Remote radio operation.

I have dabbled with using my station remotely, using a remote desktop application, this allows you to control the 'base' or shack computer, as my TS-480 is connected to a laptop and can be used fully via Ham Radio Deluxe.


Sound duties are taken care of by using the existing hardware set-up used for data modes, the software used is Skype, freely available, and free to use between skype to skype accounts, one set up on each laptop, base and remote.


This does work, though I find that the connection is quite laggy, and the desktop image shown is not the clearest, also the audio on receive can be somewhat choppy at times.

Earlier this week I had a long and interesting qso with NZ5E, Terry, in Arkansas, he is using the same radio as me, but remotely, we talked a lot about a beach buggy he and his son have restored, it wasn't until after we said 73, that I realised that I hadn't asked him exactly how he was running his remote station.


Well today I happened across two local friends of mine on the air, G0VQY, Penn, in Brixham, and my radio club pal, G2DXU, Alan, in Torquay, they had been working some Stateside on 17m, and so I joined them, well by chance Terry, NZ5E returned Penn's CQ, and I was fortunate to get to ask Terry exactly what he was using to remotely control his station.

He was using the Microbit RRC-1258 system.

No computer connection is required, I think the next picture explains..

I am hoping as there is no 'video' connection, only audio and radio command that the bandwidth demand on the internet connection will less.

Also my thoughts are you could then use your home station when truly on the move, for example in the car ?!


http://www.hamradio.co.uk/rrc-1258.shtml

HRD LOG.net

I have always used Ham Radio Deluxe - http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/HRDv5.aspx to control the TS-480 , along with DM780 for the data modes, and finally the integrated log book, which also allows you to automatically upload to eQSL.cc and finally to HRDlog.net.


Here http://www.hrdlog.net/Default2.aspx you can view your log, edit any incorrect entries you may have made in HRD logbook, you can also do the usual things, search for callsigns, view DXCC worked etc, but more interestingly perhaps, you can view a qso map in google maps.


Just click on 'qso map' from there you will see 'open with google maps', this brings up another page, which is in Italian, if you don't 'parlare italiano', then you can have the page translated.



Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Facebook HAM friends.

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few years, you will have undoubtedly have heard of Facebook, well I'm not going to and start a debate on it's pros and cons, however I will say that is works for me personally.

For example I have a friend Adriano, IZ3SVI, from Venice, Italy who likes to work portable of a weekend, so he'll put a post up on an Amateur Radio page advertising his event, then assuming there is enough signal for his phone, post updates as to what frequency he is working.

However today he had no signal up on Pizzock Mountain, but luckily I managed to find him on 20m, not easy when he is in qso with his pal in Venice, and I barely speak tourist Italian !

As we have only become friends through Facebook and have never actually spoken to each other, it was a real pleasure to finally be able to, Ady was a 5/7 though faded badly with the qsb, and finally recovered back to a 5/3 or so, with the 100 watts and vertical fishing pole antenna !

Here is a pic of Adriano, doing what he loves best !

And here is my facebook page link - go on poke me !

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=633535950

Many hands make light work..

Yes, so they may, but when it comes to radio, 'many ears make light work...of the DX'.

This week I have been off work, but instead of lying in I have been up around 0800 and on the radio, and with the help of fellow club Ham, M0PAW, Keith, who also lives in Torquay, we have been working together to work the DX, and I would like to say, we haven't done too bad.

Using 145.5375 FM as a contact frequency, we scanned the bands, 40m and 20m, and also using the DX cluster, would tell each other of any good dx, and so far this week have bagged the following.

I worked -
31/1/11 - 08:14 VK7GK, Gerry, in Tasmania on 40m.
03/02/11 - 08.10 ZL4IV, Rex on South island, New Zealand, on 40m.

With Keith and I working together -

03/02/11 - 09:10 PY6RT, Rob in Brazil on 20m
03/02/11 - 09:40 C5YK, Andre, in The Gambia, on 20m.
 and today.. VK2GHK, Henk, just north of Sydney, also on 20m.

All the contacts were SSB with 100 watts into the ZS6BKW, with Keith using a rotatable dipole by Comet.

I have now worked VK on 2 bands with a bit of wire, which due to the high winds here last night now has a thick telephone cable resting on it, will call British Telecom later to report.

Lastly, Henk (VK2GHK) has a website whereby if you have worked him, you can print out your QSL card, and here it is !