Remote

Paul F6EXV

Hi there

A friend of mine just ordered an Aurora and he wonders what is exactly required to operate remote (real remote, not just at home on the home LAN.

Please inform for both sides of the station.

Is a Maestro sufficent on the remote to operate the distant Aurora. How is the sound fed back (phone and CW) ?

What is required to operate FT8 ?

Thanks + 73

Paul F6EXV

Arnold Goldman

I have a 6600M 8600M and 520M they all work the same way with the Maestro B and C if you re like me old fashioned and like knobs and the feel of a real radio; only complaint i have is with the C mike connections is i like the J45 connection but otherwise the B and C work fine

Erik Carling EI4KF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoBCRc17ZIQ

Paul F6EXV

Hi

Arnold : thanks for the answer that it works fine. But how ?

ZErik : thanks for the video, but there is not much explantion on what is required.

Is a Maestro enough at home to control the remote Aurora ? On all modes ?

Can the Maestro connect to the internet just on its own ?

TU + 73

Paul F6EXV

Erik Carling EI4KF

Yes, connect the Maestro to the internet, open the Radio menu, and log in using the same SmartLink credentials as your home (or remote) radio.

Arnold Goldman

yes see above hook the maestro into the router and all should work; i have one switch for my 520M 8600M tgxl and pgxl in my radio room and my maestro C in another room; i use the B at my wife apt as well as in the office; with the maestro it is like having the radio right in front of you; just make sure you are logged into smart sdr from your home station; it will ask you to push the PTT on your radio at home otherwise remote will not work; the manual says that they want to make sure that it is your home network

Paul F6EXV

Thanks for info.

Will investigate further for more precise details, but it looks simple so far !

TU +73

Paul F6EXV

John KB4DU

It normally is a plug and play setup. I suggest connecting the Maestro directly to the radio with the Flex supplied cat6 cable. Just beaware that the Maestro is a second GUI client in terms of Multi-Flex functionality.

Mike-VA3MW

Setting Up a Remote HF Station: The Essentials

Remote HF operation is incredibly rewarding, but there are a few things you’ll want to sort out before you go “fully remote.” Here’s what I’ve learned running a FlexRadio remotely:

Remote Power On/Off

The FLEX radios have an RCA connector on the back that handles remote on/off switching. Wire this up correctly and you can power cycle the radio without being physically present. This is non-negotiable for a reliable remote setup.

AC Power Control

You need a way to **** and restore AC power to the whole station remotely. Here’s a tip that might surprise you: search Amazon for a pool heater remote control. These are robust, inexpensive, and designed to switch heavy AC loads reliably. They work beautifully for this application and cost a fraction of what “official” remote power solutions run.

If you have a lot of things to turn on/off, consider building a more robust station with the SRS Station Controller. https://www.packtenna.com/station-controller.html#/

Lightning Protection

This one is critical and often overlooked until it’s too late. I strongly recommend the Lightning Protection Switch from trueladderline.com. It gives you the ability to disconnect your antenna from the radio remotely, which is exactly what you want when a storm rolls in. Don’t skimp here.

A PC at the Remote End

Put a small PC at the remote site. A mini PC or even a Raspberry Pi-class machine will do. You’ll thank yourself when a SmartSDR update drops, when something needs a reboot, or when you’re chasing a connectivity gremlin at 11pm. Remote desktop into that machine and you have full control of the environment without driving to the site.

The Big Picture

Think of your remote station as a system, not just a radio. Power control, lightning protection, and a local compute resource are what separate a frustrating experience from one that just works.

Do you have more than 1 or 2 antennas? Rotator?

I hope this helps. 73

Paul F6EXV

Hi Mike

That is quite a run down on things to think about… Thanks Mike

Therse are very important, but my wonders are more about the practicality.

Mike, can you please contact me direct by email (ok on qrz) ?

73 + TU

W2PP

Mike

Why did you cut power??? I thought that the Auro ran super efficiently and cool????

Peter

Paul F6EXV

Hi all

Weird…

That friend got his Aurora, and installed SSDR version 4.2.20 on his computer.I have version 4.2.20 on my computer

Guess what ? We do not see the exact same things on our screens.

I see the Split "button" (greyed out when not in use, red when in use), he does not have that on his screen.

Also, when I change the RX antenna on VFO A, it does not change on VFO B (I would expect it to be like this, as they are supposed to be independant).

On his side, an antenna change on VFO A also happens on VFO B.

When he has connected to the Aurora, the frequency is not the same on SSDR and on the Aurora. How can this be corrected ? I guess it is eitrher a particular setup, or they do not communicate properly…

Any idea ?

As a matter of curiosity, can I use MY 6500 to control his Auroa remotely over the internet?

TU + 73

Paul F6EXV

K1UO Larry

Hi Paul, It sounds like your friend has an AURORA 510 (Single SCU unit) while you have a 6500 (2 SCU unit) Thus the appearance and antenna change differences.

No, you cannot control his Aurora from your 6500 but it is possible to control his Aurora using SSDR must be the same level SSDR as he is using. You need your friends permission to access his Smartlink and a little port forwarding etc must be done as indicated in the Manual for Smartlink and MultiFlex use.

Paul F6EXV

Hi OLarry

Yes, he has a 510M, so it behaves as it should in fact.

I mis-expressed myself… Of course I meant my SSDR, witt my Flex, to control his Aurora "'with his permission, obviously, as he has to give me his password.

We shall read the manual again ! TYFM, right ?.

TU +73

Paul

David Decoons, wo2x

the 6699 is a single SCU/4 slice radio.

73 Dave wo2x

Geoff AB6BT

Hmmmmmm…

Paul F6EXV

Mike, VA3MW, can you please contact me directly by email ?

Mike-VA3MW

If this is regarding setting up a remote, it would be best discussed in this forum so others can learn from it and maybe even provide further ideas that I might of missed. Collaboration is the better tool.

(I'm also out on vacation until next week).

Paul F6EXV

no it is not, it's about something I cannot discuss here.

No emergency though, only urgent ! (it can wait till you return from your holidays)