WEBVTT 00:00:14.410 --> 00:00:17.149 Thanks for tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on 00:00:17.149 --> 00:00:35.070 the air shortly. Please stand by. Thanks for 00:00:35.070 --> 00:00:37.829 tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on the air shortly. 00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:50.280 Please stand by. This episode of HamTalk Live 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:54.100 is brought to you by Tower Electronics. For connectors, 00:00:54.399 --> 00:01:00.159 cables, and more, call 920 -435 -2973 or visit 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:05.739 pl -259 .com and by the HamStation. Get your 00:01:05.739 --> 00:01:11.599 new radio or antenna by calling 800 -729 -4373 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:49.870 or go to hamstation .com. yet another episode 00:01:49.870 --> 00:01:54.409 of HamTalk Live. It's episode number 35, setting 00:01:54.409 --> 00:01:59.650 up a remote station with Marty Sulaway, KC1CWF 00:01:59.650 --> 00:02:04.609 recorded live on Thursday, October 13th, 2016. 00:02:05.390 --> 00:02:08.830 I'm your host, Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Thanks for 00:02:08.830 --> 00:02:13.289 tuning in to this episode of HamTalk Live. Tonight 00:02:13.289 --> 00:02:17.110 we'll be joined by Marty Sulaway, KC1CWF to take 00:02:17.110 --> 00:02:21.620 your questions about remote operations and we'll 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:25.659 take your calls live in just a few minutes. Last 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:28.800 week Lou Malchik into our queue was here to talk 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.180 about how you can participate in School Club 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:35.400 Roundup whether you're just an operator or if 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.180 you work with a school. If you missed the show 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:40.419 you can listen anytime. All you got to do is 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:44.680 go to HamTalkLive .com or you can download it 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:48.780 from iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn. SoundCloud 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:53.500 or YouTube so I do want to remind you since Lou 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:56.460 was on last week talking about the School Club 00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:59.259 roundup. It's almost here schools will be on 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:05.020 all next week that starts Monday at 1300 UTC 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:11.120 and goes until Friday at 2359 So please get on 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.039 the air if you can and give some schools a call 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:20.069 the exchange is just the RST state or DXCC entity 00:03:20.069 --> 00:03:24.449 if you're not in the US or Canada and The class 00:03:24.449 --> 00:03:27.750 and the class is either individual club or school. 00:03:27.909 --> 00:03:31.069 So for example, if you're just an individual 00:03:31.069 --> 00:03:35.169 operator you'd send like five nine, Indiana individual 00:03:35.169 --> 00:03:40.169 and That's it. So that's of course if you live 00:03:40.169 --> 00:03:42.990 in Indiana and it's actually a five nine, although 00:03:42.990 --> 00:03:47.439 it's Always a 5 -9, right? Well anyway, most 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:51.039 schools will be on somewhere between 14 -250 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:58.840 and 14 -280 and 7 .225 to 7 .255 and probably 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:03.180 some PSK on 20 and 40 meters. So check those 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:05.939 areas for schools and then some other schools 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:09.580 will be running other modes, APRS, CW, who knows? 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:15.159 But some won't be able to operate in those recommended 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:18.199 frequencies but that's a good place to start 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:22.160 and you can also check the spots like the X Summit 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:26.259 for the location of some schools on the air and 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:29.220 if you are a school be sure to check out the 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:32.019 ARRL website for all the rules information and 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:36.470 try to get in on on the air Sometime next week 00:04:36.470 --> 00:04:39.910 now Marty you've run a little bit of school club 00:04:39.910 --> 00:04:43.509 roundup. What's your your impression here? You 00:04:43.509 --> 00:04:45.889 know, I I've actually had the privilege to kind 00:04:45.889 --> 00:04:48.850 of do school club roundup in I guess kind of 00:04:48.850 --> 00:04:51.569 the three big Ways you could do it, you know, 00:04:51.569 --> 00:04:53.730 you could be a single operator You could be operating 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:56.149 a school station or you could be just operating 00:04:56.149 --> 00:04:58.550 a club station. Those are the I believe the three 00:04:58.550 --> 00:05:02.149 big categories and I've actually operated all 00:05:02.149 --> 00:05:06.129 three and It's a lot of fun. It's a great chance 00:05:06.129 --> 00:05:09.810 to get on the air and talk to other kids. Obviously, 00:05:09.829 --> 00:05:13.750 I'm a teenager. I'm 14. And although there's 00:05:13.750 --> 00:05:17.550 plenty of children on HF, teenagers, young adults, 00:05:18.329 --> 00:05:21.069 being able to, you know, contest to some extent 00:05:21.069 --> 00:05:24.910 together with people your age is a lot of fun. 00:05:25.529 --> 00:05:28.050 And I'd encourage everybody to get on. Even if 00:05:28.050 --> 00:05:30.290 you're just like a club station, I've been... 00:05:30.089 --> 00:05:34.529 known to get on with a club call sign and actually 00:05:34.529 --> 00:05:39.230 hand out the club designator in my exchange. 00:05:39.810 --> 00:05:41.189 And a lot of people think I'm a school club and 00:05:41.189 --> 00:05:43.050 you can actually get some nice pileups. You'd 00:05:43.050 --> 00:05:46.569 be surprised. Although a lot of people don't 00:05:46.569 --> 00:05:50.550 think so, there's high QSL count hours rates 00:05:50.550 --> 00:05:54.410 to be had. It's a really fun event. It's great 00:05:54.410 --> 00:05:58.959 that the AWRL puts it on. Yeah, and that's also 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:03.500 sponsored by Lymark, and I hope to be on I've 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:07.600 fought all week Murphy has moved into school 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.100 Everything we've gone to do has just gone wrong, 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:14.379 but tomorrow The tower climbers coming back, 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:17.540 so we'll hopefully have an antenna back on and 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:20.680 and have everything ready to go for next week 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.100 Well, Marty's going to be back and he's going 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:26.300 to talk about remote operations. So if you have 00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:29.120 any questions about those, get those ready. We'll 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:31.660 do a little introduction and a short interview 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:35.019 and then I'll give you a chance to call in the 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:39.639 number that we will use to call in after the 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:44.939 interview part. That's 812 -NET -HAM -1. 