Recommendations for amplifiers, antenna/tower, etc. with SmartSDR for remote operation via screen sh

Rick - W5FCX

It's been 45 years since I first had my General license when I was 13, so I clearly have a lot of catching up to do... and certainly appreciate the experienced advice and guidance I've been getting here on this forum so far.

I'm designing a new ham shack for my lake house that's located 2 hours from home (and the HOA-restricted primary residence I've been working on lately for ham shack #1).  

I've decided to leverage the Flex 6700 for remote operation at shack #2 at the lake, using an inexpensive remote desktop app called Splashtop, which has bench tested out much better than TeamViewer and other options I have tried thus far for phone/SSB operations.

I plan to use remote UHD/4K screen sharing as I have no other reliable way to connect to the Flex 6700 appliance inbound through a Verizon MiFi or the **** DSL modem with a VPN, and prefer a big screen experience when onsite at the lake house with local operation anyway.  I'm planning to use a Web Power Switch to remote control power outlets so I can reboot the Flex 6700 and the PC (if it fails to check in on time). The Web Power Switch for PC and Flex 6700 will run off a 1500 VA UPS.

So far, so good I think (fingers-crossed) ...

So I'm hoping to get some experienced recommendations on:

  1. HF Amplifier to use with SmartSDR, ideally with auto-tuning to make band changes fast and painless when operating remote, away from the amplifier.  Something between 500W and 1,500W controllable remotely via screen-sharing on Windows 10 would be ideal.  

      I have access to both 120 VAC immediately and 220 VAC easily enough. Since it's operating remote, not sure what additional safety / shutdown measures are required (to much current to flow through the Web Power Switch device which has max of 15 amps)

  2. Antenna rotator with good Windows 10 remote support.

The tower I'm leaning toward is a US Tower HDX-555 - 55' power-telescopic with 20' mast, mounted to a TRX-80 hinged tower base to make it easier to work on the antenna. Still evaluating antennas - leaning toward the Element Force 12 yagi xr5 for 20 - 10 meters.  I believe the RMC-1000 & LIMIT SWITCH will enable me to remotely raise/lower the tower, as well.
(open to suggestions on tower/antenna as well).

To get started, I'm putting up a multi-band Ni4l ZS6BKW inverted-V in a tree this weekend. I have room for a long-wire if needed for 80m.

Ideally I'd like to end up with fully-integrated remote station solution, but based on what I've researched it appears that's not available at this time, so best-of-breed components is the way to go for operating remote with Flex and SmartSDR (if that's an incorrect assumption, would be helpful to know what I have missed).

Thanks in advance.

Rick
KG5PJB

P.S.  If this type of post would be better aimed at a different forum or site, please advise.

George KF2T

Hi Rick. Sounds like you're well on your way. I also remote my 6500 using Splashtop when I'm not using SSDR for iOS. Works quite reliably for the keyboard modes. A good VPN will allow iOS and remote computer use as if you're right there. Elecraft 500w amp has remote app for Windows or Mac, RF sensed T/R, and has been a good performer for me. I did put an extra fan on it for peace of mind while away. Software and remote relay power control possible. I use a dipole with a remote feedpoint tuner for HF. A LAN relay port controls the Bias Tee to reset the tuner every so often. The 6 and 2 meter beams are occasionally remote controlled by XYLSoft Ver 2.0, which is very reliable but high maintenance. Looking for a replacement technology that works Mac. No upgrade to XYLSoft does that, though. At least none I can afford :-)

EA4GLI

I like the SPE Expert 1.3k. I currently use it remotely and it works flawlessly.
It has a tuner, will reach 1500w, work from 160m to 4m, has 4 antennas, 2 inputs and 1 SO2R port for an RX antenna. It will connect to your remote PC by USB or Serial port.

Mike va3mw

Rick

There is no one good answer.   I've been doing this for 11 years and it just keeps getting easier.  I don't physically touch my station for 6 months of the year, so I have to be able connect directly to it to fix things.  I've tried just about every remote internet switch and tossed out many of them.  I quickly learned what the Amsat guys go through!  LOL

Some key parts that work for me.  

I don't use Teamviewer or similar tools.  I use Microsoft Remote Desktop.  It is built into each version of Windows Pro.  It is a direct connection and there is no middle man.  Yes, you do need to know your IP address, but that is easily solved.  It by far has the best screen resolution.

