It seems I keep running into more folks who are also using the TS-480S (or
attempting to) for Remote Station use in conjunction with WriteLog.
If this is not a topic of interest to you personally, please delete this very
lengthy post now!
Since Joe, W4TV, has posted WL + MicroHam MK2R+ info here, it seems to be an
appropriate place to get further into the nuts and bolts of this matter.
I'm finding the issues involved in pursuing a fully SO2R "Remote Station" venue
with dual TS-480S rigs to be quite mind boggling, but it is the necessary way
of the future for many of us with CC&R challenged QTHs.
Personally, I hate using a mouse and want to physically turn knobs and push
buttons, and know there are others like me. I went to Pacificon to talk with
the Kenwood folks about possibly buying two additional TS-480S control heads,
and somehow find a tech guru who could figure out how to interface these for
remote operation with the N4PYsoftware program. When I explained my needs to
Phil from Kenwood, he immediately walked me over to a booth where what I was
seeking had just been done...but involving BlueTooth. I'm now trying to
pursuade those "visionary" folks to incorporate an Ethernet interface for
direct connectivity to some 5GB point-to-point gear. That saga continues...
So getting to the MKR2+, this appears to have more promise for a Remote SO2R
situation than my current DXD (my arms are not long enough to reach 4 miles to
throw the toggle switches when needed and the footswich cable too short :-)
The following is a lengthy list of questions (some non-remote SO2R in nature),
but I'm posting them here because others may have additional thoughts
pertaining to the MK2R+ questions for Remote SO2R with the TS-480S rigs and
WriteLog all working together. This is also compatible with a statement from a
MicroHam webpage:
===
If you have an idea for a new product, the need for
custom designed station control system, or special
high power RF systems for commercial applications,
please contact us. We will be happy to assist you
and offer you fresh solutions to many of the "well known"
problems which face amateurs at all levels.
===
First:
> (From MICROHAM MK2R+ Features info)
> - compatible with LPT interface (CT, TR, NA)
Why isn't WL (WriteLog) listed? :-)
1. Am I understanding the MKR2+ has integrated USB to dual Serial Port
connectivity for RS-232 SO2R rig control purposes?
2. Regarding Kenwood audio cables, I have a problem with the pre-made
cables for the DXD...the audio is fuzzy/washing, which I believe is a
ground related problem in the DXD. How does the MKR2+ handle
Kenwood TS-480S audio connectivity?
3. I am currently using SignaLink SL-1+ units to get WriteLog .wav file
output into the TS-480S rigs). The TS-480 does not allow Menu #60 external
audio input and "VOX" to work at the same time. Can the MK2R+ somehow
enable both uses?
4. In a contest where both DVK (in my case, WriteLog SSB Message
.wav files play) and direct microphone voice input to the rigs
is desired...both within a single QSO...can MK2R+ handle this?
5. It appears direct audio input to the TS-480 bypasses COMP
(internal TS-480 Compression), necessitating .wav files to be
PRE-Compressed before use. Is there a Compression schema in the
MK2R+ to provide separate compression on .wav files played from WriteLog's
SSB Messages?
6. A real BIGGIE...Footswitch control...my DXD has a mod installed
which enables me to use a footswitch when desired to put the ONLY the
audio from the SO2R "focus" radio into both ears. This is extremely
critical when being called by a weak, QRP type signal on the Run Radio!
Does the MKR2+ have this capability?
7. My HEIL HC-4 headset uses a 1/8" mono plug for mic and a 1/4"
stereo phone plug for audio. HOW do BOTH of these plug in right
next to each other on the back of the MK2R+ ? I couldn't find the
headphone audio jack on the MicroHAM back-panel layout. I have a
Kenwood RJ-45 adaptor for the mic but without a long extension
cable for the RX audio, this is always pain-in-the-butt ;-(
8. My Dell D-600 notebook computer has only ONE soundcard. Am I
understanding the the MK2R+ has TWO internal soundcards...
which can both be used for VOICE (Radio 1 & Radio 2)??? This is
extremely important for "Contest-Pedition" operation(s).
9. Is there any problem with the TS-480S friendly KRC2 Band Decoder
piggybacking to the RS-232 ports on the TS-480 rigs interfaced to the MKR2+?
10. Does the MK2R+ enable SO2R Audio RECORDING via WriteLog's internal
Tools/Soundboard options configuration?
11. Is there a stereo output jack on the MK2R+ (1/8" Mini Stereo
or 1/4" Stereo) for direct routing of audio to Mini-DV camera
audio input (or any other external recording unit)? If not, this
is a needed feature...especially since more ops are also going
"live" on the net. Yes, this would be very functionallly convenient.
12. Will X-KEYS (USB Macro Devices - http://www.piengineering.com )
or other external USB macro devices connect directly to the MK2R+ ? If not,
can
this capability be added? The reason is to have certain MK2R+ operational
control right-at-my-fingertips ON the keyboard (I am having 6 banks of 10
X-KEYS
custom mounted on a new Ergonomic Keyboard).
13. MKR2+ Optional antenna relay control...does this work with the Array
Solutions 6PAK?
14. What about Array Solutions StackMatch or Comtech stacking switches?
15. Is there separate CW Sidetone for remote station use local monitoring? For
SO2R
Remote, due to latency issues, trying to monitor CW back from the rig just
won't
cut the mustard.
16. Is there a Doomsday (Crash/Fail Safe) relay or mechanism to still
allow at least Radio 1 thru-put for continued operation in the event
of a massive MK2R+ failure?
17. Is there an Ethernet connection and home QTH basic MKR2+ "control head"
for remote operation available or in the works? Just like the company who
now has the Black Box decoders to enable the TS-480S control heads to be
at the home QTH and interface with the remote rig "bodies", being able to have
the basic MKR2+ installed at the remote site and Ethernet connectivity to a
mini-control panel on the other end appears to be a necessity. Acom and
other amps have remote modules (albeit via hardwire connections). Taking this
approach vs. some kind of TSR software front-end that uses valuable resources
and also requires use of the #&^@ "mouse" would be more effective for
high-speed
SO2R CW Contesting.
{Pause}
I'm sure I will have some additional questions later :-)
For those who think low latency SO2R "Remote Station" operation is impossible
Science Fiction, think again. It does require, however, Manufacturer
"Visionaries" to help pull it all together.
MicroHAM appears to be on the cutting edge here and perhaps the most likely
candidate to provide the needed solution in this matter for those of us
pursuing such a venue.
Tnx & 73...
Rick, K6VVA
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