Setting up Remotehams access under v. 2.0

Gerry Jurrens

I am planning to purchase and install v. 2.0 next week. I have seen a lot of interesting posts on the board (some are downright frightening!). I was wondering if anyone has set up access to their 6xxx radios via RemoteHams.com? I did a search but there wasn't anything specific to v. 2.0 and most posts were a couple of years old. I'd be interested in a step-by-step "training aid" that outlines what needs to be done (if it's even possible). Thank you all in advance. 73

David

Are you asking if remotehams.com RCForb server will work with the 2.0 release or just in general how to use RCForb server with the FlexRadio? I don't believe the 2.0 release impacts the remotehams RCForb server setup and use.

Gerry Jurrens

Thank you, David. Yes, I was asking "if remotehams.com RCForb server will work with the 2.0 release"  Exactly. Appreciate your taking the time to reply. 73

James Skala

Yes it will, I'm am using it now. Remote is up and running KY4JLS

WX7Y

The 6000 series does not need version 2 as RCFORB is it's own client / server software that just connects to the radio using DAX and CAT. 
The older instructions on the WEB are still correct  to connect the radio to the computer and use it remotely just like ANY other sound card Software like FLDIGI ect.

I've been using RCFORB for many years now but on a FLEX 3000 not the expensive 6700 which works great.

good luck 
Bret
WX7Y

Norm - W7CK

Yes, RCForb will work just fine with your 6000 running v2.x.   RCForb doesn't really care what version of SmartSDR you are using as it connects via CAT.  I've used it for years and have had very good success with it.  You won't have a scope or waterfall, but you will have solid remote access to your 6000.  There are also a number of amplifiers, antenna matching units and rotors that RCForb is also able to control.  I have been using Elecraft the KPA500 and KAT500 for over 5 years and  have never had a single issue with it.

Have fun...

Gerry Jurrens

Thank you, Norm. I run into folks with 6xxx's on remotehams from time to time. I've never investigated how to run it on my station, but I'm very interested in doing it - you might say, I have a vested interest in getting it to work...I may be in a deed-restricted situation soon and will be looking for alternatives to stealthy flagpoles, etc.!

normancyyj

How can you make a 6600 use RemoteHams.com and not SmartLink?

WX7Y

Hopefully the Pictures will come through if not contact me direct and my QTH.com email

If you have already set your radio to work with a Digital mode your most of the way there.

1:Download the RDFORB server software on your computer your planning on using to talk to your Radio using SmartSDR. You need to register YOUR Server Call sign with RemoteHams.com

2: Load SmartSDR (any version that will run on the Flex6600) and start it running. IMPORTANT: If you have a 6600M you still need to have the computer to run SmartSDR, SmartCAT, SmartDAX, and RCFORB server.

3: have SmartSDR autoload DAX and CAT select the Audio

4: Configure a CAT com port on the Windows computer using the SmartCAT program and remember what com port it is, If your going to run CW I think you also need a COM port for that.

5: enable DAX for slice Channel 1 in the Windows SmartSDR slice and enable DAX in the FAR left MIC settings panel.

6: now in the RCFORB Options tab select the Audio configuration your settings should look similar to this Picture then "save and close".

7: then in the RCFORB Options tab select the Radio configuration your settings should look similar to this Picture (YOUR COM PORT WILL BE DIFFERANT)

8: now Click Save and Restart, The server may come back minimized, if so it will be down by the Clock Small black eyeball

You will need to configure YOUR Internet connection to allow what ever ports your using through to the Computer with RCForb server on it IF your router can't AUTO Establish the ports for you, Read on the BLACK server screen and it will tell you if it makes back to the RCFORB server for authentication.

9: set the server up for users access once everything else is working.

73

Bret WX7Y

normancyyj

ThThanks for the info Bret. I was running my F

normancyyj

Thanks for the info Bret. I was running my FTDX3000 thru RemoteHams and my 6600 thru Smartlink. Unfortunately Telus my ISP is now using CGNAT. Very unfortunate, I had the 3000 remoted for some shut in Hams and the 6600 for me, now nothing works. I was hoping to try and get the 3000 to work thru TailScale and the 6600 but so far no success. The guys using the 3000 loved it.

Mike-VA3MW

How much does Telus want for a non-CGNAT address/month?

normancyyj

A business account $107.

normancyyj

Digital modes are great Mike using Chrome remote desktop. Right now Telus is charging me $35/month for phone and 175g unlimited data. Jumping to $107 just seems like a huge hit. I guess I have been spoiled for the last 5.5 years operating full remote.

normancyyj

Have an interesting problem Bret. I did as you recommended above. When the server opens it starts a second slice. Any idea what i did wrong. Closing SmartSDR and restarting doesn't help. Closing and restarting the server doesn't help. If I close one of the slices a few seconds later the second slice starts up. Also when the server starts it asked to open DAX 1 it is open.

WX7Y

You did NOTHING wrong, If all is working right you should have Slice A for VFO A and Slice B for VFO B on the RCForb console, the Radio should follow when you click between VFO A and VFO B in RCFORB, and the DAX Port will also follow the Slice. The VFO B (Small) knob changes the VFO frequency and Large knob changes the VFO A Frequency.