I use PSTRotatorAZ to handle ALL my rotator work and antenna switching.  Amazing product and very inexpensive.  The author is amazing.  I have just asked him to integrate PSTRotatorAZ into the Flex network.  He is going to look into that this weekend.  Yes, you do have to add some antenna switch relays.

My amp is the Elecraft 500 due to the price and reliability.  Easy to interface (Coax and PTT).  I let it handle all the band switching and it is built like a tank.

Beyond that, you need to consider how to handle things when you can't go push buttons.

My plan is all KISS and TNO (trust no one).  I don't use anyone else's servers/operations to get in  my way of controlling my station.  All of my connections are peer to peer.  I do use Teamview as a backup ... just in case.

For SmartSDR, you can run it locally if you have the bandwidth.  Even better, add a Maestro to your solution.

Many others will chime in.  Take the ideas you like.  

Mike va3mw

KY6LA_Howard

I run remotely from all over the world much of the time. (CUrrently in Paris) Because of weight restrictions and PIA shleping my control surface is an iPad Pro SmartSDR for iOS software ....Parallels Access for those rare times I need to control the base PC I use the SPE 2K-FA (Life is to short for QRP rigs like the Elecraft My rotor is a Yaesu GX2800...My beam is a SteppIR MonstIR Everything is as automated as possible --amp, rotor, beam all controlled by DDUTIL I have several remote WEMO switches in case I need to reboot things. My typical remote session starts with Parallels Access to turn on the Amp and turn the beam Then I switch to SmartSDR for iOS The Steppir and amp follow the 6700 To shutdown the amp I use DDUTILvia Parllels Basic configuration with continual changes has been in operation since 2011.

Cal N3CAL

I've had great success using the Elecraft KPA-500 Amp and Matching KAT-500 Antenna Tuner.    I've been able to run both automatically using DDUtil along with my Flex-6500 via remote without any issues.   It's basically like having a 500 watt transceiver.   I've got DDutil running on my shack computer and it displays the status of my Flex, Tuner and Amp.  I can remote in to the shack computer while away and see everything.   I've got auto tunning,  and auto switching of my antenna ports  depending on what band the radio goes to.  I've also got the drive level for the amp set depending on what band i'm on.  I mainly run my Apple Ipad Mini via softether VPN for radio control. 

Cal/N3CAL   

Ria

Hi Rick.

The SPE Expert 1.3K-FA is definitely the way to go until the Power Genius XL is released, and we don't know the price of it yet.

As far as rotors go, any rotor will do as long as you use a proper controller. The gold standard now is the Green Heron Engineering RT-21. We have one but it is an older one.  It works pretty well.  You can actually use DDUtil to connect to it remotely.  We use it to control a Prosistel PST71D which turns a MonstIR. 

Not really an expert on crankup/motorized towers so I will defer to others. 

For VPN you would want a Raspberry Pi box and run SoftEther on it. This is the easiest solution that supports everything. 

73,
Ria

Steve W6SDM

With questions like those, you will always get a bunch of answers, all of them good.

If you're watching your wallet, the Elecraft KPA500 is a great 500 watt amp.  When coupled with a KAT500 automatic tuner, it literally turns the 6xxx radio into a 500 watt transceiver.  I almost never need to tune when changing bands.  The amp works off of either 120 or 240 VAC.  Elecraft support is second only to Flex.

VE2MBT

2K-FA is the amplifier i use with my flex 6500 and no other amp is even close to this beast

Mark_WS7M

I too can recommend the SPE amps.  I have the 1K which suits me just fine.  I have a 2K on order but don't think I can keep the order.  It just is too much money for what I need.

With a little software the SPE and Flex radios just work.   I have my radio and amp mounted in a shack near the antenna.  Quite a ways from where I operate.  No noise, no relays, no fans.  It just works.

I can sit in my living room on the laptop and copy code/work voice, whatever.

So a few other recommendations:

Since you are going for remote:

The Digital Loggers line of IP relays and power switches cannot be beat.

Here is there IP power switch:

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Digital-Loggers-Outlets-Protection/dp/B00EZWD146/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&am...

