Remote Station

RemoteRig & the K3

We started the remote connection in 2021 with a K3 and K3mini, using RemoteRig RRC-1258 boxes to facilitate the link. It worked well but had some issues on SSB, which we've since learned there may be a fix for.

The IC-7610 takes over

I was fortunate to win an IC-7610 at Dayton Hamvention in 2022, and it took over as the remote radio using Icom's RS-BA1 software, which has some significant limitations, such as only one virtual COM port and no VOX.

CQWW SSB as W3PP

I was able to contest using a VNC connection to my PC at AA1K, with N1MM connected to the radio over USB for rig control, Mumble for audio, and a function-key macro in N1MM for PTT. It worked, but not to my standards.

To get PTT and rig control at the remote PC, I moved to RS-BA1 and the Icom RC-28 remote encoder for tuning and PTT. Icom uses Mumble for audio too, but being able to tune the rig and adjust settings locally was far more convenient. With that setup we came in 6th place in the 2023 CQWW SSB contest, Multi-Multi, using the callsign of our late friend Dallas, W3PP.

Enter FlexRadio

After CQWW, I decided there had to be a better way to operate remote. SDRs have intrigued me since their inception, and after borrowing a Flex 6400 from Ray, K9RS, I pulled the trigger on one.

With the Flex I now have rig control, N1MM, KPA1500 remote and Green Heron Everyware all running on my home PC. ZeroTier handles the VPN link to the station, which runs on a Verizon hotspot at AA1K vs. 1 Gb Verizon fiber at my QTH. With this configuration we did very well in the 2024 ARRL DX SSB contest as a two-man Multi-Multi.