Remote HF Operation HamCon 2010 Ron Rossi, KK1L

Maybe you are stuck here...

Maybe have a little time on a business trip... Only a little bit of 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? 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

The Basic Station

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 Commercial Units WinKey (K1EL) 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)

HRD Main Screen

DXLabs Commander Screen

Radio Met Computer PTT & CW Serial RS232 / USB Sound Card LineIn Sound Card Output Sound Card Mic Input

Let’s Build the Bridge

Putting It All Together

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 TS850 CPU FT1000 *MicroHam type controller YCCC Serial Control TS850 YCCC SO2R Controller* Audio RF 2x6 Antenna Switch USB CPU PTT/CW Audio Audio FT1000 RF PTT/CW Serial Control *MicroHam type controller

KK1L Station

KK1L Station

Audio Control and Antenna Switching

Okay...NOW Show Me! Demo time...