Relay:

https://www.amazon.com/Web-Controlled-DIN-Relay-Sequencing/dp/B01994QNXK/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=...

I use a pair of these near my rig to allow me to completely cycle power on any device.

On the relay I ganged 3 relays to handle the 12V to the radio so I can completely remove power if required.  One relay is connected to the remote on/off port of the Flex radio.

The remote power switch can switch your power supply and any other devices.

The cool thing about these is they can be given web addresses to cycle stuff on/off.  So you don't need any special software.  You just set them up at a fixed IP then you construct a web link that will cycle power on devices.

If you are worried about security you can configure them to only allow control via password login.

Another device I use is:

https://www.amazon.com/MOXA-SERIAL-DEVICE-SERVER-NPORT/dp/B00PG9KRP8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1474...

This is a 4 serial port IP to serial server.  There are many of these on the market but the Moxa brand while expensive is really good.   They can emulate com ports on a remote computer if desired.

In my case I simply wrote software to open the remote port and control my amp and 3 other RS-232 devices.

So it is getting easier to do stuff fully remote.

Mark

Rick - W5FCX

Extremely helpful.  Thank you all so much.  This definitely fills some gaps for my remote station.

I'm torn between the price/performance tradeoffs of the SPE Expert 1.3K-FA vs. the Elecraft KPA-500 Amp and Matching KAT-500 Antenna Tuner, so this helps me narrow down to two solid state amps that operate well remotely.

The tower/antenna is a whole project to itself that I'm going to approach separately once I have the remote station operational.

Thanks again!

Rick

EA4GLI

I couldn't agree more... and I end up putting my money on the 1.3k.... no regrets! (I already had an Expert 1K which I continue to use) What an amazing piece of equipment. I have no relationship with SPE , and my praises of their product come only from the satisfaction of its use. Like my opinions about Flex radios.

Let say you compare it with the Elecraft (which I have never used... so I am basing this on published characteristics alone)

ELECRAFT
You have to spend $3,000 to get the KPA500 and KAT500. You get 500W, 2 devices, 31 pounds of equipment, 1 radio input, and 3 ANT outputs in the tuner. (I do not know if the ant get selected automatically based on band, but I would imagine they do or at the very least they can be selected remotely.

SPE EXPERT 1.3K
I paid 2900 British pounds for mine with shipping, which is about $3800. That includes VAT in Europe. I couldn't quickly find US prices but I wouldn't be surprise if it is easily north of $4,000.

You get 1300W (I have seen PEP 1800w on 20m and below), one device that weights 19 pounds, 2 radio inputs, 4 ant outputs and 1 RX only ant port (SO2R). You can program up to 3 different antennas per band and you can select to by pass the tuner completely for a specific antenna (like a Steppir). The way it works with 2 radio inputs is that when you are on Input 1 Ant 1, input 2 is connected to either ant2 or the SO2R (RX antenna). With the 6700 I can have an RX antenna on the SO2R port of the Expert and use ANT2 port in the radio. In the EU version of the SPE you get 70Mhz with a total power of 700W and the amp will give you 1kw out of 5w. That is not the case in the US due to some legal limitation on gain.
Another neat feature of the amp is that when it is turn off it will default INPUT 1 to ANT 1 and INPUT 2 to ANT 2.

With 2 inputs you can connect 2 different radios to the amp. This is huge for me as I can have the Flex 1500 and the 6700 all connected to all of my antennas without adding a single device.


PROs of KP500+KAT500
- Lower price (25% cheaper, at least... maybe more)
- Better tuner (wider impedance range, at least on paper)

PROs of SPE 1.3k
- More power, 3 times!
- Less bulk and weight (50% less)
- Less devices (all in one box)
- 2 radio INPUTS
- 1 extra ANT output
- 1 SO2R dedicated port

All of these being said, 500W is more than enough, I hardly ever use the SPE 1.3k in any other setting than low power which gives me a consistent 600 to 700W.
If you want instant gratification there is a long wait list for the 1.3k. Not sure of the turn around of the Elecraft. And I would definitely wait to see what Flex and Ranko come up with. And you might even find a KP500 in the used market. 

Rick - W5FCX

Very helpful.  I'm being told the SPE 1.3K is back ordered until March 2017 by our dealer!  That's makes this decision a whole lot easier.

