PC Specs suitable to be used as remote PC to run station

Dom wa2got

What are reasonable PC specs to look for when implementing a remote PC (CPU, Cores, Memory, Storage)?

I currently use an PC (Lenovo Ideapad 100) to run SmartSDR (Flex 6400), CAT, DAX, FRstack, WSJTX, gridtracker, and logging program (N3FJP's AClog). I upgraded the drive to a SSD drive and increased the memory to 8GB several years ago. The ideapad will run things well being local on my home network. I occasionally run remotely, SSB only. I use the ideapad for everything to do with running the household (banking, shopping, etc.) and surfing the internet (watching Mike's video's :-) ).

The ideapad 100 can not be upgraded to Windows 11, so my thinking it is time for a new laptop before Windows 10 support ends (I believe in the Fall of 2025). My first thought was to get a laptop with more memory and CPU and run everthing as I have done all on the ideapad. In my research I stumbled onto Flexradio videos about setting up a remote PC. I think this is the direction to pursue. This approach will allow me to also operate FT8 remotely as well as handle the logging the same way as when I am at home. Sounds like people are happier with the results using a remote PC. What I found on the topic so far is lite on the specs for this remote PC.

So I went to the LENOVO site and filtered on Desktop computers, Pre-Built models, 16GB memory, Windows 11 Pro. I then sorting price low to high and the lowest price model has these specs. Are these specs reasonable to use as a remote PC to run what I use now and allow for growth in possibly running other useful things along with my FlexRadio? Or perhaps other Remote Flex users have found having a remote PC is beneficial in running other household things besides just the Flex which may be indicators to obtain more powerful PC?

ThinkCentre M75q Tiny Gen 2

KD0RC

Hi Dom, I am sure this has plenty of power to run SmartSDR. It is probably more important to size it for anything else that you might want to run. Programs like CWSkimmer can take a lot of resources. More cores and more memory really help in this regard.

When operating remotely, I leave my old (slower) computer connected to the radio so that I can use TeamViewer to rotate my antenna and operate my tuner and amp. My new (faster) computer comes with me and runs SmartSDR over SmartLink. Mike, VA3MW has some excellent YouTube videos about the advantages of keeping a computer connected locally when operating remotely.

Dom wa2got

Thanks for the quick reply Len! And over a holiday weekend. I do recall in Mike's video he does describe running SmartSDR via SmartLink on his local PC and not on the remote PC. I will follow your and Mike's advice on where to run SmartSDR. Interesting thought to use older equipment, and in my case my current Ideapad, as the remote PC. It currently runs SmartSDR, FRSstack, WSJTX, and my logging program fine. It begins to sutter if I also run gridtracker. Although, I checked BIOS and it does not have an option to restart on power being restored. Perhaps because it is a low end Laptop or because it is a laptop and has an internal battery. Might be worth a try even with that drawback. Maybe there a work around the BIOS option to getting the laptop to restart on power being restored?

KD0RC

Hi Dom, I believe that is possible. Years ago we had a bank of PCs that would re-boot automatically after a power outage. They were important enough to get back in service quickly, but not so important that they needed to be on the UPS. I seem to remember setting something in the BIOS as well as in Windows power options. That was an eternity ago, so I may be mis-remembering…

I don't know how this would work with a laptop with an internal battery. If the battery is reasonably good in the laptop, I suspect that it would keep running for the duration of most power outages. A real disaster power outage (days vs hours) would be a different thing altogether.