Remote WSJT-X

If any of you has not used Real VNC, consider checking it out.  Seriously.  They have a hobbyist version which is free, and which can be used to remotely control another computer, or RPi, from anywhere in the world.  I set up my home hamshack computer attached to my IC-9100, made sure the SWR was OK, and went off on my business.  When times were slow, I used a laptop (iphone or ipad works, too), logged into the VNC and the home computer screen appeared.  From there I opened HRD then WSJT-X and made several ft-8 contacts remotely!  Very easy to do, free of charge, and reliable.

RealVNC® - Remote access software for desktop and mobile | RealVNC

73

DE AD7QQ

 Status Report

Current Rigs:

    IC-9100 for HF, Satellites, and general base station fun

    IC-705 for SOTA and portable/QPR work

    A miscellany of HTs for.... walking about and such

Current Antennas:  

    The old reliable AlexLoop

    Improvised dipole for 10-30 meters

    All my other antennas are transmitting in a better world due to weather and inattention

Current Projects:

    I built a WsprPi for my soon to be daughter-in-law for her 10 meter technician priviledges.  Works well.  I used this guide:  RaspberryPi WSPR Node : 7 Steps - Instructables.

    RPi based Hamclocks, both small and large:  Ham Clock On A Pi – Fuzz The Pi Guy

    CW.  It's hard to believe I used to do all my QSOs in the 1970's using CW given how terrible I am now at it.  I am working to get my speed back up. (Not that I was ever all that fast)

    Misc RPi projects

    Radio Astronomy:  trying to figure out an appropriate Az El rotator for a large dish.  Too much wind where I live to make this easy.

Long Term Goals:

    SOTA- I miss doing SOTA.  I hope to restart this summer, health willing

    Regular satellite work.  With the easy FM LEOs dwindling this may be more of a challenge, but that is part of the fun of it all.

 

It's Alive!

After a 5 year hiatus I am reactivating this blog.  Illness, slow recovery amidst new disability has impacted all areas of my life including ham radio.  But today is a new day... so stay tuned!

Post Field Day

I ended up doing 100% WSJT-X modalities during field day due to using only 5 watts and being in a relatively isolated area.  I even was able to get some 80 meter contacts but had to boost power to do so. 
I added my Alex Loop as an alternative antenna so I could more rapidly transition between bands.  During the daytime the vertical was set to 20 meters and the loop to 40, and at night the vertical was tuned to 80 meters.

The Alex Loop and the Vertical

My RPi in action, with a 12v 1 amp camper monitor running on batteries

The RPi and its buddy, the SignaLink USB.  I have a USB expander sub hat on the RPi

My field day contest station

All in all a very fun experience.  My battery settup lost the ability to fire the transmitter about 6 AM, so that's when I stopped and joined my family for church. (That's a Knox Bible for those who are interested in such things- a rather good Catholic version translated by Ronald Knox).

Field Day Settup

As the last few hours before the start of field day tick away I have finished setting up the station in a remote area of my front porch, far from the grid and from civilization.  The station consists of a Raspberry Pi 3 running Raspbian, a 12v camper hdmi TV, Yaesu FT-450 transceiver, SignaLink USB interface, alpha antenna DX 10-80 meter antenna, tuner, and miscellaneous other things.  All is working great and is powered with 2 linked fully charged deep cell 12v batteries.

Hope to work you on the bands!
73 GL DX
de AD7QQ

Pre Field Day

Hello World!
I've been busy this spring and summer with Sea-Pac 2017 and with preparations for field day, as well as reorganizing the attic ham shack, running the hobby farm, dealing with winter damage, working on the barn project, and working in the ER full time as well as family activities.  No recent satellite activities unfortunately, but I have installed my Alinco DX 70 in my car with an independent power supply that is much more quiet than my prior installation, and learned a lot of linux.

I plan to do a low power RPi centered field day this weekend.  Unfortunately I am working all the way up to this Saturday, with 12-13 hour shifts on each day/night if I get out on time (ha!).

Here is my attic ham shack, northeastern corner

Here is the view out the southern wall/ window (life is tough in such a beautiful place, eh?!)

Here is my faithful Raspberry Pi 3, running my Yaesu FT-450 on WSJT-X WSPR 20 meters at the moment.  It also does fldigi well.  Full working CAT controls.  I found out that you actually DO have to cinch down the serial connections with the screws if you expect them to work consistently.  Go figure.

One of my Ham shack tortoise companions out for a morning stroll out of range of turtlecam but not my iphone camera.

Hope to work you on field day!
73
de AD7QQ sk

Snow Time Updates

I think I need a mobile rig on my tractor-snowblower so I can spend some time on the air.  It's that kind of winter.  But I can't really complain, as life is good, the farm infrastructure is holding up, we can still get up and down the driveway and into town, and work is busy but satisfying.

New Ham projects: 
     -Rather than hamsticks I've got a 392M HF and VHF mobile antenna from trxcommunications.   I haven't hooked it up yet but am looking forward to moving the Yaesu FT-450 into the Isuzu and giving it a try.
      -I hope to be part of the RPi in Ham Radio discussion at SeaPac this year.  I'm sure the other Elmers will outclass me completely since my Linux skills are entirely self taught but I have used WSJT-X successfully on Raspbian and on Ubuntu-Mate and have done a few other projects.  (If you want to watch your turtles on VLC, I'm your man!)
      -There should be a tower in my future if all is well.  It may take a little while but it will be nice to do HF activities with a good antenna system.  Maybe after that, an amplifier....
      -When the snow dies down a bit I hope to activate a few more SOTA peaks, as yet unactivated.

As I write another winter storm is sweeping through the area, and I will need to get up at 5 to remove snow from my driveway and my son's as well in time for travel into town for church.  Maybe after I can excite some electrons to emit EM waves....

Barn in the snow

The Long and Snowy Driveway (the first 2/3 anyway)

New Mouse Control Assistants