812 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:51.800 -638 -4261. you can Skype us at HamTalk Live 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:56.439 and if you want to tweet us you can tweet a question 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:01.420 it's at HamTalk Live and then there's the post 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:06.649 a comment section on the website so you can Post 00:07:06.649 --> 00:07:09.750 something there as well, and it should pop up 00:07:09.750 --> 00:07:13.689 on the screen here. So I'll be back with KC1CWF. 00:07:13.730 --> 00:07:17.149 That's chicken with fries right after this from 00:07:17.149 --> 00:07:20.149 the ham station right here on ham talk live. 00:07:20.529 --> 00:07:22.850 This episode of ham talk live is brought to you 00:07:22.850 --> 00:07:26.310 by the ham station for 35 years. The ham station 00:07:26.310 --> 00:07:29.170 has brought new and used radios, antennas, accessories, 00:07:29.410 --> 00:07:31.490 and equipment to the amateur radio community. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:38.259 Give Jeff or Dan a call at 1 -800 -729 -4373 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:42.079 or order online at hamstation .com. Hamstation 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.480 carries all the major brands like Icom, Yezu, 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.680 and Kenwood. Shop from a wide selection of radio 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.120 scanners, MFGA accessories, HileSound products, 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:54.959 Mirage and Ameritron amplifiers, Cushcraft antennas, 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.279 and more. Easy online shopping and fast shipping 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:02.339 are waiting for you at hamstation .com. or call 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:09.000 1 -800 -729 -4373. The Ham Station, proud to 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.660 sponsor this episode of Ham Talk Live. Out of 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:15.899 all of the Ham radio podcasts in the world, this 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:18.600 is definitely one of them. You are listening 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:35.750 to Ham Talk Live with Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Welcome 00:08:35.750 --> 00:08:38.710 back to HamTalk Live. The HamStation has you 00:08:38.710 --> 00:08:42.070 covered for both new and used equipment. Give 00:08:42.070 --> 00:08:47.110 Dan or Jeff a call at 800 -729 -4373 or go to 00:08:47.110 --> 00:08:49.830 hamstation .com and tell them you heard it right 00:08:49.830 --> 00:08:53.690 here on HamTalk Live. HamTalk Live is on the 00:08:53.690 --> 00:08:56.529 air every Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern time 00:08:56.529 --> 00:08:59.629 at hamtalklive .com. If you missed the show, 00:08:59.669 --> 00:09:03.450 check out the archive on hamtalklive .com or 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.779 Check out one of those, uh, podcasting thingies. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:11.259 They, they, they have that. Yes. Pod catchers. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:16.340 Marty Sulaway KC one C W F or as we know him 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:20.600 best chicken with fries is 14 years old. He became 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:25.279 a ham at age 12 in November of 2014. Four months 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.759 later, he upgraded to general and now has his 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:31.549 extra. Marty enjoys tinkering, rag chewing and 00:09:31.549 --> 00:09:35.250 contesting. He likes building his antennas and 00:09:35.250 --> 00:09:38.610 likes to help people get on HF and mentor new 00:09:38.610 --> 00:09:41.629 hams. Marty is the current and founding president 00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:44.570 of the Eastern Massachusetts Contesting Club. 00:09:45.129 --> 00:09:48.009 The club's goal is to promote radio sport contesting 00:09:48.009 --> 00:09:52.409 among kids in Eastern Massachusetts. And Marty 00:09:52.409 --> 00:09:54.870 spoke at the Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum last 00:09:54.870 --> 00:09:59.460 year and often contributes to various ham radio 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:04.200 podcasts so marty officially welcome to ham talk 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.519 live thanks neil it's great to be here i've known 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.340 you for a while and it's it's an honor to be 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:11.940 on your show yeah it's been nice to have you 00:10:11.940 --> 00:10:16.700 on here so so first of all you know the the the 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:20.840 phonetics for your call kc1cwf you use the chicken 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:25.240 with fries thing so so i gotta ask you just just 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:28.779 the first off Before we get started on this remote 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:32.919 ops thing, who has the best chicken with fries? 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.899 You know, there's only one place you can get 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:38.240 amazing chicken with fries. And that is my house. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:40.639 My, my, my parents make the best chicken with 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:45.899 fries. You gotta plug my mom. So, so, so is mom 00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:48.639 going to invite me over if I go to Boston? Ship 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.100 up to Boston and we will figure that out. And 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:55.419 we'll figure that out. Okay. So, so, so no KFC 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:58.840 versus Chick -fil -A or no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:02.179 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:03.019 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:03.820 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:05.480 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.000 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.039 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:07.700 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:18.509 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, We may 00:11:18.509 --> 00:11:22.690 hear from the chicken every once in a while Throughout 00:11:22.690 --> 00:11:25.669 the show. So yeah, there we go. All right, okay 00:11:25.669 --> 00:11:33.330 enough of the Chocularity Tell me about remotes. 00:11:33.330 --> 00:11:37.509 Okay, what hardware and software do you need 00:11:37.509 --> 00:11:42.370 if you want to start and Set up your own remote 00:11:42.370 --> 00:11:46.590 station That is a loaded question my friend isn't 00:11:46.590 --> 00:11:51.559 it? Yes. So I guess the first thing, the first 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:53.779 thing to kind of put a disclaimer in front of 00:11:53.779 --> 00:11:57.240 this all is there's a thousand different ways 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:59.299 you can remote your station. Primarily tonight 00:11:59.299 --> 00:12:01.740 I'm talking about, where most of my experience 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:05.059 comes from is operating stations on the HF bands. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:09.259 And I think before you can even say what hardware 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.659 do I need, what software I need, you really need 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:14.379 to say what do I want to do with this remote 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:17.620 station. Do I want to be set up to do full, high 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:21.080 -power, SO2R remote contesting, single opt two 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:24.779 radios? Do I want to just be able to play on 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:31.299 PSK on 20 meters, low power? I don't want to 00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:34.820 do CW or phone. Maybe I only have one antenna. