ±24V for existing remote antenna switch.Relay board is a kit from qkits.com.
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Station Control Unit
tip
2
3
1
A NT E N NA
+ 24
-2 4+ 24
-2 4
18 va cC1
C2
D1
D2
To R e m o te A nte nn a S w itchDC C ou p ler
UL N 20 03
2 3 4 5
QK 7 4 R E L A Y B O A R D
R ela y 1R ela y 2
R ela y 1
R ela y 2
R ela y 3
Logic Ou t 1
Logic Ou t 2
Logic Ou t 3
Logic Ou t 4
W aveN o de
C1 , C 2 2 2 0 u F 50 VD1 , D 2 1 N 40 0 3
+ 12
R ela y 4
W htGrnBlkR ed
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Host System Interconnect Diagram
TelcoIsolator
TelephoneLine
PowerModule
DC PowerSupply
WaveNode
PC/RadioAudio IFU
PC Mic
PC Line
On/off
PowerSensor
AC HousePower
StationControl
PowerModule
DCCoupler
2 31Dummy Load
RemoteAntennaSwitch
PowerModule
74HC154
DTMFController(DCI2)
TTL
+9 Vdc
+5 Vdc
Data I/O
Rig Mic
OptoIsolator
RemotePowerController
Remote Control Interconnect DiagramAE6PM 6/3/2013Revised 3/2/2014
Switched AC power on/off
FT-847 Transceiver
AnsweringMachine
USB/SER
HF Ant
Relay
Always on
Switched
PowerStrip
WirelessLAN
Spkr
Mic
USB
USB
Remote control interconnect.tcw
EeePC 1000Computer
WirelessRouter
TV Camera
CableModem
Internet
Port 8091
Built ormodified
CAT
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Host System Interconnect DiagramTelcoIsolator
TelephoneLine
PowerModule
DC PowerSupply
WaveNode
On/off
AC HousePower
StationControl
PowerModule
PowerModule
74HC154
DTMFController(DCI2)
TTL
+9 Vdc
+5 VdcOptoIsolator
RemotePowerController
Switched AC power on/off
AnsweringMachine
USB/SER
Relay
Always on
Switched
PowerStrip
WirelessLAN
Spkr
Mic
USB
USB
EeePC 1000Computer
WirelessRouter
TV Camera
CableModem
Internet
Port 8091
CAT
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Host System Interconnect Diagram
DC PowerSupply
WaveNode
PC/RadioAudio IFU
PC Mic
PC Line
PowerSensor
StationControl
PowerModule
DCCoupler
2 31Dummy Load
RemoteAntennaSwitch
Data I/O
Rig Mic
Remote Control Interconnect DiagramAE6PM 6/3/2013Revised 3/2/2014
FT-847 Transceiver
USB/SER
HF Ant
Spkr
Mic
USB
USB
Remote control interconnect.tcw
Built ormodified
CAT
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WaveNode™
Displays RF power, SWR, DC voltage and current plus several diagnostic displays. From WaveNode in Campbell, CA.
WaveNode WN-2(d)
Sensors connect to the box.Box connects to the PC via USB port.
I use the Logic Outputs to change antennas.
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TV Camera (Webcam)
Airsight XC36A handy for looking around the station and for troubleshooting PC problems
I purchased two of these. The first died in a few days – the second is still working.
Access directly from the internet. E.g., http://192.168.0.106:8092
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TV Picture
Screen shot of the network TV camera operating
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Issues & Answers
• Ham Radio Deluxe is no longer free– Last free version (5.24.38) works fine– TRX Manager might be an option (QST Feb 2006 p 62)
• LogMeIn is no longer free ($98/yr)– Consider GoToMyPC ($9.95/mo/PC)– Consider TightVNC (free)– Consider RealVNC ($30?)– Consider NetMeeting (Caution – See QST Nov 2002)– Consider Windows Remote Desktop (May require OS
upgrade)– Try HRD in Server mode?
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Issues & Answers
NortonSkype
•Host PC waiting for keyboard input was a major pain in the beginning
–Skype, Norton, Microsoft
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Issues & Answers
• Automatic updates need to be turned off– Microsoft and Antivirus (e.g. Norton)
• Sleep and Hibernation must be set to NEVER– Can’t connect to a PC that’s asleep or hibernating
• ISP fiddling around can knock cable modem offline– Keep their phone number handy (1-800-945-2288)
• ISP fiddling around can knock range extender offline (?)– Leave a key with someone (power cycle to restore)
• ISP changing WAN address disrupts TV camera– Use www.whatsmyip.com from host PC to find new address
• Need better protection from in-house phone dialing– Add “combination lock” to enable DTMF Decoder
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Operation
STARTUP• Start client computer (VGN-FS940)• Launch Skype on client computer• Call host telephone number
– Send DTMF 5 then 6 to power-up host computer– Not required if host computer was left in standby
• Launch LogMeIn on client computer– [email protected]/remoteops/mp6ea0491
• Call host telephone number– Send DTMF 5 then 7 to turn on host switched ac power
• Launch WaveNode on host computer• Launch Ham Radio Deluxe on host computer
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Operation
SHUTDOWN• Close HRD on host computer• Close WaveNode on host computer• Call host telephone number
– Send DTMF 5 then 8 to turn off host switched ac power• Close Skype on client computer• Select Start/Shutdown/Standby on host computer
– Leaves host computer in standby mode• Immediately disconnect LogMeIn on host computer
– So that program is not running when host computer tries to shut down
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Operation
