Turning on the Flex 6500 remotely.

Rick- K2RB

Trying to implement an appropriate way to turn on my Flex 6500 remotely.  If I have the remote plug to ground all the time would this have an an adverse affect on the radio.  I would be turning the power ( 12v) on and off as the means to activate the radio using a wemo switch on my power supply.  Is this a possible scenario or does the radio need the remote switch turned on and off by relay after power is supplied to the radio.  

Jim Gilliam

There are various ways to skin a cat on this one. Some like to use I/P relays. Bekin Wemo makes such an animal where you can toggle the relay contacts on/off over the Internet. However, at my location I have an Internet A/C switching device for turning my computer on and off. It has 4 ports. I use one of the ports to apply A/C to a cheapie 12 Volt supply which supplies the voltage to a small 12 volt relay whose contacts are connected to the remote input of the Flex. Works very well as does the Wemo. When the contacts are closed, the radio is turned on. When the contacts are open, the radio turns off.

Jim, K6QE

George KF2T

Your plan will work fine; that's what some of us do. I used to use the WeMo, then changed to a 3 port Global Cache closure unit to switch other things, too. One thing, though - when you cut the DC supply, any GPS or TCXO advantages are lost. Your radio will also throw a low voltage error message. If you can, leave rig power attached and use the remote closure to mimic pressing the front panel button.

Ken K7YR

Hi Rick,

Please view web site www.ControlByWeb.com.  I purchased a four switch relay, gave it an IP Address and use it to control my 6700, 6300 and antenna relays..  Works just great.  No Rube Goldberg  devices.

Ken K7YR
 

ctate243

I like these.. very good value

http://www.digital-loggers.com/ac.html

paired with one of these.. also a good value

http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html

then you can use the ip power switch to turn it on and off..  They have a free ipad app and the power **** is web based.  very slick. 

KY6LA_Howard

I use 3 WEMO switches mainly because they work seamlessly from my iPad remote. 1. Computer AC 2. 12 Astron AC supply 3. 12 Relay to 6700 AC power.

Javier, KC2QII

I use a WEMO Maker with the contact closure contacts wired to the  Remote On RCA input. A little pricey but it works well via my cell phone apps, both IPhone and Android.

Rick- K2RB

I want to thank everyone for their support.  Some great ideas and possibilities.  Definite solutions and can't wait to try them.   Rick, K2RB

Mark_WS7M

I decided on the digital loggers solution.

I purchased a controllable digital loggers power **** and also one of their relay boards.  The power **** can be used to disable all A/C power to power supplies and other devices.  The relay controller allows me to remote power on/off the 6500 and also my Flex1500.

the digital loggers solutions are robust and easy.

Jim Gilliam

If you use a mini computer that was discussed by simon Lewis, you might also consider remoting a computer on and off also. Most computers are turned on by a SPST switch that requires a momentary closure to to turn it on and a momentary closure to turn it off. I use a remote relay that is pulsed on and off from programming pulsing on my remote power switch. Having the ability to remotely turn a computer on and off can be quite a powerful addition to the shack.

Jim, K6QE

Jim Gilliam

Don't be misled with the kudos to WEMO smartphone app. Any of the I/P remote switchers can be accessed by entering the I/P address  of the unit (on iPhone Safari, for example) and you directly utilize the GUI of the remoted unit.

Jim, K6QE

KY6LA_Howard

@Jim k6QE. While entering ip addresses is doable. It takes time and effort to f=do so which can be a big PIA when remote. 'WEMO has an iPad app. Which is totally seamless. Gives you status of each control when you turn on the app and easily turns power on and off with the touch of the screen.

Mark_WS7M

Certainly WEMO and an app work just great. For my data logger devices there is a direct url to enable/disable/cycle each device. On my iphone I just created a folder and put desktop URL apps for each device in the folder. It might even be quicker than the WEMO but I have not tested that. Anyway both methods work.

Jim Gilliam

Not so, I just put an icon on the screen and there in less than a second.

Bob G W1GLV

I'll second that. Well built unit. I've had mine for over a month and it works very well over the internet. Very easy to setuo.

Ken K7YR

Using the Quad Web Relay www.controlByWeb.com and placing it's icon on your remote device screen the four switches are graphically shown...... Click on of off and away you go.

Ken K7YR

K1VL

The DLI stuff is great. The combination of the web power switch and their AC relay module is a wonderful idea. Completely plug and play. There is a iPhone app for the web power switch too. I especially love the ping loss monitor reboot function in the switch. The ping loss monitor can also work as a deadman "****" switch when operating remote and the internet goes down. I recently purchased the DIN relay for my remote Flex station http://www.digital-loggers.com/din.html  The scheduler can shut off the radio at 1 AM if I fall asleep at the remote shack.

