Remote HF OperationRemote HF Operation

HamCon 2010HamCon 2010

Ron Rossi, KK1LRon Rossi, KK1L

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Maybe you are stuck here...Maybe you are stuck here...

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Maybe have a little time on a Maybe have a little time on a business trip...business trip...

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Maybe you have all the time in Maybe you have all the time in the world...the world...

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Wherever there is internet Wherever there is internet access you can get on the air!access you can get on the air!

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Initial QuestionsInitial Questions

• Is it legal?Is it legal?

• Where am I actually operating from?Where am I actually operating from?

• What do I need?What do I need?

• How does it work?How does it work?

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Is It Legal? – Part 97 BasicsIs It Legal? – Part 97 Basics

• §97.3 Definitions (partial)§97.3 Definitions (partial)– (5) (5) Amateur stationAmateur station. A station in an amateur radio service consisting of . A station in an amateur radio service consisting of

the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communications.the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communications.– (13) (13) Control operatorControl operator. An amateur operator designated by the licensee of . An amateur operator designated by the licensee of

a station to be responsible for the transmissions from that station to assure a station to be responsible for the transmissions from that station to assure compliance with the FCC Rules. compliance with the FCC Rules.

– (14) (14) Control pointControl point. The location at which the control operator function is . The location at which the control operator function is performed.performed.

– (38) (38) Remote controlRemote control. The use of a control operator who indirectly . The use of a control operator who indirectly manipulates the operating adjustments in the station through a control link manipulates the operating adjustments in the station through a control link to achieve compliance with the FCC Rules.to achieve compliance with the FCC Rules.

• §97.105 Control operator duties (partial)§97.105 Control operator duties (partial)– (a) The control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the (a) The control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the

station, regardless of the type of control. station, regardless of the type of control.

• §97.109 Station control (partial)§97.109 Station control (partial)– (c) When a station is being remotely controlled, the control operator must (c) When a station is being remotely controlled, the control operator must

be at the control point. Any station may be remotely controlled.be at the control point. Any station may be remotely controlled.

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Is It Legal? – Part 97 BasicsIs It Legal? – Part 97 Basics

• §97.5 Station license grant required (partial)§97.5 Station license grant required (partial)– (a) The (a) The station apparatusstation apparatus must be under the physical control of a must be under the physical control of a

person named in an amateur station license grant on the ULS person named in an amateur station license grant on the ULS consolidated license database or a person authorized for alien consolidated license database or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation by §97.107 of this part, before the station may reciprocal operation by §97.107 of this part, before the station may transmit on any amateur service frequency from any place that is: transmit on any amateur service frequency from any place that is:

• (1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and (1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and at a place where the amateur at a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCCservice is regulated by the FCC;;

• §97.119 Station identification (partial)§97.119 Station identification (partial)– (a) Each (a) Each amateur stationamateur station, except a space station or telecommand , except a space station or telecommand

station, station, must transmit its assigned call signmust transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every ten minutes at the end of each communication, and at least every ten minutes during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the transmissions. transmissions. No station mayNo station may transmit unidentified communications or transmit unidentified communications or signals, or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the stationto the station..

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• When operating a station remotely When operating a station remotely use the call sign appropriate to the use the call sign appropriate to the physical location of the station.physical location of the station.– You are the control operator of the You are the control operator of the

amateur station.amateur station.– Follow the rules where the station is Follow the rules where the station is

located.located.

Where Am I?Where Am I?

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What do I need?What do I need?

• Radio physically connected your computerRadio physically connected your computer

• Software to control your radio and other Software to control your radio and other stuff stuff

• Broadband internet connectionBroadband internet connection

• Internet bridge for computer controlInternet bridge for computer control

• Internet bridge for soundInternet bridge for sound

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The Physical ConnectionThe Physical Connection

• The basics...The basics...– Radio with computer interfaceRadio with computer interface– Computer with sound card interfaced to radioComputer with sound card interfaced to radio– Computer controlled keying & PTTComputer controlled keying & PTT

• Nice extras...Nice extras...– Antenna switchingAntenna switching– Rotator controlRotator control– Amplifier controlAmplifier control– Power on/off controlPower on/off control

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The Basic StationThe Basic Station

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Radio Meets ComputerRadio Meets Computer

Serial RS232 / USBPTT & CW

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Radio Meets ComputerRadio Meets Computer

Sound Card

Output

Serial RS232 / USB

Sound Card

LineIn

Sound Card Mic

Input

PTT & CW

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Hardware ExamplesHardware Examples

• Commercial UnitsCommercial Units– WinKey WinKey (K1EL)(K1EL)

– RigBlaster RigBlaster (West (West Mountain Radio)Mountain Radio)

– DX Doubler DX Doubler (TopTen)(TopTen)

– YCCC SO2R+ YCCC SO2R+ (K1XM)(K1XM)

– Several others...Several others...

