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Remote HF Operation. HamCon 2010 Ron Rossi, KK1L. Maybe you are stuck here. Maybe have a little time on a business trip. Maybe you have all the time in the world. Wherever there is internet access you can get on the air!. Initial Questions. Is it legal? Where am I actually operating from?
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Remote HF Operation HamCon 2010 Ron Rossi, KK1L
Initial Questions • Is it legal? • Where am I actually operating from? • What do I need? • How does it work?
Is It Legal? – Part 97 Basics • §97.3 Definitions (partial) • (5) Amateur station. A station in an amateur radio service consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communications. • (13) Control operator. An amateur operator designated by the licensee of a station to be responsible for the transmissions from that station to assure compliance with the FCC Rules. • (14) Control point. The location at which the control operator function is performed. • (38) Remote control. The use of a control operator who indirectly manipulates the operating adjustments in the station through a control link to achieve compliance with the FCC Rules. • §97.105 Control operator duties (partial) • (a) The control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the station, regardless of the type of control. • §97.109 Station control (partial) • (c) When a station is being remotely controlled, the control operator must be at the control point. Any station may be remotely controlled.
Is It Legal? – Part 97 Basics • §97.5 Station license grant required (partial) • (a) The station apparatus must be under the physical control of a person named in an amateur station license grant on the ULS consolidated license database or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation by §97.107 of this part, before the station may transmit on any amateur service frequency from any place that is: • (1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and at a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC; • §97.119 Station identification (partial) • (a) Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every ten minutes during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the station.
Where Am I? • When operating a station remotely use the call sign appropriate to the physical location of the station. • You are the control operator of the amateur station. • Follow the rules where the station is located.
What do I need? • Radio physically connected your computer • Software to control your radio and other stuff • Broadband internet connection • Internet bridge for computer control • Internet bridge for sound
The Physical Connection • The basics... • Radio with computer interface • Computer with sound card interfaced to radio • Computer controlled keying & PTT • Nice extras... • Antenna switching • Rotator control • Amplifier control • Power on/off control
Radio Meets Computer PTT & CW Serial RS232 / USB
Radio Meets Computer PTT & CW Serial RS232 / USB Sound Card LineIn Sound Card Output Sound Card Mic Input
Hardware Examples Parallel Port Keying • Commercial Units • WinKey (K1EL) • RigBlaster (West Mountain Radio) • DX Doubler (TopTen) • YCCC SO2R+ (K1XM) • Several others... Serial Keying and Audio Connections
Station Control Software • Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) • www.ham-radio-deluxe.com • DXLabs Suite • Commander (rig control) • DXKeeper (extensive logging capability) • WinWarbler (RTTY, CW, etc) • www.dxlabsuite.com • N1MM Logger (the top choice for contesting) • n1mm.com • Many, many others...
Station Control Software • Features • Radio status (band, mode, etc) • PTT on/off • CW generation • Voice keying • Mode selection (CW, LSB, USB, etc) • Frequency selection • Antenna selection based on band • Rotator control • Others ... (vary by program)
Radio Met Computer PTT & CW Serial RS232 / USB Sound Card LineIn Sound Card Output Sound Card Mic Input
Putting It All Together QRZ Kilo Five Delta UP UP
Putting It All Together ...QRZ Kilo Five Delta UP! UP! Sound Card Mic Input
Remote Computer Control • Remote login software – FREE! • LogMeIn www.logmein.com • Relatively easy to set up • VNC www.realvnc.com • Requires Virtual Private Network (VPN) • Microsoft NetMeeting, etc • Too slow
Remote Sound • Voice over Internet (VoIP) software – FREE! • Skype www.skype.com • Very easy to set up • Mono only • IP-Sound by SM5VXC wireless.org.uk/software.htm • Requires VPN or Port mapping • Stereo (good for two radio work)
Advanced Control • Serverless Connection • GlenTek www.glentekcorp.com • Hardware TCP/IP interface • Directly connects sound and radio control to the internet
Okay...Show Me! • Demo time...
KK1L Station Diagram Serial Control TS850 RF Audio YCCC SO2R Controller* 2x6 Antenna Switch USB CPU PTT/CW Audio Audio RF FT1000 PTT/CW Serial Control *MicroHam type controller
Okay...NOW Show Me! • Demo time...