1. Team w4aaw TOTALLY Remote Multi-Multi CONTESTING … the next best thing to being there!
November 16, 2016
Rowland Archer K4XD
Adapted from a presentation given by John Pescatore K3TN at dayton
And with much input from Mike W4AAW (ex-W0YR)

2. agenda Politics of Remote Operation The Stations – K4VV & W4AAW
What’s It Like to Operate Remotely?
What About the Results?
What’s Next? Join the Fun!

3. Remote operation is a hot topic…

4. But hardly a new one… Remote Contesting 1.0
Source: Nov/Dec 1996 NCJ

5. Remote Contesting 1.1

6. as always, change brings controversy… is it legit?

7. Actually, the debate ended 6 years ago: n6tr operates ve8ev remotely in SS CW
November 2009

8. Like most technology, remote operation can be used … or abused!

9. Ingredients of a contest operation
RADIO OPERATOR(S)
ANTENNA(S)
RADIO(S)

10. K4XD’s VIEW: THIS IS COOL
ONE QTH
VIRGINIA
THE INTERNET
NORTH
CAROLINA
ANTENNA(S)
URUGUAY
RADIO(S)

11. K4XD’s VIEW: THIS IS NOT COOL
VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
EUROPE
THE INTERNET
NORTH
CAROLINA
JAPAN
URUGUAY
Actually even this was briefly “OK” in CQ’s Extreme Category, now defunct

12. THE REAL DECIDER: THE CONTEST SPONSOR AND LAWS OF THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED
Arrl and cq are both ok with remote contesting as team w4aaw practices – we are very careful to adhere to the rules!

13. Team k4vv w0yr w4aaw* a totally remote multi-multi contesting laboratory
This grand experiment started at Jack Hammett’s super-station, K4VV
Due to Jack’s failing health, his XYL decided to dismantle the station in mid-2015
Mike W0YR, the team’s spiritual and real leader, offered to continue the effort using his own very fine station and a very similar technological approach
In Sept 2015, Mike changed his call sign to W4AAW to accurately reflect his location

14. First a little history – k4vv used in our 2014-2015 contest season

15. Jack Hammett, K4VV built his massive contesting station atop Catoctin Ridge, VA on property once owned by Arthur Godfrey, K4LIB.
Jack Hammett’s dream

16. Trudging up the hill
Jack grew weary of trudging up the hill to the K4VV shack. He asked Mike, W4AAW (ex-WØYR), to help develop a way to operate the big station from his house, about 600’ away.
Mike first used LogMeIn and Skype to connect from K4VV’s house radio room to the K4VV shack.
Then, sadly, Jack’s health declined.

17. The Berthas

18. the Radiators at k4vv
Tower 1: Big Bertha 10 M 5/5 OWA Yagis 15 M 5/5 OWA Yagis 20 M 4/4 OWA Yagis
Tower 2: Super Bertha 10 M 7/7/7 OWA Yagis 15 M 7/7/7 OWA Yagis 20 M 6 /6 OWA Yagis
Tower 3: 112' monopole  Fixed 5 element yagis at 135° , 20-40' for CA/SA
Supports 80 M dipole at 106'
Tower 4: 120' tower. 40 M 4/4 OWA Yagis
Supports 160 M dipole at 115'

19. The Wall o’ Relays

20. The Station

21. post 2015 contest-season k4vv is dismantled Mike w4aaw Steps Up and team k4vv becomes Team W4aaw

22. Antennas at W4aaw MONOBANDERS for 10-40M
Tower 1:  20M 5 element widespaced 82’
Tower 2:  10M 5 element widespaced 72'                   40M  2 element 82'
Tower 3:  15M 5 element widespaced 82‘
FIXED LOW CARIBBEAN YAGIS (can be switched instantly)
Cushcraft A4S tribanders on Towers 1 & 3 at 40', aimed at 135 deg. for Caribbean (to be added in 2017)
LOW BAND AND RECEIVING ANTENNAS
Full-size 80M phased vertical array.
Inverted L for 160M at 80'
DX Engineering YCCC 5-square receiving array, a 4 square with a 5th element in the center M. 

23. W4aaw towers 1 and 2

24. Tower 3 – 15m 5 EL monobander @ 82 Ft

25. YCCC 3 inline vertical receive array combiner

26. The Wall o’ Relays – W4AAW
W4AAW – same switching capability as at K4VV
6 x 3 Automatic Antenna Switch – any antenna switchable remotely to any radio using TopTen devices
Dunestar bandpass filters at each position
W2VJN Coax harmonic stubs as required
AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTS TWO RADIOS ON SAME ANTENNA
Ops look at N1MM+ screen to see what bands other positions are on

27. W4aAW Operating Positions legal limit on all
POSITION 1:  FT-2000D, Acom 2000A
POSITION 2:  K3, Acom 2000A, RemoteRig
POSITION 3:  FT-2000D, Acom 2000A
All amps have automatic band-switching and can be monitored/controlled remotely.
Pos 1 & 3 can be operated remotely by any TeamW4AAW member. Pos 2 requires a RemoteRig client ($)
Rick N1RM Operating Position 2 at W4AAW

28. What’s it like to operate remotely?

29. Open Source Remote Operation – zero cost Client
N1MM+
Windows VPN
VNC Remote Desktop
Skype for SSB, RemAud for CW audio
WKRemote for CW keying via paddle
This is the Setup Used by Most Team W4AAW Members

30. Remote Contesting 2.0 – RemoteRig
Client side options
K3/0-mini
K3/0, K3/10, K3/100
Almost seamless operation – turn the VFO knob, gain, filters, etc. and remote K3 follows.

