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Contemplating Remote Ops
I have been able to do some operating in the meantime. Β N3BBQ lent me his MFJ magnetic loop antenna and I've had that in the attic for a few months. Β When it works, it works pretty well, and I've had several QSOs on it but nothing spectacular by any means. Β Most of the time when I turn the radio on and tune around, either the noise level is too high to bother or I just don't hear a thing so my motivation to actually get on has been quite low.
I did toy with the idea of remote operation and actually setup RFCforb with KG6EYC out in CA and made a few contacts using his station. Β It worked surprisingly well but I don't want to tie up his station and it was quite clunky to operate from macOS which is my preferred OS for my radio stuff.
The system cost is not terrible at $99 per year plus a per-minute charge depending on the remote station you chose - beams and power cost more. Β If you don't plan on doing contesting from the remote stations, the cost is pretty nominal, although its hard to estimate how much operating I'd do. Β As a CW operator, I might have some difficulty enjoying operating without a real key. Β The default way to send CW with RHR is by keyboard input in the web form. Β I've tried this when I was practicing >40wpm with the QRQ guys but it really does not interest me very much. Β There is a way to incorporate an entire "real radio" feel to the RHR experience though, with an Elecraft K3/0 mini. Β The K3/0 even adds a local sidetone, RX audio and everything, just like you're sitting right at the remote radio. Β This seems like a very viable option for me, aside from the $700 price tag for the K3/0. Β Comparing to Elecraft's other offerings, such as the KX2, $700 seems a little steep for a faceplate and a USB controller. Β That said, its the only way to get that tight connection to the radio operation.
So what do you guys think? Β Should I spring for RHR and see how it goes? Β I really wish they'd offer a monthly option so I didn't have to do a whole year at a time, I don't like that much commitment.
Nine-Band Worked All States
Nearly twelve years ago, I wrote about completing Worked All States on six bands. I'd worked all states on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m. About three years ago, I finished up 30m, so now it was seven bands. However, finishing 17 and 12m seemed like it would take forever. I felt stalled out.
A couple of months ago, it occurred to me that I was only four band-states away from Ten-Band Worked All States. I needed Delaware on 17m, Kentucky on 12m, and Alaska and Hawaii on 6m.Β
The 6m states would have to wait -- I'd need very special conditions to work either state. But with the recent rise in sunspots, working those close-in states on 17 and 12m seemed do-able. The biggest problem would be operating the Gwinnett station. That was solved after I configured the RemoteRig devices to allow remote operation.Β
Indeed, the first afternoon operating remotely, I was able to work Kentucky on 12m and the LoTW confirmation came the next day. Finishing off 17m took a month longer.
It was surprising to me how calling CQ DEL AA4LR EM83 would gather so many responses from people who were not in Delaware. I worked at least one station in Delaware, but the LoTW confirmation was not forthcoming. Then the RemoteRig Control device no longer powered up.
I got lucky one Friday afternoon when I was in Gwinnett county and managed to get a legitimate answer to my CQ DEL message and a confirmation later that day. I'd done it. Worked All States on Nine Bands.Β
Now, I just have to wait for those special conditions in order to work Alaska and Hawaii on 6m....
Remote Operation - Level 1 (RemoteRig RRC-1258MkII)
RemoteRig RRC-1258MkII at Radio |
Last spring, I wrote about using RealVNC to remote control a computer in my shack allowing me to make FT8 contacts on 6m. I have made many contacts using that remote system, including several new countries and grids.
I want to be able to operate the Gwinnett county station remotely -- on any mode or band, as if I were sitting there. Doing this required several connections over the internet, and, being behind on other software projects, it seemed a daunting one.Β
A company called Microbit (www.remoterig.com)Β has a solution.Β The RRC-1258MkII is a pair of devices that establish multiple audio, serial and control links over the internet. One unit sits with the Radio, the other is called the Control. They are similar boxes, with subtle differences: the Control box as a CW speed knob, but the Radio box does not. These units work with a number of radios, including the Elecraft K3.Β
One operating mode is K3 Twin. In this mode, the Control K3 acts as a front-end to the remote Radio K3. All the knobs and buttons operate the remote radio. Indeed, Elecraft made special, stripped down, non-RF versions of the K3 for this purpose (K3/0, later the K3/0-mini).
This seemed perfect, as I owned two K3 radios. Obtaining the RRC-1258MkII was more difficult. Microbit is based in Sweden. Due to the pandemic and subsequent supply chain issues, they no longer sold them in the USA. I had to find them used.Β
I managed to find Kirby, VE6IV, who had a set surplus to his needs, and we agreed on a price. Then ensued a much longer negotiation on how to get the funds to Kirby in Canada. Eventually, we figured it out, and a week later, the devices were delivered.