2024-07-09 18:58:29.86311

Agenda

  • Antenna upgrades this spring
  • Experiments in remote ops

Antenna upgrades

  • In Centre Comm queue for this season
  • K3YV, N3LI, W3EDP, & W3TM coordinating with K3ARL

Planned upgrades (Centre Comm)

  • New rotator for 60’ west tower (Mosley Yagi)
  • New Mosley HF Yagi and new rotator for 80’ north tower
  • Rotator swap-out and new 6m Yagi for 100’ south tower
    • Remove existing 2m Yagi; replace?
  • Integrate rotator controllers with PCs

Planned upgrades (NARC members)

  • Assemble Yagis for Centre Comm
  • Replace 160m dipole
  • Replace 80m or 40 m monoband dipoles with 80/40 fan dipoles

Experiments in remote ops

  • Remote-capable equipment
    • Flex 6400M (NARC2) & Icom IC-7610 (NARC1)
    • Elecraft KPA 1500 amps
    • New Green Heron rotators

Goals/rationale/team

  • Explore feasibility, technical issues
  • Low-likelihood of lightning events in March (!)
  • W3TM, W3EDP, N3LI, and K0LO
  • Can we do it -> should we do it

Results

  • Established remote power on/off capability for Astron power supplies to NARC1 & NARC2 (~ K3YV UHF repeater)
  • Established remote access (and power on/off) to Flex 6400M
    • Receive and (low power–no amp) transmit
    • Digital and phone
    • Up to two users at a time; only 1 transmit

Digital QSOs by K0LO via NARC Flex 6400M

Digital QSOs by K0LO via NARC Flex 6400M

Demo

Findings

  • Users share the same credentials
  • Users must have PC (free), Mac ($), or iOS ($; iPhone or iPad) app
  • Lightning occurs in March!

In progress/under exploration

  • NodeRed dashboard (K0LO & W3TM)
Sample NodeRed controls

Sample NodeRed controls

  • KPA 1500 control
Sample NodeRed KPA 1500 controls

Sample NodeRed KPA 1500 controls

  • Antenna disconnect schemes (N3LI)

  • IC-7610 control
  • Options
    • RemoteTx (W3TM & K3YV use).
    • Win4Icom, WFView, or other client program.

Should we do it?

  • “It” == make remote access broadly available
  • Technical vs. policy/admin challenges

Pros

  • Few members use mountaintop equipment now
    • Remote access might encourage use
    • Access to radios & antennas a major benefit of membership
  • Solving technical challenges related to remote operations

Cons

  • Increased risk to equipment
  • Managing who gets access & when
  • Who manages technical problems

Discussion

  • What are our goals for the mountaintop station?
  • Does remote access serve them?
  • Benefits vs. costs?