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:37.259 You know, there's a lot of different levels of 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.679 complexity. And it's also a lot about how much 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:43.700 do you want to spend? And I'll tell you, for 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:46.440 the longest time, over a year actually, my remote 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.059 station cost me probably about $40, and I'll 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:53.039 explain how I did that in a second. But I think 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:55.159 that the first question is, how much do you want 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.639 to spend? What do you already own? Because depending 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.539 on what you own, there's a number of routes you 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:08.879 can go. And also, why? Am I buying this to goof 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:12.149 off? Am I buying? It's really... How much money 00:13:12.149 --> 00:13:14.549 am I? You get what you pay for, kind of, with 00:13:14.549 --> 00:13:18.149 remotes. So, I guess what I'd call the free route, 00:13:18.230 --> 00:13:20.490 although it isn't really free, what I did for 00:13:20.490 --> 00:13:23.610 the longest time is I just had my radio with 00:13:23.610 --> 00:13:25.929 the logging software open and I had rig control 00:13:25.929 --> 00:13:27.610 connected up so, you know, you can change the 00:13:27.610 --> 00:13:30.809 frequency and whatnot. And then I just used Skype, 00:13:31.429 --> 00:13:34.850 like I'm talking to you on right now, to handle 00:13:34.850 --> 00:13:38.490 the sideband audio. And I used Vox on the radio, 00:13:38.529 --> 00:13:40.870 so when my audio came from the other side on 00:13:40.870 --> 00:13:43.289 Skype, it would key up the radio. And I'd use 00:13:43.289 --> 00:13:47.129 a piece of software called TeamViewer. TeamViewer, 00:13:47.230 --> 00:13:49.269 which is remote desktop software. It allows me 00:13:49.269 --> 00:13:51.750 to see a desktop somewhere else in the world 00:13:51.750 --> 00:13:53.809 to connect up to my computer to control the rig 00:13:53.809 --> 00:13:57.049 control and initiate the Skype calls and whatnot. 00:13:57.450 --> 00:14:02.070 And then I just bought a cheap relay board off 00:14:02.070 --> 00:14:05.960 of eBay. You can find them... online. I used 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:10.720 one by a company called SaneSmart. And I just, 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.659 I had a remote coax switch sitting around, so 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:15.879 I hooked that up to a bunch of relays, and I 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:19.139 just switched 12 volts to turn on, to switch 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:21.899 to each antenna. And you know, I found a board 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:24.120 on the internet, wrote a little bit of code, 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:27.899 I used Python. And if anybody wants any of this 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:30.340 software stuff, all these boards are cheap, you 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.919 know, 30 bucks. If you want software to go with 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:37.480 it, shoot me an email. uh, KC1CWF at KC1CWF .us. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:42.039 That's where, uh, you find, uh, my contact. Uh, 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.320 that's my email. Um, that's just one way out. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.200 You can do it, but there's a thousand ways. I 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.419 guess this is kind of a long answer, but, um... 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:52.440 Yeah. So, so that, that's the, the, the DIY round. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.340 That's the cheap way. Oh, yes. But you don't, 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:56.159 you know, I'm cheap, but you don't have to be 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.960 cheap. Right. So let's, so let's talk a minute 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.659 about the other way around. What? Shall we talk 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.649 about the very high end? Plug and play. Plug 00:15:04.649 --> 00:15:07.110 and play. Plug and play. Well, plug and play 00:15:07.110 --> 00:15:09.710 is going to cost you some money. But I guess, 00:15:10.070 --> 00:15:13.970 well, how about there's no plug, it's just play. 00:15:14.409 --> 00:15:17.029 If you want to play, you don't even care about 00:15:17.029 --> 00:15:19.769 who's station you're using. You can browse over 00:15:19.769 --> 00:15:23.289 to remotehamradio .com, which is a play -to -pay 00:15:23.289 --> 00:15:28.049 website run by W2RE and WW2DX from Hamza, New 00:15:28.049 --> 00:15:31.899 York. you pay $99 a year at their base price 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:34.539 and then around 50 cents a minute and They have 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.740 like 20 stations all over the US and it's first 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:39.500 come first serve it's just an internet client 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:45.539 and you can Control stations CW phone, you know 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:48.480 you can do it all that's the play if you that's 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.620 just the pay and you play There's no plug. Just 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:54.740 just play if you want to say set up your own 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.559 Station at home. I think the top -of -the -line 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:00.360 product is probably the Ella craft you got the 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:03.019 Ella craft system Which is you buy an Ella craft 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:06.879 k3. It's a high quality contest radio typically 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:11.019 and then Ella craft sells another radio called 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:14.220 the Ella craft k3 zero mini Which is basically 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:18.500 the front panel of an Ella craft k3 So it's the 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.639 same. It's this it looks identical. There's just 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.470 no RF deck Then there's a company called remote 00:16:24.470 --> 00:16:27.830 rig which sells or what's actually sold by Ellicraft 00:16:27.830 --> 00:16:30.490 that sells up two boxes and you just plug an 00:16:30.490 --> 00:16:33.009 Ethernet cable into one side of the box and you 00:16:33.009 --> 00:16:35.929 plug Your radio into the other side of the box 00:16:35.929 --> 00:16:38.870 and that sits at your home station And then you 00:16:38.870 --> 00:16:41.090 have this little other remote remote box that 00:16:41.090 --> 00:16:44.289 looks identical that plugs into that k30 mini 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:46.480 Anywhere in the world and you have the front 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.940 panel of your radio just like you're sitting 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:50.000 in front of your radio You'd never know your 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.580 remote. That's probably the high -end, but that'll 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:53.860 set you back a few thousand bucks And that just 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:56.139 takes care of rig control. You know still rotate 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:59.059 your rotors and switch your antennas And that 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.419 you know there's pre -made products to that green 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:04.440 Henry and engineering make some stuff to do that 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:06.779 There's there's a thousand ways to go, but I'd 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:09.819 