Messages

16

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-22, 22:04:40 »

Mike, thanks for your ideas.  The last time the PWR ON button worked was at a QTH I stopped at on the way to our ultimate destination.  I turned off the equipment, put it in my trunk, came the rest of the way, and the PWR ON button has never tried again.  In case the head to rrc cord has failed I ohmed it out.   Found continuity between 5 of the 6 pins.  Thought this was significant but looking at the clear plugs in a bright light showed both only had 5 wires in use.  On the TS-480 schematic the non-connected pin is simply a second ground.  There is a "U" wired on the back of the jack which apparently negates the need of a 2nd ground.  Have ordered a new 6P6C cord anyway.  The straps ought to be OK because the system worked fine until I disconnected it and brought it here to my ultimate destination.  The COM0 baud is 57600, yes I'm using program mode 5, SIP PW is correct with no spaces, the boxes will Auto Connect.  73, Art

17

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-22, 20:35:52 »

Mitch, sorry we are unable to use Teamviewer until after your visitors leave - fully understandable.

For anyone following this thread - an update.  With no connection to my TS-480 back home and my vacation half over I was willing to try anything.  My TS-480 radio is accessible using RRC Nano using a wifi-only connection thru the same local router/ISP.  And by Mitch from his entirely different QTH.  Coupled with the fact that I also can't connect using (only) HRD or DXLab, my RRC Control box itself came under at least some suspicion.  Therefore I ordered another Control box - same results with new box.  That's basically where I at now.

You might think this failure to connect is related to the ISP and/or router I am using.  Why else would Mitch be able to connect to my radio back home?  But my RRC Nano working through this same local connection/router does connect and I can tune and change bands, etc.  Also, if I select Auto Connect on my Control box then my two RRC boxes show connected and transferring.  So how can the problem be ISP/router related?

I know these Remoterig systems can work.  Mine did for two years.  But I will never again go on vacation expecting to rely exclusively on a RRC-1258 for my Ham Radio fix.  Art

18

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-18, 17:17:42 »

Hello Mike - well I don't know what to think of the observations.  You and Mitch are the experts - not me.  Almost from the get-go my system has worked great for 2 years.  Only now with an ongoing problem am I learning a little more about RRC function.  Seems to me that the boxes connecting in Auto Connect mode only proves the router and its connection to the Internet are OK.  It does not necessarily prove the Control box is capable of communicating with the TS-480.  It also does not prove the new TS-480 continues to function properly.  Having observed that the TS-480 does not join the now-established connection I have been trying to get either DXLab or HRD to join.  I am using a good quality FTDI USB to serial adapter for that.  But so far it's a no-go on a PC connection as well.  In case the new Status info (with boxes connected) means anything, I will attach a screenshot of it.  Thank you.  Art

19

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-18, 07:11:00 »

Just made an amazing discovery.  I never had cause to select Auto Connect.  Decided I might as well try it:  Promptly the white led on the aux/mic socket lit up continuously and there was a confirmation beep from the TS-480 head.  The status indications show data transfer.  However, when I press the "On" button on the TS-480 nothing happens whatsoever.  I do hear faint, regular, clicks from its speaker.  I checked continuity of the wires in the cable between the TS-480 head and the RRC a couple days ago.  What could cause the TS-480 not to come completely alive now!?  Art

20

General discussion forum / Re: New Problem Identified: Tip if RemoteRig Stops Working

« on: 2016-10-18, 06:10:58 »

Thank you VERY much for those words, Mitch.  On my phone I did deselect the Verizon network data and connect strictly through the same wifi router.  The Nano continued to connect through the router just fine to the Radio back home.  Because of the proven reliability of the RRC1258 system (mine has worked flawlessly for 2 years) I am having trouble suspecting my control box has suddenly went kaput.  But earlier today I decided that I don't mind having a spare pair of boxes just in case.  So I ordered another set that'll be here in N.C. Wednesday.  Having done that I fully expect to find any moment that it's something very simple that I'm overlooking, hi hi.  Art

21

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-18, 05:55:13 »

Thanks for the suggestion, Mitch.  I just now replaced the DDNS url with the actual IP of 47.204.226.139 but still no connection between boxes.  My home QTH was struck by lightning on 21 Sept. and much of my equipment was damaged.  However, the RRC Radio box did work afterwards (until now maybe).  I'm wondering if it's possible that the Radio box could now fail in such a way that it could somehow connect with RRC Nano but not the 1258 Control box.  At the time of the lightning strike the Control box was not hooked up and wasn't present at that QTH anyway.  Art

22

General discussion forum / Re: New Problem Identified: Tip if RemoteRig Stops Working

« on: 2016-10-18, 04:53:09 »

Mitch, would the problem you described primarily affect the Radio end and only secondarily affect the Control end?  If I understand correctly, relying on a specific IP and porting scheme is not necessary on the Control end.  One more question: Can you think of any reason why a RRC-1258 Control box shouldn't connect with the Radio if an Android RRC Nano does connect? My RRC boxes suddenly quit connecting but RRC Nano still does.  Thanks.  Art

23

General discussion forum / comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-17, 23:02:04 »

If screenshots of my control and radio status settings are viewable I'd appreciate any comments that may lead to making corrections that would enable a connection.  Some port info looks weird to me.  My boxes worked fine for almost 2 years and suddenly no connection.  Recently switched from a K3 to TS-480 but it worked fine after that until now.  Basic connection from TS-480 head to RRC Control COM2.  Control box on wifi with solid green led.  RRC Nano still connects to RRC Radio box back home just fine.  All I have done is change location (and ISP) of Control box.  73 de Art, K4FWJ

24

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Re: Remote On/Off Antenna Connect/Disconnect for Lightning Protection

« on: 2015-07-27, 18:34:06 »

Yes, good work!  And it is your system that I first discovered many months ago while researching the lightning protection subject.  It gave me enthusiasm!  Later, when I got ready to do the work, I again searched but could not find your demos.  So, thank you for your post, now I have bookmarked.  Being able to quickly and easily connect/disconnect all antennas literally from anywhere is a fantastically helpful luxury.   73 de "Art" K4FWJ

25

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / requested info and then some...