31. VNC Remote Desktop View

32. Controlling the FT-2000’s POS1 and POS3 have FT-2000’s
N1MM+ controls most common functions like mode, band and frequency choice
PCC application provides a simulated front-panel which gives full radio control if needed, such as RF gain, filter choice, etc.

33. Acom amp control N-Button Lite widgets turn amp on or reset it
ACOM Director shows amp status, faults, forward and reflected power
Each position has a USB relay board
Widgets created with N-Button Lite software control the relays
Relays currently used for antenna switching and amp power / reset

34. Audio, keying and radio control
Function
POS 1 & 3
POS 2 (K3/RemoteRig)
N1MM+ F-keys
Keyboard or Mouse input to VNC remote desktop
Local N1MM+
AUDIO
Skype (best SSB), RemAud by DF3CB (best CW)
Headset to RemoteRig
Local Mixer for N1MM+ SSB macros CW
N1MM+ (ctl-K) or WinKeyer Remote
N1MM+ or local paddle to RemoteRig
Radio controls (tuning, filters, gain, etc)
N1MM+ and radio control app on VNC remote desktop.
Local N1MM+ and local K3/x

35. Rotating Antennas, chat
N1MM+ widgets show current antenna bearing
Enter call-sign or prefix or bearing and Alt-J to rotate to new bearing
N1MM+ window shows what bands each position is on – POS1 on 40M, POS2 on 80M, POS3 on 15M
N1MM+ window shows inter-position chat
Overlaid here with instant-select buttons for low Caribbean yagis

36. Schedule app by K4XD based on app by N2IW
Scheduling
Schedule app by K4XD based on app by N2IW

37. Pros and cons
PROS
Open source means anyone can play. Just need a computer and Internet
Can be part of a M/M team even if you have limited time / family obligations
Cool technology and fun to see progress – we are breaking new ground
Contest using a station that exceeds many of our personal setups
CONS
Missing the social element of in-person M/M
More software to configure (and curse at)
Internet issues can introduce audio delays and dropouts
Tuning with OpenSource model is clunky. RemoteRig much better

38. So… what about the results?

39. The First totally Remote Multi-Multi W3UL in CQ WPX RTTY

40. 2015 ARRL DX CW
With yet another snowmageddon bearing down on the DC area, Mike W4AAW says “Hey, kids – let’s try an all remote multi-multi!”
Ops:
W0YR, N1RM – in VA
K3TN, W3UL – MD
W4TMO, K4XD – NC
W3UL – FL (after a long train ride)
K3/Remote rig ops

41. 2015 arrl dx cw

43. Internet QRM/Jittermageddon
Pinging xxx.xx.xx.xx with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from xxx.xx.xx.xx: bytes=32 time=426ms TTL=247
Reply from xxx.xx.xx.xx: bytes=32 time=450ms TTL=247
Reply from xxx.xx.xx.xx: bytes=32 time=381ms TTL=247
Reply from xxx.xx.xx.xx: bytes=32 time=242ms TTL=247
Ping statistics for xxx.xx.xx.xx:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 242ms, Maximum = 450ms, Average = 374ms

44. Arrl dx cw 2015 – Final results
TOP TEN FINISH – in good company!

45. ARRL DX SSB

46. Arrl DX SSB 2015 - final results
Another top ten finish – moving up to sixth place!

47. Cq WPX SSB

48. Cq wpx ssb 2015 – final results
Second place north America m/m!

49. 2016 – w4aaw’s new Rtty team knocks it out of the park
Mike W4AAW recruits CQ Contest Hall of Fame member Don AA5AU to join Team W4AAW as RTTY Contest Chairman
Don attracts a number of enthusiastic world class RTTY ops
Team W4AAW proceeds to break M/S and M/M North American RTTY contest records based on claimed scores in 2016 Makrothen, JARTS and WAE DX RTTY contests
Don AA5AU, our
RTTY Contest Chairman

50. Lessons Learned
The all free software approach has limitations (tuning, delay) but makes things widely accessible.
The Remote Rig approach solves most problems but adds cost and complexity – and single point of failure.
The Internet connection is your coax – don’t skimp.
Contesting is different from Dxing – especially M/M!

51. Next Steps Expand YCCC receive antenna array Webinars and training
Investigate new technology and refine the station
Recruit more ops – fill the schedule!
Continue to have fun!

55. TEAM W4AAW Behind the scenes
Paul N4PD
John W5ODJ (w/XYL)
Jeff K0ZR

56. Team w4aaw wants you! We have room for YOU!
We are looking for experienced contest ops who are serious about contributing operating time in the major contests
Will do full efforts in most CQ WW and ARRL events
Emphasis is on learning and fun – but we want to win too!
More info at
Join the fun / madness! Fill out the application here:
Or contact Mike ,
Rowland or any team member
We have room for YOU!