probably classify that as the high -end Okay, 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:13.000 so let's let's go for the middle. Let's go something 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:17.359 that I want it Do this at my home station, so 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.900 I'm not just gonna rent time on somebody else's 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:24.059 but You know I just want to go kind of plug and 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:27.980 play but use the rig I've already got Well, it 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:31.240 depends what sort of radio you have say you have 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:34.160 an icon radio icon makes a piece of software 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:39.960 called RSBA 1 RSBA 1 I'm actually using it right 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:43.630 now for my remote $99 You just run the software 00:17:43.630 --> 00:17:45.349 on a computer at home that's plugged into your 00:17:45.349 --> 00:17:50.349 radio. It'll take care of all the radio communication, 00:17:50.690 --> 00:17:54.789 all the audio passed through. And if you have 00:17:54.789 --> 00:17:58.250 a fancy newer radio that has the spectrum scope 00:17:58.250 --> 00:18:01.230 built into an ICOM radio, it'll even pass that 00:18:01.230 --> 00:18:05.029 over the remote. That's probably the high level, 00:18:05.329 --> 00:18:08.970 entry level. You can even get like a knob that'll 00:18:08.970 --> 00:18:10.910 plug in on your remote computer so you can feel 00:18:10.910 --> 00:18:13.529 like you're spinning the VFO. That's for ICOM. 00:18:13.930 --> 00:18:16.609 There's a piece of software called Remote Hams 00:18:16.609 --> 00:18:21.890 that can kind of do something similar also. And 00:18:21.890 --> 00:18:23.910 that piece of software, A, is remote control 00:18:23.910 --> 00:18:28.410 software. You run a server at your shack and 00:18:28.410 --> 00:18:30.910 then you run a client in the field on another 00:18:30.910 --> 00:18:34.109 computer that you want to control your home radio 00:18:34.109 --> 00:18:36.660 with. The the yellow craft solution does not 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:41.119 require a computer all these other ones do And 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:44.799 and with that you can you can remote your Remote 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:48.059 your station, but all actually remote hams has 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:50.259 a network of remote stations although all over 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:52.799 the world You can actually ask to use other people's 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:59.079 stations, which is kind of cool Murphy's been 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:04.799 following me all week. I mean, oh, yes We got 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:09.119 the we got the stepper back from Being rebuilt 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.779 and you didn't even we got it. Yeah, and we got 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:14.259 we didn't break it we got it all put back together 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:18.160 and then The rotor would only turn right and 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:20.799 wouldn't turn left brand -new rotor out of the 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:24.779 box So I had to send that back. So then the tower 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:28.549 climber comes up the mass pipe won't fit And 00:19:28.549 --> 00:19:31.869 so now we got a change or tower configuration 00:19:31.869 --> 00:19:34.710 around and it's like everything. And of course 00:19:34.710 --> 00:19:36.990 it's the week before school club roundup. And 00:19:36.990 --> 00:19:42.069 so, yeah, so everything that I've gone to do, 00:19:42.549 --> 00:19:45.890 everything that I've gone to do in the last week. 00:19:46.269 --> 00:19:48.970 Murphy's been there. Murphy's been there. He's 00:19:48.970 --> 00:19:52.109 following me. So what comes to remotes too? Yes 00:19:52.109 --> 00:19:55.250 What happens when Murphy shows up to remotes 00:19:55.250 --> 00:19:59.470 and something goes wrong and you're not there? 00:19:59.990 --> 00:20:02.509 The best thing to do if you're using say computer 00:20:02.509 --> 00:20:04.769 software make sure while your computer set up 00:20:04.769 --> 00:20:09.809 to Power off on a power on after the loss of 00:20:09.809 --> 00:20:14.430 power That's one thing you can buy remotely controlled 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:20.279 power, power, power, what's the word, surge protectors, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:23.400 the IP surge protectors that you can power cycle 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:26.000 over the internet, to power cycle all your gear. 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:28.079 We're not even talking about amplifiers yet, 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:31.039 that's a whole other subject. That's one thing 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.720 to do. We've had RFI issues where I have a friend, 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:38.619 K2LE, who lives in New York City and has a remote 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:40.440 station in Vermont, and oh, there's plenty of 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.460 times when you're setting up a big remote station, 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.579 you will have to drive there. And that's just 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.380 kind of a reality until you get the bugs out. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.960 But being able to power cycle everything helps. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:54.180 You got to work out the bugs. Yeah, I think I 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:57.680 could even use that at the repeater site because 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.240 occasionally we got to power cycle some stuff 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:06.259 there. So how do you count something during a 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:10.099 contest or for some award, like maybe it's worked 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:14.240 all states or something? The XCC. How do you 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:17.140 count that if you log into somebody's remote 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:21.859 station out in Arizona? Do you count it as if 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:24.319 you're in Arizona? Do you count it as if you're 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.200 in Boston? How do you count that in a contest? 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:30.539 So here's the one thing about remote operation. 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:33.460 It is great and it can be used so ethically. 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:36.099 And there's a lot of people who don't use remote 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:39.079 stations who believe there's no way to use them 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:42.500 ethically. As kind of something that's new and 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.599 upcoming to Ham Radio, it's our responsibility 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:46.779 to make sure we're using them as ethically as 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:49.099 possible. Not to, you know, kind of send other 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:52.140 people away from remote operation. So yes, you 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:56.339 always have to be ethical. If I'm using a station 00:21:56.339 --> 00:22:00.900 in California, I'll make sure I'm KC1CWF slash 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:04.039 6, for example. Always say yes, I'm actually 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:07.299 in California. For awards, I always keep that 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:14.200 stuff separate. There's been a lot of stuff recently 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:17.480 as far as people using remote stations as ears 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:21.420 around the world. Maybe you're loud on 160, but 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:25.099 you can't hear for anything. Maybe you'll just, 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:28.960 you know, you think it's okay to tune on to some 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:31.279 quiet site somewhere else in the world, even 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:35.250 though you're transmitting from home. If it wasn't 00:22:35.250 --> 00:22:37.910 2A, you didn't make the cue. And I'd argue that 00:22:37.910 --> 00:22:41.470 is unethical. So be ethical about your operation, 00:22:43.170 --> 00:22:47.269 because it's very important to do that. There's 00:22:47.269 --> 00:22:49.390 a lot of people watching you and scrutinizing 00:22:49.390 --> 00:22:52.930 you. And as a hobby, we really have to self -regulate. 