Maestro fails to key the 6500 in CW

Charles Fontenot

After a year of waiting, I finally got enough internet speed at my remote location to use the Maestro to function with the 6500 over the internet.  Made about 6 CW contacts and went to watch TV and left the Maestro on to make sure it would continue to work, as well as see how many dropped packets occurred over a 3 hour period(only 0.01%).  When I came back, 3 hours later, the keyer was not responding to the key.  I rebooted the Maestro and the keyer started responding, but the 6500 would not go into the transmit mode.  I checked the break-in toggle switch and it was properly ENABLED, but no break-in was occurring.  I pushed the TUNE button on the Maestro and it did put the 6500 into the transmit mode.  Tried using the B VFO to transmit CW but that did not work either.  All the RX functions seemed to work fine.  I did not go out to the remote location to reboot the 6500, but I will do that tomorrow.  In the meantime, does anyone have any ideas to try from the Maestro side.  It concerns me that the keyer in the Maestro did not key until I rebooted the Maestro, and after that, the CW break-in did not key the remote 6500.

Also, is there a way to turn the remote 6500 on and off from the Maestro, or would that require an IP addressable AC switch at  the remote location?

Ken - NM9P

You can use a WiFi remote power switch, or several of them, to do many things.  for example.  something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Q5NFB6/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1

can be connected to an AC controlled relay with SPDT contacts...like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Enclosed-AC-Protection-Bounce-Terminals/dp/B017743I7S/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronic...

It is much easier than constructing your own relay box.
Use the relay contacts to control Remote RCA jack on the rear of the Flex rig to give you remote on and off of the Flex-6000.


You can use additional remote AC switches to control power to your 12 volt power supply, computer, and other equipment that you may wish to control remotely.

My own station uses the relay and a trio of Ankuoo Neo AC switches that I got two years ago.  There are many other brands available to do the job. 

Other Operators have greater power switching needs and have opted to go with a unit like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Enclosed-AC-Protection-Bounce-Terminals/dp/B017743I7S/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronic...

which can switch 8 different AC outlets independently, and also offers "ping" capability and scripting that will reboot your modem and/or router if it senses a loss of internet connection.

The sky is the limit.

Good luck.

Ken - NM9P

Charles Fontenot

Thanks Ken,

Will look all this over.  Wonderful to be on the verge of remote operation.