Walt - KZ1F

Where I disagree with Sal is output of a linear has a distinct point of diminishing returns. When I went through the same process I was told by many 'nobody needs more than 600 watts as the difference on the receiving end drops off precipitously". I've found this to be true. I priced out an soe and, to my recollection, in USD it was $5000. The far bigger **** for the buck is put that money into your radiator. If you can't hear then, you can't work them. Yes the KPA automatically does band switching and the KAT automatically does antenna switching, think 160-30 vs 20-6. So consider whether you want to advertise you put the bulk of your money where it counts or you didn't understand the hierarchy between the radiator and the operator.

Walt - KZ1F

Tower - tower must be rated for ant, weight and wind loading. Within that constraint go as high as you can financially and legally. Do this first, not last. Radiator - advice I received from several sources, beware mechanical stuff at height. Rotor should be rated for 1.25 - 2x the wind loading of your antenna. Where you can simultaneously display multiple bands, strongly consider a log periodic.

EA4GLI

I guess I was taking that as "a given". All of this talk of amps etc... makes no sense if you are using an inverted V dipole with traps with the tips a few feet off the ground. LOL

Ria

It's about $5k with the ATU, less without. This is from the USA dealer with warranty service and support. However it comes with the attenuator for FCC certification.

The big difference to me between the KPA500 and the Expert is that the Expert uses a single package LDMOS device. This means it can tolerate higher SWR > 66:1, which is full output into a dead short, no problem whatsoever. Look at the youtube videos with the lab tests of LDMOS amplifiers and you will see them doing exactly that. However most amps incorporate SWR protection to reduce stress on the output tank circuit and to prevent you from burning up your coax.

LDMOS also has very high gain meaning that you could drive this with a QRP transceiver if you can get full output. Of course with the outdated FCC rules we don't get that ability in the US. 

From what I understand the KPA500 uses older RF MOSFET devices and not LDMOS. The 2K-FA also uses the older devices but more of them to achieve 2kw. 

EA4GLI

As far as prices, in Europe, you have to add VAT (21% in Spain), shipping from the US and customs duties. Making the Elecraft combo more expensive than the SPE..... just saying. 

Ken - NM9P

I really like my T-11 Log.  It was the best choice for my situation.  20-6 Meters on one feedline!

However, my friend less than a mile away has a TH11DXX and kicks my **** on 10 meters.  But he has it at 60 ft., too!  mine is only at 38 ft.

But I bet I will have a lot less maintenance to do without all of those traps, and I have less wind load, less weight (by about 20-25 pounds) and I can hear better in the bands in between the ham bands (a blessing AND a curse).

KY6LA_Howard

Of course I tend to disagree with Walt--somewhat Agree...put up biggest and highest tower and antenna you get away with FIRST DIsagree.. You can get away with a,much lower strength tower If you are prepared to crank it down in high winds. My US Tower MA-85MDP easily supports my 23.5 sq ft MonstIR BUT I DESIGNED AN AUTOMATIC CRANK DOWN CIRCUIT that automatically lowers the tower at 25mph. Backup power on that too because power failure happen during high winds BTW. Tower is rated at 200sq ft cranked down log periodic antennas are Compromises SteppIR antennas always outperform them Mechanical issues are mostly old wives tales.. My MonstIR has been in continuous use since 2005. ROtor...turning force is not the major factor...BRAKING FORCE Is what you need to consider as it's highly unlikely that you will be turning your antenna. BUT you need to be able to HOLD the antenna in place during high winds. So read the breaking force specs. Power total NONSENSE that 1500W vs 500W makes no difference I can always bust any pileup of 500W QRP guys with 1500W. Walt sounds like the VW guy who poo poo's the chick magnet power of a Porsche because he only has a VW.

Rick - W5FCX

I ended up going with the Elecraft KPA-500 Amp and Matching KAT-500 Antenna Tuner, mainly because it's in stock and available (unlike the SPE 1.3).  I figure if I don't like it or want to upgrade to more power later, it won't take long to sell the Elecraft, as they don't last long on ebay from my research (and don't come up for sale often either).

I'm sure that a few extra S units of power at the receiving end of a QSO would be helpful in DX contesting.  For that, I'm going to concentrate on my antenna system and invest more there instead of in the amp for now.  My concern is that I need to be able to hear them to work them and so I need leverage in both RX and TX directions.