00:22:53.009 --> 00:22:56.309 So it's very important to operate your station 00:22:56.309 --> 00:22:58.930 ethically. OK. So you're going to count it as 00:22:58.930 --> 00:23:03.309 the location of the transmitter. That's where 00:23:03.309 --> 00:23:06.269 you're gonna count. Yes. Yes, you always count 00:23:06.269 --> 00:23:08.589 the location of the transmitter But you should 00:23:08.589 --> 00:23:10.970 be receiving at the same place. You're transmitted. 00:23:11.490 --> 00:23:15.829 That's true sure Same thing goes for DXC credit 00:23:15.829 --> 00:23:19.029 if you're within whatever the rules say whatever 00:23:19.029 --> 00:23:21.390 even if you're remote if you're within the radius 00:23:21.390 --> 00:23:23.690 That's acceptable. It's acceptable. If you're 00:23:23.690 --> 00:23:27.710 not it's not it's pretty simple All right, very 00:23:27.710 --> 00:23:30.819 good. Well, we've got that that cleared up. Well 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:33.960 we're going to take time out here to pay some 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:36.819 of the bills but we're going to come back and 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:39.759 then we're going to take your calls for Marty 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:43.700 and you can ask questions about remote operations 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:46.220 right after this message from Tower Electronics 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:49.690 right here on HamTalk Live. This episode of HamTalk 00:23:49.690 --> 00:23:52.250 Live is brought to you by Tower Electronics. 00:23:52.569 --> 00:23:54.869 Tower Electronics has been the Ham's dime store 00:23:54.869 --> 00:23:58.529 since 1978, bringing connectors, antennas, cables, 00:23:58.609 --> 00:24:01.210 and other parts to the world. Scott and Jill 00:24:01.210 --> 00:24:03.329 travel the country bringing their store to you 00:24:03.329 --> 00:24:06.430 at HamFest, but you can also order online at 00:24:06.430 --> 00:24:16.039 pl -259 .com or by calling 920 -435 -2973. Stock 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:19.279 up on those supplies like PL259 and end connectors, 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:22.740 audio cables, mobile antennas, and hamsticks. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.619 Their silver plated end connectors are even in 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:28.420 use on the International Space Station. Tower 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:32.200 Electronics is a dealer for MFJ, Comet, Daiwa, 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:35.920 OPEC, Workman, and HamPro technologies. Tower 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:40.460 Electronics online at pl -259 .com, proud to 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:51.000 sponsor this episode of HamTalk Live. HamTalk 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:57.140 Live with Neil Rapp. Join the conversation. Call 00:24:57.140 --> 00:25:00.500 us on voice with Skype at HamTalk Live or give 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:05.759 us a call at 812 -NET -HAM -1. That's 812 -638 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:12.089 -4261. Now here's more HamTalk Live. And we'd 00:25:12.089 --> 00:25:14.630 like to thank Scott and Jill at Tower Electronics 00:25:14.630 --> 00:25:17.230 for sponsoring the show once again tonight to 00:25:17.230 --> 00:25:19.829 help bring you HamTalk Live. They will be at 00:25:19.829 --> 00:25:23.390 the Greenville, Tennessee HamFest. That's coming 00:25:23.390 --> 00:25:28.289 up on Saturday, and then they'll be in Chattanooga, 00:25:28.470 --> 00:25:33.069 Tennessee on October 21st and the 22nd, or you 00:25:33.069 --> 00:25:40.220 can call them 920 -435 -2973. Or, as I had to 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:42.559 do again this week, right after I got my order 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:50.799 I had to order more stuff. So, I went to PL -259 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:56.269 .com and got some more. Stuff because Murphy 00:25:56.269 --> 00:25:59.210 keeps following me everywhere So make sure you 00:25:59.210 --> 00:26:01.369 tell them you heard it on ham talk live and make 00:26:01.369 --> 00:26:04.009 sure you listen to ham talk live every Thursday 00:26:04.009 --> 00:26:07.670 night at 9 p .m Eastern live right here on ham 00:26:07.670 --> 00:26:11.569 talk live comm and Then also you can check out 00:26:11.569 --> 00:26:15.130 our Facebook page and our Twitter feed Just search 00:26:15.130 --> 00:26:18.710 for ham talk live. You'll you'll find this Well, 00:26:18.710 --> 00:26:23.069 it's time for your call. So if you have a question 00:26:23.069 --> 00:26:30.470 for Marty call 812 -NET -HAM -1 that's 812 -638 00:26:30.470 --> 00:26:35.569 -4261 or you can Skype your question at HamTalk 00:26:35.569 --> 00:26:39.630 Live or you can tweet at HamTalk Live or you 00:26:39.630 --> 00:26:42.869 can even post in the comments on hamtalklive 00:26:42.869 --> 00:26:49.000 .com and ask away your questions about remote 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.200 operations whether it's setting up your own or 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:59.079 using one of the many that are online and Marty 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:03.559 will will share his knowledge with you. So I 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:06.720 Think I hear that the chicken again. I think 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:12.059 I hear that Marty Yeah, yeah, I think it's there 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:15.220 so chicken with fries is here give him a call 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:23.440 812 net ham one is the number so so while we're 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:30.700 waiting there's some stations that um do rent 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:34.480 out time on the remotes how how do they do that 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:37.980 and and and what's the what's the best way to 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:42.460 uh to make sure you're you're getting the one 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:49.630 that's uh That's not trying to rip you off Well, 00:27:49.630 --> 00:27:52.210 I haven't actually heard of anybody getting ripped 00:27:52.210 --> 00:27:58.609 off by Hams in the u .s. And Europe you know 00:27:58.609 --> 00:27:59.950 there's some other things going on with their 00:27:59.950 --> 00:28:02.230 modes, but I think mainly focusing on the u .s. 00:28:02.230 --> 00:28:05.190 I think it's you know find a station Maybe find 00:28:05.190 --> 00:28:07.029 a cluster of stations. That's the great thing 00:28:07.029 --> 00:28:09.009 about remote ham radio comm they have stations 00:28:09.009 --> 00:28:11.109 all over the world for like a thousand bucks 00:28:11.109 --> 00:28:14.529 a year you can like use that you Amazing stuff 00:28:14.529 --> 00:28:16.930 actually they have a station in Haiti hotel hotel 00:28:16.930 --> 00:28:19.970 to alpha alpha. I checked that out Oh, and if 00:28:19.970 --> 00:28:23.890 you're a kid if you're a teen remote ham radio 00:28:23.890 --> 00:28:26.910 has a