I don't think you can turn this feature off It is built into the FLEX SmartSDR setup file in RCFORB.

I tried using a Kenwood TS480 and TS2000 as the radio settings but that broke a lot of other stuff.

good job

Bret WX7Y

normancyyj

Thanks, I feel better. Now to see if I can get rcForbes to work thru TailScale and cgnat.

WX7Y

I would be interested in the Tailscale outcome so keep me in the loop there if you could.

73

Bret WX7Y

normancyyj

Right now Bret I have rcForbes controlling the audio path to and from the Flex. There is a bit of latency on the start of the transmission but for rag chewing not an issue. I am using Chrome remote desktop to control the 6600. I did have rcForbes controlling the Flex but had no audio, haven't figured out what happened to the control when the audio appeared. This is all thru Tailscale. Remotehams always connects to their server. I also seem to have a problem with two or more devices using one of the rcForbes ports but haven't found it yet, at least I am better off than I was a couple of days ago. Will keep you posted and if you have any ideas I welcome them.

WX7Y

I think it is tailscale doesn't have a way to share port address on the same computer which is what I found to be the issue here when I was testing it.

Latency is a normal thing with the Internet communications fortunately RCFORB has a way to compensate for a lot of Latency so your Transmit key down doesn't stop before the Audio finish's.

Make sure your DAX on the computer doesn't show yellow of dark and your RCFORB audio settings are correct, SOMETIMES if thing go squirrely with DAX you need to END the DAX program and re-start it.

not sure if any of this helps but there you go

73

Bret WX7Y

normancyyj

I think I have won! I had a couple of ports were being used in more than one stance, changed the port assignment and now all appears to be working. Will give it a try for a few days and see how it works. Thanks for your help Bret.

Mike-VA3MW

Tailscale should work for an application such as this. It does not hold back or hide any ports. Yes, you can get port conflicts if you are trying to use the same port at the same time on the same computer. However, if you are addressing different computer with the same port number, that is not a conflict as the source port number is often a random port number.

I discuss TailScale in my latest presentation on our YouTube channel.

WX7Y

Mike, I had this happen as it sounds like Norman has too so I beg to differ.

I have two RCFORB servers running both on different internet networks and gateways. When I had tailscale up and connected and linking the two together so both computers where on the same tailscale Networks the RCFORB servers would toggle so that ONLY ONE was available at a time to others using the RCFORB CLIENT, nothing else could have been causing this because there was NO OTHER Connections, and what cured it was to drop the Tailscale connection on one of the Servers so with each server having it's own Gateway and internet connection on different subnets this should not have happened but it did. This can be recreated just by turning the Tailscale connection back on and can be fixed by changing the ports in use on one of the RCFORB servers as Norm stated. So YES IT CAN HAPPEN on different computers with Tailscale.

normancyyj

If I really need to see the scope and waterfall it's just a mater opening Chrome RD and watching it. It will be nice if Flex Radio someday addresses this problem that more and more of us are going to experience as the ISPs start using cgnat.

normancyyj

Do you have a link to the tailscale YouTube Mike.

normancyyj

Hi Bret, I now have RemAud in conjunction with Chrome Remote Desk Top working to completely control the 6600. Much less latency than using RemoteHams.com. All through Tailscale and thru CGNAT.

Mike-VA3MW

https://youtu.be/W8QSAGgMang?si=73rqHv2WL_e4fdPw

Mick W8BE

I have to ask…what is the reason to use RCForb or Chrome Remote Desktop instead of SmartLink? I can't speak for RCForb but Chrome Remote Desktop is a VNC type application and requires a pc at the remote site. I could see using it if you are running a pre 6xxx Flex radio , but for any 6xxx or 8xxx SmartLink is the obvious choice.

KD0RC

Hi Mick, I use RCForb occasionally so that I can operate remotely with just my Android cell phone. My technique is to leave my laptop connected running SmartSDR, RCForb Server, TeamViewer and all of my Flex utilities, rotator control, etc.

I use TeamViewer to control most things, but it is brutally difficult to tune the radio this way. For tuning and PTT, I use RCForb where the UI is well suited for a small phone screen. RCForb also passes audio from the phone to the radio for transmit. Works well and sounds good.

If I am operating remotely and have my laptop with me, I use SmartLink to control the radio plus TeamViewer to operate my rotator, amp, tuner, etc.

Mick W8BE

Ah I see. As far as using TeamViewer for remote control of non radio devices. I would have to recommend using Node-RED to control the devices and then you only have to run a browser window to access the Ui. Currently our club uses Node-RED to control 2 Flex radios and 2 beams on a Pi 4. If you are the only user, then you could just use tailscale for connectivity to Node-RED. Since we have multiple users our Pi runs an encrypted (LetsEncrypt) Nginx reverse proxy service on a FQDN.

Regards

normancyyj

The reason for not using Smartlink is my ISP is using CGNAT. With CGNAT you cannot assign ports and Smartlink will not operate thru CGNAT, hence a different way to use the Flex Radio remotely.