Remote Control for the Ham Radio Station Operate

Remote Control for the Ham Radio Station Operate your station from anywhere Barry Lisoweski VE 3 ISX Hamilton, Ontario September 14 th, 2015 14 September 2015 1

Why Remote? • • Outdoor antennae not allowed in your neighborhood Change of residence…condo or apartment Small residential lot. . limited antenna size High noise levels. . power lines, plazma tv etc. Dual residency / Vacation home Travel without cumbersome amateur equipment Get equipment out of the house i. Phone/i. Pad connects to newer automobile sound system 14 September 2015 2

My Motivation • Provide an HF service to Snow Bird Seniors • Check in from anywhere to the ONTARS network. • Connect i. Phone to Hamilton HF station while caring for my late mother in Winnipeg. • Keep the operation simple. • Integrate the automatic technology of my base station to switch power and antennae. • Provide a solution when I move away from the residence to an apartment. 14 September 2015 3

Objectives • Use the free Wi. Fi of most hotels and food establishments to connect with the internet for control and connectivity. • Have full control of the transceiver and server. • Be able to monitor important parameters of the station. • Keep the initial cost to a minimum. 14 September 2015 4

Base Station requirements • • • A transceiver connected as a base station. A simple computer setup as a HRD/Skype server. Signa. Link USB sound interface. All necessary antennae switchable by the transceiver. Back-Up UPS for the server. Reliable Internet connection. 14 September 2015 5

Remote Laptop/mobile device • • Portable lightweight laptop USB headset/boom mike Ham Radio Deluxe FREE version or paid Skype Vo. IP free service 14 September 2015 6

Amateur qualifications • • 14 September 2015 ADVANCED License can operate remote HF Industry Canada states in IC-3 Information on the Amateur Radio Service. “Only Advanced operators may: Remotely control fixed stations Including the use of radio links. ” A Basic/Basic Plus license does not apply 7

Design Requirements • Basic parameters – Ability to reset computer via Team. Viewer – Transceiver capable of computer control (CAT) – PC to control the transceiver – Ability to operate the PC remotely – Audio connection to/from the transceiver • Future design considerations – Ability to turn the PC on and off – Time out timer for Icom Transceiver “just in case” – Ability to rotate the beam antenna 14 September 2015 8

Design Considerations • • • 14 September 2015 Construction easy enough for most amateurs. The sound card should provide VOX transmit. Skype should support a video camera. System should support Android/i. Phone devices Operation from remote site easy for any age 9

System block diagram HOST CLIENT Complete Station PC or i. Phone Software: Skype Log. Me. In Ham Radio Deluxe Software: Skype Audio from anywhere Audio Data Control Power 14 September 2015 Antennas 10

Host Station Hardware • • • Transceiver…Icom HF/6 meter types preferred Icom transceivers require a CT-17 level serial converter Antenna… 10/15/20 meter beam…… 80/40 dipole Power Supply PC (desktop or laptop) Signa. Link USB interface UPS (optional) Monitor, keyboard and mouse for PC Suitable lightening protection for unattended stations. 14 September 2015 11

Host (Station) Software • Windows 7 preferred • PC Control – Log. Me. In Hamatchi (by subscription only) – This is for a secure link to your system…Vo. IP tunnel…recommended for unattended operation. • Transceiver Control – Ham Radio Deluxe. . FREE or paid version • Audio – Skype …. FREE • Station Monitoring – Team. Viewer…. FREE. . log into the station via remote desktop. 14 September 2015 12

PC/Radio Audio The Signa. Link USB provides superior audio isolation and no annoying ground loops. Order connection cables for specific transceiver. . plug and play! 14 September 2015 13

2015 Challenges • Ham Radio Deluxe is no longer free – Last free version (5. 24. 38) works fine – Paid version works downward compatible • Log. Me. In Hamatchi is no longer free • I am currently using a 32 client subscription for $29. 95 US • The Log. Me. In Hamatchi provides a secure VPN tunnel. • Working with Windows 7 still the most stable platform. • Windows 10 is on the planning stage at this writing. 14 September 2015 14

The HOST station – PC- Transceiver 14 September 2015 15

Host Transceiver - Signa. Link 14 September 2015 16

The i. Phone Control Experience 14 September 2015 17

The Ham Radio Deluxe Consol 14 September 2015 18