program where you can actually apply to 00:28:26.910 --> 00:28:29.329 Get used to their stations for a year if so you 00:28:29.329 --> 00:28:32.069 can't you got a lot of noise or you're an HOA 00:28:32.069 --> 00:28:35.670 That's pretty cool. There's some people that 00:28:35.670 --> 00:28:37.890 will just sell you their stations. I know one 00:28:38.109 --> 00:28:39.990 For a few hundred dollars a year, you can have 00:28:39.990 --> 00:28:44.789 access to W7RN in Nevada. Get this. They have 00:28:44.789 --> 00:28:49.509 an 80 meter beam. An 80 meter beam? 80 meter 00:28:49.509 --> 00:28:53.269 beam. Wow. At one point in time, they had stacked 00:28:53.269 --> 00:28:57.190 80 meter beams. The whole tower rotates. Imagine 00:28:57.190 --> 00:29:00.380 that. Yeah, you have to have a rotating tower 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:03.039 for that kind of load. Wow, that's huge. You 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.500 know, for only a few hundred dollars a year, 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:07.779 you can access the station. I believe that station, 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:10.900 I believe they have a five -stack of 20 -meter 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:14.440 Yagis, seven -element Yagis, something like that. 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:21.380 It's incredible stuff. What else? There's a lot 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:23.779 of stations around the US. It's new technology. 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:26.160 People are just figuring it out. But this is 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:30.079 actually really a great time, I think, if you 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.720 just want to get going. Obviously, as your station 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:37.000 gets bigger, there's more cost involved. Remoting 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:42.019 things like amplifiers and rotating towers and 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:45.819 stack matches or big stacks, that can get complex 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:49.500 and complicated. And it's really, you can be 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:52.319 an engineer to do this sort of stuff. It's not 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:57.779 easy. Now I didn't this is this is unscripted 00:29:57.779 --> 00:30:02.380 here by the way I didn't didn't mention this 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:06.259 but one of the things that we've Caught on to 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:09.619 after going to contest University and kind of 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:15.619 figuring out a few things is a Lot of times we'll 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:19.599 do web SDR and just kind of listen to make sure 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:23.059 we're getting out So we're not remote transmitting 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:27.059 But we'll remote receive just to just to see 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:29.099 if we're getting a signal into that part of the 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:32.759 country and and that's and that's free Yeah, 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:36.059 that's a good way to check propagation. But remember 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:38.940 you can use that to check propagation, but I'd 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:41.420 be careful I wouldn't be using that to pull weak 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:44.539 call signs out of the model. Oh sure sure sure 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:48.960 So yeah Um, anything else on the ethics front 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:52.859 you wanted to, uh, to talk about because that's, 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:57.019 you know, there's a whole new thing. Yeah. And 00:30:57.019 --> 00:31:00.960 I think it's as more people get on remote, there's 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.940 going to be more and more, you know, ethical 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:06.279 standards set, but the important thing is play 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:09.980 by the rules. Um, typically, you know, if you're, 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:12.400 if you're reading the rules, most contests, um, 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:14.480 don't have any special remote categories. There's 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:17.339 no need for that. Just think about you know what 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:20.700 on your two meter radio You have maybe you have 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:23.980 a separated front plate You know imagine yours 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:26.660 using a long cord to get to your front plate 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:30.579 be it over the internet or not and If you had 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:33.099 an extended front plate in your radio was in 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:35.619 California And you were keying up the repeater 00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:38.440 in California, and you were sitting in New England 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:40.460 you wouldn't say oh There's some magical two 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:43.059 meter opening. I'm magically getting into this 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:45.500 repeater in California, so see you know same 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:50.500 thing operate ethically don't lie follow the 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:55.480 rules it's pretty simple 812 net ham one is the 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:58.640 phone number for marty kc1 chicken with fries 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:02.960 talking about remote operations tonight 812 net 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:07.180 ham one or you can tweet us at ham talk live 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:12.859 now While again while we're waiting here if if 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:17.619 somebody has a question, please chime in but 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:23.460 This is especially like the amplifiers and the 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:26.500 rotating towers and everything this is putting 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:31.420 some of your equipment at risk, so What are what 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:33.880 are the risks of like, you know, you overdrive 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:37.420 the amp and you know, there's Nobody there to 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:41.160 do that or you know, I don't I don't think there's 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:43.660 any more risk in over driving your amp remotely 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:47.619 There is at home, but there's nobody there to 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:50.859 watch it if it's yours Well, typically you'll 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:53.740 have remote metering so you can see how much 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:57.250 power you're driving over the remote I mean, 00:32:57.349 --> 00:32:59.809 you're probably using some sort of automatic 00:32:59.809 --> 00:33:03.589 tune amplifier, or maybe an amplifier for each 00:33:03.589 --> 00:33:06.309 band of your remote, so you can change bands, 00:33:06.930 --> 00:33:08.690 and typically those things have some sort of 00:33:08.690 --> 00:33:11.089 protection in them, so that often saves you some 00:33:11.089 --> 00:33:14.730 trouble. And the antennas, if the antenna falls 00:33:14.730 --> 00:33:18.109 down and they keep turning it? If the antenna, 00:33:18.309 --> 00:33:21.670 say that again? If the antenna falls down, but 