Walt - KZ1F

@Howard, you are welcome to argue that with your rf hero. Would you really like me to tell you what you sound like Donald?

Ken - NM9P

Agree that compared to a 4 element StepIR my T-11 is a bit of a compromise.  It is probably half-way between a 2 element and a 3 element standard Yagi in actual calculated gain.  With a calculated 5.8 dB over a dipole (roughly one S unit) i have been surprise to find that I get an average of 12 dB in actual RX and TX performance increase over the wire antennas that I had at the same height, and over my home brew elevated vertical with elevated, tuned radials on each band. I discovered this at roughly every bearing and every distance I could test.   Papers I have read attribute this to increased "ground reflection" that all directional yagis enjoy.  So if this is a compromise....wow!  I originally considered a small 3 element StepIR, but went this way.  partly because I like to be a little unconventional!

I do notice that I have less fading than some other locals report with their tribanders.  I have heard theories that this is because every element on the boom is somewhat active at every frequency, tending to smooth out fading cause by selective ionospheric phase-shifting.  (I am not totally convinced).

One advantage I have is that I don't need to wait for a StepIR to tune up.

I DO wish I had been able to put a bit more into a stronger tower that would have given me 65-70 feet.  That would have made not only my 20-6 LP more effective, but would have allowed for more options and better performance for my 160-30 wire antennas as well.  

In any case, I am now a firm believer in the power and value of putting money into the antenna system before an amplifier.  I routinely beat out other locals in the pileups who are running 800-1200 Watts into dipoles and verticals.  (but the guy with a TH11DXX and 1200 Watts can still wax my wings on the really long-distance stations further than 8000 miles away.)

Having a good beam on even a moderate tower has made Rag-chews with DX stations a routine event, whereas before I would usually just get a 57/59 report and move on.  Now there are a few stations in ZL & VK that I have often had 30 minute chats on a regular basis, with only 100 Watts.  One or two of them even played around with me for a while as I dropped power to only one Watt and I was still 5x5 and perfectly readable!  Not bad from Indiana!

Indeed, the saying is faithful and true..."Invest in a good antenna system first, if at all possible!"  and the second is like it..."Don't waste your money on cheap, lossy coax feedline!"

Ken - NM9P

Ken - NM9P

Moving from 100 to 500 Watts is a gain of 6.989 dB, which is a little over one S-Unit.
Not a HUGE difference, but could be a very big difference if your 100 Watt signal is in the noise and the additional 7 dB is what gets you out of the noise, or above the pileup.

Moving from 500-1500 is another 4.77 dB gain, which is a little under one S-unit.  In a pileup that 4.77 dB can make a difference.  Not a HUGE one, but again, if it brings you just a little above the fray, then it helps.

Compare that with the roughly 3 dB effective talk-power gain achieved by the innovative speech processor in the 6000 series.  It is a very noticeable difference every time I use it.  And it is even more effective when combined with effective TX EQ and bandwidth adjustment.  I would venture to say that compared to my "Rag-Chew" Mic profile, I get up to a 10 dB improvement in actual communications advantage when I move to my DX Profiles, especially my narrow 2.3 KHz wide "Ear bleeder" setting.  It punches through, but is extremely clear and articulate.  
(However, you wouldn't want to rag chew with me for long when I use it.)

My point is that EVERY part of the communications system (antenna, coax, amplifier, rig, microphone, audio processing, etc. - not to mention operating skill...)  can make or break your communications effectiveness.  

I have seen people run 1500 (or more) Watts only to waste it with poor audio - (Bass that is 20 dB above the rest of the audio and virtually NO audio power in the higher frequencies that provide the intelligence and articulation.)  or they try to get that last little bit of power out, constantly running just at the edge of distortion, or just over it, and waste lots of their power generating IMD that contributes nothing to their signal because the power is outside the bandwidth of the receiving station's filters.  (If they won't hear it...it doesn't need to be there!)

I have seen people pay lots of money on a bigger amplifier, or expensive antenna, only to waste all that extra power on lossy, inexpensive coax that would have cost less than 10% of the cost of their new amplifier or antenna system if they had paid extra to buy better coax.  (But they wanted to save money so they could buy "the best!")