Carmine
W1EQX

ctate243

Totally agree.  I actually got mine at their facility that is nearby here in the silicon valley.  I rarely endorse companies but DL are super cool, the engineer/owner there gave us a total tour of their factory and showed off new toys.. Listened to us rave about how cool this stuff would be for ham radio.. then as we were departing hands full the engineer quietly shook our hands as he gave us his call sign and the fact he was a long time Amateur radio operator.  :-)

spopiela

I like the Ipad/iphone easy connect approach with WEMO . Forty bucks per connection .. I'll tunnel in using VPN on my router and leave the computer off.

Tim - W4TME

"If I have the remote plug to ground all the time would this have an an adverse affect on the radio."

No.  That is what it was designed to do.

Rick, K7FYI

New Flex 6300 owner here - just being cautious and asking first to confirm my understanding (don't want to hurt my new radio!).  I'm taking from this thread that it's OK to leave the remote plug grounded and turn the radio on / off via the power supply, right?

I already have a RigRunner 4005i and can turn power to the rig on / off remotely through it.  

Ken - NM9P

I just received this from Amazon and had it hooked up and running in 10 minutes.  It cost $8.95 with Free shipping (Amazon Prime Member).  It has an AC pigtail to plug in and a three terminal panel to wire to  N.O. or N.C.  contacts.  It is slick, and cheaper than I could ever build myself!

http://www.amazon.com/Enclosed-AC-Protection-Bounce-Terminals/dp/B017743I7S?ie=UTF8&psc=1&re...

I am switching it with a NEO Wifi Controlled AC Switch that I also got from Amazon for about $22.  
Or you can use a WiMo brand switch which is good, but more expensive.  

Both have iPhone and iPad applications to turn them on & off.

Ken - NM9P

Rick, K7FYI

Thanks, Ken. Since I already have the RigRunner, I'm hoping to be able to use it without doing anything extra.  I'm just concerned about cutting power that way to such a sophisticated rig.  

KY6LA_Howard

I normally use the remote on and off when I am remote.

BUT there are times when things get stuck

So I remotely shut off DC power.. never had an issue

Everytime I do a Firmware upgrade I always reboot DC power

Ken - NM9P

I have three NEO units...one for remote on/off, one to switch my antenna (by turning off power to my Ameritron switch), and one to cycle power supply when I hook it up. At $22 each, I thought it was a bargain.

Reggie

Ken,

 

When you connected the NEO Wifi Controlled AC Switch and Control Relay, did you connect them as follow?

- Plug the NEO Wifi Controlled AC Switch into a 120 V outlet

- Plug themale end of the Pigtail cable into the NEO Wifi Controlled AC Switch and connect the female end to the Control Relay

- Connect a RCA Plug pigtail to the NC and Common on the Control Relay

- Plug the RCA connector to the Remote port on the rear of the 6500

- Enable "Remote" in the SDR

 

Thanks

Ken - NM9P

Essentially, except that I used the COM and N.O. Terminals so that they close when the NEO power is switched ON., thus turning the rig ON. After enabling Remote in SDR, I needed to power cycle the 6500. I notice that the LED now remains ON when the 6500 is turned OFF, but changes color. I think to light orange or Amber. I don't remember right now. I assume that this is normal?

Greg N8GD

I originally thought of using the WEMO Web power switch, but bought the Digital Loggers Web power switch, mentioned above, instead.  The primary reason I like the Digital Loggers unit is that it is hard-wired to the Ethernet network via a CAT5 cable, whereas the WEMO is Wi-Fi, and I was concerned about Wi-Fi failure vs the better reliability of hard wiring via CAT5.  I don't use a wireless router but rather have a wireless access point connected to my network, situated in a more central location of my home, and it has locked up on a power dip at times (i have since added a UPS to its power feed).

Really, any additional contact closure for the power on port of the Flex radio is unnecessary.  Install a shorted RCA plug and anytime you power cycle the Digital Loggers power switch feeding the AC to the radio's DC supply, the radio will turn off and back on without you being present to hit the power switch.  The Digital Loggers unit also has 8 independently operated outlets, so you can reboot your PC as well.  It also has a programming capability so you can ping your router and reboot it should it lock up.  Plus, I do as mentioned above: With internal programming it powers off certain pieces of equipment in late evening should I forget to do so.

Greg - N8GD

K1VL

Greg,

I also have been using the Digital Loggers Web power switch here for remote control for a number of years with great results. Love the ping reset and scripting functions too. I would recommend it.

Digital Loggers has a few other great products as well that could be used for remote Flex use as well. Their informational videos on the web site are "campy" but informative.

Carmine W1EQX

Bob G W1GLV

Great switch, been using it for a couple of years.

Larry Benoit

I have two Web Power Switches from Digital Loggers. Very reliable -- never had either go off-line unintentionally or require a manual reboot after power failures. 

I use one to control a pneumatic mast and compressor from my desktop PC and Android smartphone and another for remote operations (via OpenVPN) to control my Flex 6500, linear amplifier, DC power supplies, Ethernet to serial adapters and other gear.  

No special client software is required -- any computing device that runs an internet browser can access a Web Power Switch. Here is the control panel for a three year old Web Power Switch 4:



 

At $140 they are well-made and cost-effective.

73,

Larry KB1VFU