00:33:21.670 --> 00:33:25.880 they keep turning it. So you're saying like the 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:29.319 antenna falls off the tower, right? And the rotator 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.759 keeps spinning and they keep yeah, they keep 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:35.720 turning the rotator Well, couldn't that happen 00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:38.400 at home too? Well, yeah, it could happen at home, 00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:42.920 but then you'd notice it. Can you see? Maybe 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:45.380 you could put a webcam up. Yeah, we do that at 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:48.019 a lot of stations We put up webcams looking at 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:50.019 the front panels of radios and out the window, 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:53.720 but I think that's just as Applicable in real 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:55.640 life. If you look at most contest stations, you 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:58.339 cannot see the towers from the operating chair 00:33:58.339 --> 00:34:00.579 I know I can't see my antennas from my chair 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:04.160 Well, yeah, but I mean they're they're close 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:07.400 by so but I wouldn't know anymore if I was remote 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:10.159 or if I was in the basement, you know Yeah, so 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:14.500 so for example, I know somebody who? Who has 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:18.579 a remote station here in Indiana? Yep, but lives 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:23.929 out on the West Coast And so it's not like he 00:34:23.929 --> 00:34:27.289 can just, you know, drive down the street and 00:34:27.289 --> 00:34:31.170 drive on over if something, if something happens. 00:34:31.530 --> 00:34:36.309 So, so I'm just wondering what kinds of safeguards 00:34:36.309 --> 00:34:39.170 and you're mentioning some of these, what kind 00:34:39.170 --> 00:34:41.670 of safeguards can you do to make sure that things 00:34:41.670 --> 00:34:44.730 are rotators? Oftentimes things like automatic 00:34:44.730 --> 00:34:46.489 band switching on your antennas, you're always 00:34:46.489 --> 00:34:48.909 transmitting it to the right antenna. Things 00:34:48.909 --> 00:34:51.889 like that, but you know I think rotator stops 00:34:51.889 --> 00:34:56.750 you'd have anyways It's common sense operation 00:34:56.750 --> 00:34:59.289 anything physical things will fail you can only 00:34:59.289 --> 00:35:01.329 build your antenna so tough something will eventually 00:35:01.329 --> 00:35:03.710 break Just like they would at home, and you will 00:35:03.710 --> 00:35:07.250 have to deal with that. That's the reality 812 00:35:07.250 --> 00:35:10.389 net ham one is the phone number eight one two 00:35:10.389 --> 00:35:14.550 six three eight four two six one if you have 00:35:14.829 --> 00:35:18.750 Some questions about remote operation was with 00:35:18.750 --> 00:35:21.889 Marty. We've got a few minutes left here. So 00:35:21.889 --> 00:35:25.190 give us a call or a tweet or something and we'll 00:35:25.190 --> 00:35:27.530 tweet out questions on. Yeah. You can tweet at 00:35:27.530 --> 00:35:32.670 us at ham talk live. That will work as well. 00:35:34.269 --> 00:35:39.789 So, so you're doing this from your remote all 00:35:39.789 --> 00:35:43.469 over the world. What? Yeah. So, so what, so what 00:35:43.469 --> 00:35:47.800 do you like now that you've got the the ICOM 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:54.380 7300 and you've got that ability to do the ICOM 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:56.619 software and remote that and then you've got 00:35:56.619 --> 00:36:01.059 the stuff that you put together and and you you 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:05.760 know design yourself right so what do you like 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:09.860 about your setup and then what do you like about 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:15.829 the the ICOM thing Well, the ICOM setup is my 00:36:15.829 --> 00:36:19.289 main setup right now. And to be honest, it works 00:36:19.289 --> 00:36:22.289 great. Audio is crystal clear. There's very little 00:36:22.289 --> 00:36:24.650 latency. You know, I can use a remote knob if 00:36:24.650 --> 00:36:27.090 I wanted to. And it's lightweight. You know, 00:36:27.429 --> 00:36:30.789 the positive and the negative of the Ellicraft 00:36:30.789 --> 00:36:34.110 system, which is kind of probably the most popular 00:36:34.110 --> 00:36:36.349 for high -end remotes, you know, that's what 00:36:36.349 --> 00:36:40.019 W7RN uses, for example. You have to carry it 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.760 somewhere. If you're already bringing your laptop, 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:44.739 you can just fire up the ICOM software and off 00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:50.480 you go That's that's the plus yeah, I mean that 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:54.539 sounds like a An easy way to get the job done 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:58.420 and then you know for I don't use the ICOM software 00:36:58.420 --> 00:37:02.039 when I'm doing things like PSK I'll just run 00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:04.320 FL digi over the remote and you'd never know 00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:06.420 what's remote because you're just screen sharing, 00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:08.980 you know No different than you'd be if you're 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:10.719 sitting in front of the radio clicking buds on 00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:15.000 a computer screen now is there anything in your 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:21.119 Your cheap homemade setup That you've been able 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:29.199 to do yourself that You can't do on one of these 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:34.760 High package software. Yeah No, but I you know 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:40.230 as you automate your station more and more you 00:37:40.230 --> 00:37:42.530 lose a little bit of manual control that's nice 00:37:42.530 --> 00:37:46.949 to have for example um maybe i want to you know 00:37:46.949 --> 00:37:51.750 as i'm i want to listen i i don't have a i don't 00:37:51.750 --> 00:37:54.269 ever receive an antenna port on my radio something 00:37:54.269 --> 00:37:57.269 happens with lower cost radios but maybe i want 00:37:57.269 --> 00:37:59.469 to switch back and forth while i'm receiving 00:37:59.469 --> 00:38:02.449 after my cq is between a 80 meter vertical which 00:38:02.449 --> 00:38:04.849 is quieter than say my 40 meter vertical on 80 00:38:04.849 --> 00:38:11.719 meters You have that control with a manual setup 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:13.659 that you programmed yourself as opposed to something 00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:15.679 that's maybe more automated. All this can be 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:20.739 set up, it's just a matter of complexity. What 00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:23.360 you pay for is what you get, I think, with these 00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:25.119 things. But if you're good at building it yourself, 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:29.039 you can build it. But I will say the Green Heron 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:31.260 Engineering makes some great polished products. 