[WriteLog] Fw: SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING

[Eric Hilding]

TO: WriteLog SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING enthusiasts who don't subscribe to CQ-Contest

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Eric Hilding 
To: cq-contest at contesting.com 
Cc: nccc at contesting.com 
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 12:33 PM
Subject: SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING


For those who are in opposition to "Remote Station Contesting" in any way, shape or form, you may want to delete this post now before your blood pressure goes up :-)

I have been on a quest since last year to ultimately setup a fully automated "SO2R REMOTE" Contest station, and am wondering if anyone else has done this yet, or who may be thinking along these lines and would like to be kept in-the-loop about some exciting developments.

If you're one of these folks, please send an email ONLY to: remoteso2r at k6vva.com which will filter into a separate Unix mailbox for this project.

Although I've continued to evaluate various "remote control" softare programs (and got excited about the OMNI VII "Ethernet Ready" release), being one who absolutely, positively hates to use a mouse for anything during a CW contest, I've reverted to the original plan from last year - to use TWO TS-480 Control Heads side-by-side for local "hands on", small footprint on the desk Contesting with the rig bodies, et.al. at a remote site.  Not being the most technical oar in the water, this has been challenging.

My experience has been that the authors/developers of remote control software are mostly not Contesters, and do not understand the needs of the CW Contester when it comes to Ergonomics and operational "mouseless" efficiency.  All the more reason for being able to physically use the TS-480 Control Heads at the operator point.  Last year I had started to look for a programmer to help put this together and then got busy with other stuff.

However, last fall at a Pacificon booth a company had successfully come up with remoting the TS-480 Control Heads from the TXRX rig body, but using Bluetooth.  OK for those who want to operate their mobile rig in the driveway from a bedroom inside the house, but not for hard-core Contesting via Ethernet point-to-point gear or an broadband Internet connection.  Numerous phone discussions with the company President failed to result in a switch in emphasis from Bluetooth to Ethernet connectivity at this time.

So I was back to looking around for a programmer to somehow help when N5ZC turned me onto some recent developments by W4MQ.  Rich has successfully installed Stan's new "IRT" (Internet Remote Toolkit) and is now using his TS-480 Control Head at his home QTH to control his rig remotely ( http://www.w4mq.com - See the IRT link).  If you've been thinking about a remote operation but still want to have your hands physically on rig controls, I encourage you to check out what W4MQ is doing.

Stan & I swapped a lot of emails regarding possible expansion for a FULL SO2R REMOTE operation, however there are added issues involved due to the need for concurrent high-quality MONO & STEREO (SO2R Audio Return), etc.  vs. the simplicity of an SO1R Mono Audio arrangement.  A workaround appears to involve retweaking IPSound to accommodate MONO Audio one way from the Mic a remote SO2R Controller and STEREO Audio return - possibly via a 2nd dedicated soundcard.  This may be necessary due to the way I've experienced WriteLog "Hi-Jacking" audio controls during 2 radio operation.  SO2R REMOTE is not for the masses, and understandably Stan's focus is on the current IRT for single rig users.

W1VE (an experienced Contester, Programmer & Guru of the livescores.org operations) and I have now been swapping emails, and had a lengthy phone conversation today about all this.  Gerry has kindly offered to contribute some time toward an simplied basic SO2R REMOTE setup involving TWO TS-480 rigs (including the MONO/STEREO Audio needs), so this info can also be shared amongst any other interested SO2R REMOTE folks as things further develop.

Although certainly not finalized, my initial draft block diagram sent to Stan and now Gerry of how I've envisioned the basics of an SO2R REMOTE setup for those of us who are pushing the edge of the envelope is at:  http://www.k6vva.com/remoteso2r (.pdf file) - which incorporates part of the approach Stan uses in his IRT for the TS-480 rigs that I had set out to do last year).  Fortunately, Dave at Top Ten Devices said their DX Doubler/SO2R Controller toggle switch functionalities could be remotely controlled via relays, as having this capability for Audio Managment needs *during* SO2R operation is of paramount importance.  Yeah!!!

The objective in this approach minimizes "stuff" that has to be sent from the local operator (CLIENT) point to the remote station (HOST) which minimizes bandwidth needs (an important point made by Gerry).   For automated (or semi-automated) SSB Contesting playing .wav files, keeping WriteLog on the remote site (HOST) computer is especially necessary due to .wav file sizes.  Beyond the TS-480 Control Heads, all other control of the remote station site and various Amplifier, Antenna, etc. control(s) would be fondled via pcAnywhere or WinDOZE RDP.  I have also been encouraging both Elecraft & Tokyo HY-POWER to come out with remote software control software for their new amplifiers which are ideally suited in many ways for using in a remote station venue.  IMHO, the Elecraft KRC2 Band Decoder continues to be the best choice for an SO2R REMOTE venue, because of also providing built-in 12v "source" and "sinking" automated control for (in my case) dual ICE 419A Bandpass filters and an Array Solutions SIX-PAK.

Thanks to N8LP, today I learned that the TS-480 has a built-in "timer/time-out" function (Menu Item #22) which I had overlooked.  No need for a separate "Watchdog" program for the TXRX to meet the FCC's requirements for remote-control.  Very cool & Tnx, Larry, & Tnx Kenwood.

Some people have suggested this SO2R REMOTE vision is a "Pipe Dream".  That's what many said about the IOTA NA-178 Dream, but K9AJ & I made it there last year.  "Nothing is impossible!!!"  Easy?  No.  I'm very grateful Gerry, W1VE, is now willing to contribute to helping make things happen for all of us who want to do SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING (and still be able to physically tune a VFO knob & use the buttons on a rig ... or at least the Control Head part of it).

FYI, 73 & "Onward" ...

Rick, K6VVA * The Locust
remoteso2r at k6vva.com