Serial Keying and Audio Connections

Parallel Port Keying

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Station Control SoftwareStation Control Software

• Ham Radio Deluxe Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD)(HRD)– www.ham-radio-deluxe.comwww.ham-radio-deluxe.com

• DXLabs SuiteDXLabs Suite– Commander (rig control)Commander (rig control)– DXKeeper (extensive logging capability)DXKeeper (extensive logging capability)– WinWarbler (RTTY, CW, etc)WinWarbler (RTTY, CW, etc)– www.dxlabsuite.comwww.dxlabsuite.com

• N1MM Logger N1MM Logger (the top choice for contesting)(the top choice for contesting)– n1mm.comn1mm.com

• Many, many others...Many, many others...

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Station Control SoftwareStation Control Software

• FeaturesFeatures– Radio status (band, mode, etc)Radio status (band, mode, etc)– PTT on/offPTT on/off– CW generationCW generation– Voice keyingVoice keying– Mode selection (CW, LSB, USB, etc)Mode selection (CW, LSB, USB, etc)– Frequency selectionFrequency selection– Antenna selection based on bandAntenna selection based on band– Rotator controlRotator control– Others ... (vary by program)Others ... (vary by program)

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HRD Main ScreenHRD Main Screen

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DXLabs Commander ScreenDXLabs Commander Screen

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Radio Met ComputerRadio Met Computer

Sound Card

Output

Serial RS232 / USB

Sound Card

LineIn

Sound Card Mic

Input

PTT & CW

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Let’s Build the BridgeLet’s Build the Bridge

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Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

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Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

QRZKilo Five

Delta UP UP

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Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

Sound Card Mic Input

...QRZKilo Five Delta UP!

UP!

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Remote Computer ControlRemote Computer Control

• Remote login software – FREE!Remote login software – FREE!

• LogMeIn LogMeIn www.logmein.comwww.logmein.com– Relatively easy to set upRelatively easy to set up

• VNC VNC www.realvnc.comwww.realvnc.com– Requires Virtual Private Network (VPN)Requires Virtual Private Network (VPN)

• Microsoft NetMeeting, etcMicrosoft NetMeeting, etc– Too slowToo slow

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Remote SoundRemote Sound

• Voice over Internet (VoIP) software – FREE!Voice over Internet (VoIP) software – FREE!

• Skype Skype www.skype.comwww.skype.com– Very easy to set upVery easy to set up– Mono onlyMono only

• IP-Sound by SM5VXC IP-Sound by SM5VXC wireless.org.uk/software.htmwireless.org.uk/software.htm– Requires VPN or Port mappingRequires VPN or Port mapping– Stereo (good for two radio work)Stereo (good for two radio work)

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Advanced ControlAdvanced Control

• Serverless ConnectionServerless Connection– GlenTek GlenTek www.glentekcorp.comwww.glentekcorp.com– Hardware TCP/IP interfaceHardware TCP/IP interface– Directly connects sound and radio Directly connects sound and radio

control to the internetcontrol to the internet

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Okay...Show Me!Okay...Show Me!

• Demo time...Demo time...

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KK1L Station DiagramKK1L Station Diagram

FT1000

CPU 2x6AntennaSwitch

TS850

YCCCSO2R

Controller*Audio

RF

Serial Control

Serial Control

Audio

Audio

*MicroHam type controller

PTT/CW

PTT/CW

USB

RF

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KK1L StationKK1L Station

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KK1L StationKK1L Station

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Audio Control and Antenna Audio Control and Antenna SwitchingSwitching

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Okay...NOW Show Me!Okay...NOW Show Me!

• Demo time...Demo time...