[CQ-Contest] Remote contest operation

[Jim Jordan]

Hi Barry,

I also operate remote with a TS480. However, I opted not to use Remoterig 
for concern about the very issues you are experiencing. I leave my entire 
radio at home and use what I consider (no I'm not paid!) to be the most 
bullet proof remote desktop, www.GoToMyPC.com  which I also use in my 
business for its reliability. Not free, but worth it IMHO. By using remote 
desktop I can control other things including N1MM Logger, HamSwitch (for 
antenna switching and other peripherals). I'm not using Winkey so I can't 
use a paddle right now and not even sure if I want it. I use keyboard 
sending with the free software CWType loaded on the shack computer or 
keyboard sending with N1MM. Not a big deal for most contests since I use 
N1MM on my shack computer which is doing 98% of the work and all keying is 
local.  That eliminates almost any possibility of defective keying 
originating with the contest program as the only thing that is carried by 
the remote desktop program are your keystrokes including a specific "F" key 
or "Enter" if you use ESM. To carry the audio I use Skype with the 
microphone muted at the remote end and the Skype AGC turned off at both 
ends. That pretty much eliminates latency. Ocassionally there will be a bad 
Skype connection. Hang up and call again. I did the CQ 160 remote and also 
Sprint RTTY. Check into some cw nets and a few casual QSO's when I'm 
travelling.

There will always be a few occasions where you experience temporary drop out 
no matter what system you have but it shouldn't seriously affect your 
operations. That's the price of remote in a less than perfect cyberworld. I 
did upgrade my Time Warner connection to 10Mb/S. Checking it on Speedtest 
shows it delivers as promised. You can also reduce the risk by using a 100Mb 
CAT5 connection to your router if available instead of wireless from your 
laptop. Oh, yes, if your internet connection is less than perfect, be sure 
your XYL isn't streaming a movie from NetFlix!!

With this setup I need absolutely nothing on the road but my laptop and some 
cheap headphones to keep from bothering other people. I'm leaving on an 
overseas trip tomorrow, again taking nothing but my laptop, and I'll see 
what happens.

Good luck and 73,

Jim, K4QPL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry" <w2up at comcast.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:42 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Remote contest operation


>I tried some remote operation in the 10m contest using a TS480 and 
>Remoterig.  The radio control worked fine, but we had lots of problems with 
>dropped dits, timing problems, etc. on CW, presumably due to dropped 
>packets and/or latency issues.  I don't know if it's my particular network 
>or a common problem, but I've heard others using Comcast as an ISP having 
>similar issues.
>
> I wonder if anyone has had success using some other remote system for CW 
> contesting.
>
> Tnx,
> Barry W2UP
>
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