The art of Ham Radio is to invest in the correct stuff first, finding a good compromise for the rest, and then finding ways to optimize what you have to make the best use of it.

Good luck!

Ken - NM9P.

Walt - KZ1F

And then there is the age-old adage, "a good op with a bad, and low power, rig will out perform a bad op with a good, and high powered, rig". 

I generally don't like quoting people who tell me things, some of which may be in confidence. But to elaborate on my reference to the steppirs, Don Daso is a guy who spends his days helping others set up / repair their antenna/tower systems. Here are some of what he said re: steppir:

"Mechanical systems fail, & putting motors in the sky is merely asking for trouble IMHO".

There is another guy, many on here know and respect, that said this,

"Our club has just sent its SteppIR to <the dump>. (in pieces of course) and replaced it with a Tennadyne T6 LPDA. This is the 4th total SteppIR breakdown with which I am acquainted."

I have a seven element M2 LP and have worked all over the world with it, deep south pacific, asia, you name it, I've worked it, all from New England. That on 100w. It is easier with 500w - 600w but not by a lot.
And for those scarce times I've had two panadapters active the antenna was resonate on both bands, simultaneously, no need to wait for motors and metal ribbons to be moved. All at a substantially reduced price.

Those who buying decisions are governed by lab results will find the real world seldom matches that created in a lab environment.

But for those that feel they must spend that kind of money, please let me know as I am retired and could use your generosity far better than some manufacturer. ;-)

KY6LA_Howard

Walt I totally disagree with your chacterizations of SteppIR being unreliable I own a MonstIR ..extremely reliable for 11 years now I have built and,helped install a number of SteppIR for friends and at contest stations Other than making sure that the fiberglass elements have been painted with marine paint to protect them from UV, they have proven to be 100% reliable. The contest stations really stress the SteppIR in one weekend than hams will do in a year ...no issues. In our A/B tests with other antennas (Force12) the SteppIR always outperformed everything else. LP are compromise antennas. Owned a few years ago...better than a vertical but not as good as a tribander. Wide Band receiving is really not an issue.. I typically monitor 3-5 bands simultaneously on JT65. Takes a couple of seconds to switch TX bands but then I dominate. Bottom Line; if you want top of the line performance (like a Tesla) buy a SteppIR If you want second rate performance use some other antenna.

Ken - NM9P

I would imagine, Howard, that the differences in reported reliability may be regional. The Midwest lightning and New England ice can be brutal. As K9CT found, lightning and lots of Ice and wind are not kind to StepIR. But then they aren't kind to ANY antenna. I noticed that his antennas broke at the booms in the presence of ice and wind. The fiberglass seemed to be OK. And his controllers were blasted by lightning. A double hit! I have heard many more good reviews than bad for StepIR's. But when they DO break, it isn't pretty...or cheap. Ken - NM9P

Walt - KZ1F

That wasn't my observation, that was the observation of 2 people who have extensive experience with them. Plus, turns out despite the comments from N6V it doesn't even work with the 6000. I was interested in the 4 ele until I realized N6V was a promotional stunt. Where would the 6000 be without Steve Nance????

I have the ruggedized version of the M2 17-30LP7, double think walls for just that reason. My KLM KT34XA looked like an upside down U for a good part of the winter. Again, Ken, one 'opinion' was from a southern boy and the other from a NW guy. When I went to HRO a year or so ago they had parts of one for sale on commission.

The aforementioned KT-34XA was flat across 10-15-20. When I modified the 530SP to open the WARC bands it was less than flat on 12 and 20 without my Heath Deluxe antenna tuner...Which btw, is for sale w/manual should one be collecting Heath gear.

Ned K1NJ

  Regionality and skills.
                    A ham here in New England, I believe it was Sam Harris, W1FZJ,
 once said "If your antenna didn't **** down last winter, it wasn't big enough".
 We have to face the consequences of our locations and do the best we can.
 It sometimes isn't the best antenna, just the one that is best for the situation.
 Develop skills to go along with these radios.  They will serve you well with the
best beam and kW. or a wire in a tree with 100W.

Ned,  K1NJ

 

Steve W6SDM

In the Sonoran desert, our antennas just melt.