iPHONE REMOTE OPERATIONS

KY6LA_Howard

I was at our Friday Ham Radio Lunch Bunch group today when somebody asked me to demo to a newbie my Flex 6700 operated remotely from my iPad.

Unfortunately I had left my iPad at home....

So I wondered if I could use an iPhone..  

I had previously discounted the idea because I had had an iPhone 4S with a very small screen which was too small to be usable.  

But I now have an iPhone 6+ which much more screen area.--- so why not give it a try...

I logged into Parallels Access APP on my iPhone, connected to my 6700 and Voila...

Audio came out of the phone and a very clear real time spectrum display appeared on the screen.  I enable the VOX and was able to hand the phone to the newbie to work a QSO.

I was running on the AT&T 4G LTE Network in San Diego.. No significant latency.  No significant dropouts or issues..

The set up is exactly the same as per my iPad setup
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/remote_ipad_operation_of_6000_series_using_parallel_access_app_update_june_17_2014

Of course, I could not leave well enough alone... So we went out to my vehicle, connected the phone through the vehicles bluetooth and continued the QSO...albeit not as clear or as easy to use as the phone itself ...some audio feedback issues.. that I need to work on...


The good news is that I was able to continue to work 20M SSB on the drive home  - hands free.. I usually can hold a frequency especially when not dxing...

So for you guys who are thinking that you might not need V2.0 WAN...

Guess what.. your phone gives you a mobile radio in your hand or your car....

The cool thing is that if you are waiting for the XYL in a Shoe Store (1/2 my life) you can actually be on the phone doing something important...like working DX

Wayne VK4ACN

Howard
That link is coming up as Home Depot

Cheers
Wayne
VK4ACN

KY6LA_Howard

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/remote_ipad_operation_of_6000_series_using_parallel...

Dave Chavez

Maybe Howard was at home depot to grab some cable ties for his shack, oh wait he's wireless. Never mind.

Dave

KO5G

AA0KM

I am curious how much data is eating up your phone's data plan while doing this?

I was wondering about an IPad with the built in LTE and how this would work cost wise on a wireless data plan?/Hotspot.

Data usage would have to be watched carefully?

How big a data plan should I get 3gb 10gb ? hours vs data usage?

KY6LA_Howard

In the USA, Data Usage is not particularly an issue... I have the $140 AT&T 10GB plan shared among my 4 devices (@$14 per GB)

I have yet to have ever used anywhere near that...so I do not watch my data consumption....

Realistically most of the time, I am near a WIFI hotspot where there is no meter albeit 4G LTE is now faster than WIFI in many locations.


INTERNATIONALLY... a very different issue.. If I were to to use so called bargain AT&T International Plan of $30 for 120MB I would quickly go broke...  (it works out to $250 per GB)

However I always purchase a Local SIM and use a MIFi box to connect at Local Data Rates...

For example when working DX from a Taxi in Bali - the Local SIM Cost me $12 for 2GB of Data...or about $6 per GB... In Spain I paid about $5 per GB.. In France about $10 Per GB, In Thailand $6 Per GB, etc.

In case you are wondering how to use local SIM's... (USA INTERNATIONAL ROAMING RATES @$250 per GB are OUTRAGEOUS ROBBERY) I wrote a position paper

"HOW TO SAVE MONEY A LOT OF MONEY ON INTERNATIONAL ROAMING" which you can find in my Dropbox at:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10740053/HOW%20TO%20SAVE%20A%20LOT%20OF%20MONEY%20ON%20INTERNATI...

Hope this answers your question

EA4GLI

When we're you in Spain? Did you have a good time?

K1FR

Howard:  Thanks for the info on IOS remoting.  I downloaded a trial copy of Parallels Access, and after a bit of a tussle finally got it working with my 6700.  Could RX and TX and had it working on JT65.  However, this morning when restarting the computer no matter what I seem to try my Control Panel Sound Setup refuses to see the Parallels speakers.  Says they are not plugged in.  I noted that being discussed in the URL you sent from a few months ago.  Best I can tell my iPad is connected properly, and I can see and control the 6700.  Just cannot seem to get any audio setup that works.  Am I missing something obvious?  Thanks.

73, Tom
K1FR

KY6LA_Howard

Parallels devices are only connected when ur logged in remotely

KY6LA_Howard

I've been to Spain a dozen times. The last trip was to Mallorca in September 2014 we always have a great time in spain

K1FR

Thanks, Howard.  yes was logged in remotely just like last night when all worked fine.  After I sent my post it dawned on me that we had a power outage during the high winds last night.  Since my UPS went south I had been turning the computer off at night.  But, not last night as luck would have it.  Something got corrupted, and a restore (I do restore points and images frequently) got me back in shape.  A new UPS is on the list for tomorrow!

Parallels Access and the iPad are nice.  But, think I will await the Flex LAN/WAN implementations and see how they go.  Happy DXing from EU.

73, Tom
K1FR

Norm - W7CK

I tried Parallels from an Android phone a while back but the microphone wasn't working properly.  Has anyone else tried it from an Android with success?

Norm - W7CK

KY6LA_Howard

Tom I would love V2.0 but travels don't wait for software. So for the. Next while ipad and iPhone remote. Is a necessary evil. Absolutely necessary waiting in shoe stores for XYL.

EA4GLI

I am originally from Cullera, Valencia, just in front of Mallorca if you are looking west!
It is always great to hear that people visiting are having a good time. The economic meltdown did a number in Spain so it has not been what it was, but it seems that things are slowly recovering! More visitors having a good time will definitely help. 

KY6LA_Howard

With the dollar so strong right now, Europe is very attractive to Americans.  We are definitely going back to Spain soon... As usual we will be in France after Dayton in May- to Friedrichshafen again in June. 

September - we be at the apartment we rent  in Paris and the Villa we rent in Provence France - but I might buy a new car at BMW in Munich again so maybe drive to Italy, south of France and Spain... looking at Tesla this week before I decide..

XYL single handedly finances the EURO with her shopping.. with the Strong Dollar and VAT refunds, Shopping is now much less expensive in Europe.

Valencia is a gorgeous City...  This year we hiked in Mallorca up in the mountains.. really great old Roman Road trails but very steep...   XYL is not a beach person.. but i did get to go to at least one beach in Mallorca this time...