Remote rig operation

[KX4QC]

Remote operation of a rig over the internet allows leaving home and still have use of the rig in the shack, or someone else's rig -maybe much better setup that you have yourself. And then there are generous folk at clubs such as the Richmond Amateur Radio Club who offer just such a facility https://rarclub.net/?s=remote to members.

This first description is how to do it by TCP and UDP ports on an Icom rig. Most modern base Icoms are supported by the software package RS-BA1 v2 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/opti ... _Version2/ which expects any recent version of Windows. The result is control and 2-way audio from the computer which may be on the table beside the rig or far away linked through a distant internet access point.

Can you do CW, FT8, RTTY, SSTV, freeDV. Yes, but this simple setup described first is just for phone. Other modes are possible, but need a little more than just simple.

How it works:

icom_rigs_for_RS-BA1.jpg

If the rig is modern and contains a soundcard, you connect the rig to the computer with just a single USB cable to a local computer, or by ethernet cable to a base station router if the rig is to be used from a distance. Otherwise a USB interface is needed such as RigExpert TI-3000. Signalink will work too, but as they don't directly support CI-V, a second USB cable is needed.

Installation of the software is easy if Icom's instructions are followed exactly. There are pictures of possible user configurations; you choose one and most of the setup is done automatically. COM ports are identified for you so there is one less thing to chase down.

About the only thing not done for you is your home internet firewall. Three external ports need to be forwarded to the rig's static IP address if it is behind a firewall. Icom gives you the numbers and wheter TCP or UDP. (Maybe we'll do a detailed how to port forward in another post, as it's useful for amateur radio.)

Rigs that have a standby feature may be left switched off but in standby mode. A remote call from RS-BA1 far away on the internet can switch on the rig, and then the graphic representation of the rig on the remote computer can be used to control the rig remotely and relay 2-way sound.

Sounds too good to be true? It actually works but remember that the internet is not what we'd like it to be in rural parts -slow, high latency and sometimes very few ports apart from web browsing and email are carried at all.

Any other ways to do a remote link? Lots. Another time we'll take a look at some other useful apps like flrig and wfview.