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:36.679 Same with Ellicraft. What they make works. You 00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:42.500 know the L of the icon software works It's you 00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:47.679 when you pay it works yeah now The one time I 00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:49.719 was thinking about doing this I thought you know 00:38:49.719 --> 00:38:53.659 yeah if we did a remote at school so Because 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:56.320 we're up in the penthouse and and so the students 00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:59.550 can't always you know get up there and and they 00:38:59.550 --> 00:39:01.329 can't do it you know in the evenings from home 00:39:01.329 --> 00:39:04.090 or whatever so we actually set up a repeater 00:39:04.090 --> 00:39:06.369 and had a repeater controller that would do remote 00:39:06.369 --> 00:39:10.409 base and so we were going to try to do that with 00:39:10.409 --> 00:39:13.590 remote base but then i got to thinking about 00:39:13.590 --> 00:39:15.789 some of these things i asked you about which 00:39:15.789 --> 00:39:21.440 was what do you do if you know Here's the other 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:24.679 thing. Or turning the antenna or switching the 00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:28.280 antenna or doing something. I gotta point this 00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:30.960 out. You gotta make sure you have some sort of 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:33.659 way that your radio will not get stuck in transmit. 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:37.019 Yeah. On all the setups I put in we always make 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:39.079 sure you know if you're stuck in transmit it 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:43.960 for three minutes shuts you off. You can't violate 00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:46.980 the FCC rules there. You don't want to accidentally 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:52.480 start spewing computer sounds on the bands yeah 00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:55.260 so that was that was always my concern was you 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:59.139 know what happens if something funny goes you 00:39:59.139 --> 00:40:02.760 know haywire and then you know I can't get to 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:06.159 it because buildings locked up for the night 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:09.920 you know what do you do in those situations so 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:13.539 that's a little bit of what prompted the the 00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:16.460 discussion and we ended up not doing the remote 00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:19.860 base. We had some other issues that we weren't 00:40:19.860 --> 00:40:23.860 able to work around so we ended up not doing 00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:26.420 that. So your idea is you talk it on a repeater? 00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:33.280 Yeah. Up on 20 meters? Yep. That was the original 00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:35.699 way to do it. Well I'm not sure how legal that 00:40:35.699 --> 00:40:40.849 is. You have to have the license for it right, 00:40:40.849 --> 00:40:44.510 but if you have a technician Right then you can't 00:40:44.510 --> 00:40:48.989 do a repeater then you can't act Right, you know 00:40:48.989 --> 00:40:52.329 But but there they may be a third party in part 00:40:52.329 --> 00:40:54.369 because they're passing through the repeater 00:40:54.369 --> 00:40:56.369 which is licensed by you know an extra class 00:40:56.369 --> 00:40:59.090 So I don't I don't know the legal side. Yeah, 00:40:59.110 --> 00:41:00.849 you know, yeah, you'd have to have a control 00:41:00.849 --> 00:41:03.730 operator I mean you couldn't you couldn't just 00:41:03.730 --> 00:41:06.150 leave that on it would be something you would 00:41:06.150 --> 00:41:09.239 be something you touch tone on and off I know 00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:12.780 it is legal for say a technician to get on a 00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:14.920 two meter repeater that crossbands over to 10 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:18.739 meters. I know that is allowed Yeah, yeah, so 00:41:18.739 --> 00:41:21.000 this you made you may be able to beat, but this 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:26.079 is a remote base situation, so I don't Be careful 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:30.300 with that As I said, I think support any phone 00:41:30.300 --> 00:41:36.179 calls no I'm scaring everybody away They're just 00:41:36.179 --> 00:41:37.900 listening light. They're probably watching the 00:41:37.949 --> 00:41:41.309 Football game or something. So you never know. 00:41:41.309 --> 00:41:43.309 I'm not that you're entertaining. I'm not that 00:41:43.309 --> 00:41:47.829 well We check it we try out of the chicken. We 00:41:47.829 --> 00:41:52.190 can play the chicken Yeah, there we go and we've 00:41:52.190 --> 00:41:54.369 got the cat in the background But I don't know 00:41:54.369 --> 00:41:56.570 if you heard it now now one little thing that 00:41:56.570 --> 00:42:01.190 that you may not know about One of your friends 00:42:01.190 --> 00:42:03.610 Sterling is when he was on the show you could 00:42:03.610 --> 00:42:07.409 hear his cat jump off of the desk. Oh really? 00:42:07.469 --> 00:42:10.349 Yeah, he found that. It was a little extra Easter 00:42:10.349 --> 00:42:13.110 egg that was in that show. You could hear his 00:42:13.110 --> 00:42:15.909 cat jump off the desk. My rabbits live outside. 00:42:17.849 --> 00:42:23.030 Your rabbit. I have two beautiful bunnies. Very 00:42:23.030 --> 00:42:26.750 good. Well, Marty, we're just about out of time, 00:42:26.750 --> 00:42:29.789 but I want to thank you for coming on. And I 00:42:29.789 --> 00:42:31.750 know there'll be a lot of people listening to 00:42:31.750 --> 00:42:37.159 this later on that this will give them some good 00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:42.460 ideas on how to start using some remote operations 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:45.400 if they want to get into that and of course it's 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:47.619 not for everybody you know some people are you 00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:49.900 know going to say it's not real radio you know 00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:54.539 and it is real radio but yeah that's a that's 00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:58.130 a discussion that's a that's a You know, there's 00:42:58.130 --> 00:43:01.429 some differing opinions on it, but You've given 00:43:01.429 --> 00:43:04.809 them some information on how to get started and 00:43:04.809 --> 00:43:08.230 I really appreciate you coming on the show Thanks 00:43:08.230 --> 00:43:11.329 so much for letting me on making some trouble 00:43:11.329 --> 00:43:13.909 here. It's a lot of fun. And again, I just want 00:43:13.909 --> 00:43:17.869 to say If anybody wants to get in contact with 00:43:17.869 --> 00:43:21.630 me if you're too scared to call in KC1CWF at 00:43:21.630 --> 00:43:25.710 KC1CWF .us is the email or just look me up on 00:43:25.710 --> 00:43:28.469 QRZ and I'd be happy to help you with your remote 00:43:28.469 --> 00:43:32.210 needs. Yes, and now we get a tweet from Sterling 00:43:32.210 --> 00:43:35.690 saying, Charlie the Cat is famous on the podcast. 00:43:36.489 --> 00:43:40.070 So there we go. Well, that is a wrap for this 00:43:40.070 --> 00:43:42.389 week's edition of Ham Talk Live. I'd like to 00:43:42.389 --> 00:43:46.650 thank my guest, Marty Solaway, KC1CWF, and everyone 00:43:46.650 --> 00:43:49.349 out there in cyberspace that's listening, and 00:43:49.349 --> 00:43:52.429 invite you back next Thursday night at 9 p .m. 00:43:52.429 --> 00:43:56.039 Eastern Time. when Charles Johnston III, W -8 00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:59.380 -K -W -A, will be here to talk about how to get 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:03.099 started with D -Star. And for a list of all of 00:44:03.099 --> 00:44:06.519 our upcoming guests, visit HamTalkLive .com. 00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:10.039 So for now, with Marty, chicken with fries, this 00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:14.760 is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, saying 7 -3, 7 -5, and 00:44:14.760 --> 00:44:29.840 may the good DX be yours. Music Playing