« on: 2015-07-22, 20:02:19 »

Here's more detail of the particular installation shown in this thread: The Polyphasers aren't strictly necessary but in my case they were already in place. Plus, since they are well grounded, using them probably adds protection from a major strike that might arc over to the other side.  Lastly, the SO-259 side needs to be very securely mounted to prevent any movement.  The Polyphasers provide for that.

The Polyhasers were, by far, the most expensive item.  Technical Distributors, Inc. sells them to Hams for $62.84 delivered.

The next most expensive item is the 6" stroke 12V linear actuator which cost $46.95 on eBay, delivered.

The 12VDC power supply for the actuator cost $12.83 on eBay, delivered.

Drawer slides found at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc., were excessively long.  I found a pair 10" slides on Amazon for $13.04, delivered.

It was very important to pay strict attention to the fixed position of the Polyphaser SO-259 centers.  To that end a strong but thin plywood base plate was needed.  Reason for that: relative to the SO-259 centers, the drawer slide thickness "lifts" the base plate and creates a substantial mismatch.  To solve that problem a thin, 3/16" X 12" X 12" piece of 4-ply aircraft grade plywood was used.  Source: Sig Manufacturing website - $12.63 delivered.

The push-on PL-259 adapters were bought on eBay from W5SWL for $15.51 delivered for the four used.

The 1/8" thick by 1-1/2" wide aluminum angle can be bought in various lengths from a hardware store.

To make the thing able to be worked remotely an IP power switch is required.  Remoterig makes one but I already had another version (IP-9258) so I used it.  Also is used a small DPDT 12V relay.  When energized by the station's main 12V supply the relay sends correct 12V polarity to the actuator to make the coax and rotator cable connections.  With a smartphone and IP Power's free software, the IP switch is used to turn on the following:  Alinco 12V 32A main power supply (which signals the small relay to send actuator power and connect coax), 12V standby power to an RF amplifier, 12V power to an RS-232 conversion PCB (from DF9GR) installed in a HAM-IV control box (the 110vac for the box is provided by the IP switch), 12V power to a flourescent lamp directly above the operating position.  Even at home those things are turned on with my phone.  Then a K3 is manually turned on with its' front panel on/off button.  When operating remotely the K3 gets turned on with a K3/0-mini which is connected to the RRC-1258 box.  Also for remote operation is installed in a laptop running Win7 the following software: DXlab suite for logging, spots, etc, YO3DMU's "PstRotatorAz" for the beam position, and SPE's "Term_2K_232.exe" for amplifier control.

A Lantronix EDS2100 2-port server is needed to assist communication between PstRotatorAz and Term_2K_232.exe and their respective hardware (rotator/RF amp).  EDS2100s are rather pricey.  Found the one on eBay for $209.58, delivered.

Finally, before leaving home a webcam is placed in front of a P3 panadapter.  A corresponding app on a smartphone relays band condition information surprisingly well.

26

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Remote On/Off Antenna Connect/Disconnect for Lightning Protection

« on: 2015-07-21, 05:47:59 »

For anyone interested in such things this 40s video of a motorized antenna connect/disconnect has been uploaded for viewing.

27

General discussion forum / FIOS apparently blocking port 13001

« on: 2015-01-29, 03:45:55 »

K3/0-mini and Remoterig sold by Elecraft recommend using ports 13000, 13001, and 13002.  Recently, upon switching over to Tampa area Internet provider FIOS, I discovered remote RRC no longer had audio and would shut itself off after a few seconds.  Traced problem to the fact that Verizon is apparently blocking the recommended audio port, 13001.  Easy solution was to use port 13003 for audio.

28

General discussion forum / strange and aggravating problem involving CW speed

« on: 2015-01-20, 20:06:39 »

The system:  radio K3/100 w/P3 and RRC,  control K3/0-mini w/RRC, ancillary 2K-FA plus ERC/PstRotator controlled by Lantronix server.  Logging: DXLab.  All works extraordinarily well except for one thing.  When the radio RRC COM1 and COM2 ports are connected, respectively, to the PC's usb->serial converter and the P3's "PC RS232" port, the CW WPM field in WinWarbler fails to display CW speed as set by the K3.  The WinWarbler CW speed field remains blank.  If a CW speed is manually entered in WinWarbler's CW speed field it will instantly be accepted by the K3, both visually and at the key.  Described, therefore, is a one-way street where CW speed between WinWarbler and K3 only goes WinWarbler-->K3 when it should work both ways, WinWarbler<-->K3.  If the COM1 and COM2 cables are removed from the radio's RRC and connected together, CW speed is sent both ways as it should be.  What I have described doesn't bother me.  What, then, does bother me?  Strangely, without input from me the K3's speed will suddenly change to exactly 15 WPM.  I will adjust the speed to 25 WPM and sometime later, for no apparent reason the speed will be exactly 15 WPM.  That is what bothers me.  It can be slightly embarrassing.  The described problem only occurs when not operating by remote control.  However, I have no interest in leaving the radio's RRC disconnected in order to solve this relatively minor problem.  If someone can help me solve this I will be forever grateful.  73, Art