Maestro over Internet

K9SO

Maestro operation over the Internet. I've finally done it with a little help (!) from my friends

Arnie

Nice to know. How did you do it?

K9SO

It took a lot of packet sniffing to figure it out, but my Maestro is working well now on my link between Chicago and North Carolina. The 6500 sends out broadcast packets that the PC or Maestro looks for prior to connection. These aren't allowed over Internet connections so that was a big problem.

My son (K4JFG) created a pair of devices ($15 Linux devices) that converted the broadcast packets to TCP on one end and converted them back to broadcast at the other end. Since both locations are essentially on the same LAN, the Maestro can now find the 6500 remotely. Try doing that with your VPN!

The overall latency averages about 65 mS and CW keying is perfect. Already had a dozen or so Q's at 30 wpm+. I was worried about latency jitter causing keying errors but I haven't experienced any issues. Verified by monitoring my over the air signals remotely. Network status shows "good" even over a local WiFi connection. 

It CAN be done. 

Ron

Yes let us know how you did it.

M1tanker64

Can he send a link to those devices and how to program them?

Arnie

Ditto. Also, can you explain what you mean by "both locations are essentially on the same LAN?" I understand how that would apply to a VPN situation, but it sounds like you are not using a VPN? Does your setup require access to router settings on the non-6500/distant end of things? If so, it probably would not work from hotels or other public wifi situations.
Tnx es 73 de Arnie W8DU

KC9NRN

"Try doing that with your VPN!" It was easy actually. Log into R7000, turn on VPN, install OpenVPN, configure for Windows, log onto neighbors WiFI, radio found instantly, aside from waterfall issue works great.

Arnie

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is R7000?

KC9NRN

Sorry about that, it's the Netgear Firehawk R7000 wireless router (not a real router but it's the term used these days).
Amazon Link for description and reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighth...

K9SO

No, this wouldn't work from a hotel room. The details are a bit much to post on a forum so I'll post on my website and post a link here later if there's interest.

The technique does require both sites to be on the same LAN. We were able to put together an old commercial Cisco system to do that for a couple hundred bucks buying the pieces on EBAY.  The main trick is getting the broadcast packets out over the Internet as they are normally blocked. But no PC is required on either end.

Bottom line: this Maestro is a TON of fun. 

Fred,
K9SO

KC9NRN

My apologies, you're right, my config lacks the Maestro and wouldn't work if I had one.