LP Remote Overview
Most of the hardware required for the N8LP remote system is installed at the remote (server) location. Please refer to the diagram below for an overview of the system.
Remote Site: Hardware
The required pieces are:
Lantronix Serial Device Server - Several models are available in configs from 1 channel to 32. These are used to convert the station components like rig and rotator from RS-232 serial port devices to TCP port devices that are network accessible. You will need one channel for each serial device you want to place on the network. The cost/channel goes down as you buy devices with support for more channels. I tried a number of brands, but the Lantronix worked best. New models that work well are the UDS100, UDS200 and MSS4. My recommendation for a new unit is the UDS200 if handshaking is not needed, or the more expensive MSS4 if you need handshaking. They offer the most bang for the buck and have one ethernet port and multiple RS232 ports with DB9 connectors. An older unit that offers more ports is the ETS8P, technically a "terminal server", but should work with most serial devices. They can usually be found on eBay for about $50, but they are more difficult to install and configure than the UDS200, which takes minutes to install.
WiFi Device Servers - This is a more expensive alternative, but Lantronix also makes a 802.11b to serial adapter similar to the UDS200, but with a small antenna instead of the ethernet port. It runs about $350 and has two serial ports. These would be a simple solution for home use between an upstairs computer and a basement station for instance. There are also some Bluetooth devices out that plug into a serial port on each end of a link and act as wireless serial cables between the two ports.
3Com ISDN LanModem - Or another network routing device, depending on your network connection. The 3Com ISDN LanModem that I use is a combination of an ISDN Modem and a router. If you can only get a standard POTS phone line, 3Com also makes a 56k LanModem. The 3Coms are no longer in production, but can often be spotted on eBay.
An acceptable alternative is a router connected directly to a LAN, or to a DSL/Cable Modem. Another feasible alternative is a "Wi-Fi" wireless access point with a built-in router. This is what I use at home to control my station from my laptop computer anywhere in the house.
Relay Controllers and A/D inputs - Optional devices include relay controllers, A/D converters for remote monitoring of analog signals and remote status detectors for displaying On/Off status of remote devices. In my case, I am using a 16 channel relay controller from EECI (see equipment list below for details). The last four relays are connected to a homebrew antenna switch which accepts BCD coded data and switches up to 10 relays that are band specific. Commercial devices are also available from Top Ten Devices. I am also using a 16 channel A/D converter card from EECI. These two cards connect together over one serial port. The A/D card is interfaced to the audio line, Wattmeter, AC & DC lines, etc. The interfaces range from simple resistive dividers to op-amp type instrumentation amps in order to convert the range of the signal being monitored to 0-5 VDC. I have developed a remote board of my own called LP-Remote that is aimed strictly at remote ham use. It offers 16 relays, expandable to 64, as well as 6 buffered analog inputs with gain controls, 8 opto-isolated logic inputs, 2 buffered analog outputs, a builtin frequency counter and temperature sensor. All terminals are screw type, and the relays provide 5/10A contacts for NO and NC. The board has an LCD display for diagnostics and local monitoring of input and output status.
Rotator Controllers - I use a Yaesu G-1000SDX rotator with a Rotorcard interface. You can have as many rotators as you like, of course, but each one will require another Serial Device Server. If you want to use the LP-Rotor control panel shown in the Introduction, you will need a Hy-Gain rotator with a DCU-1 or Rotor-EZ interface, or a Yaesu rotator with a Rotorcard interface. I believe Alfa-Spid can also emulate Hy-Gain protocol, and should therefore work with LP-Rotor. I like LP-Rotor because it provides a consistent interface that will work while using any control program, and also will echo commands from TRX-Manager while it is in use, while giving continuous feedback on position.
Miscellaneous - Of course, a linear amplifier, or any other serially controllable device can be added as necessary.
Audio Interfacing and Backup Control - On the audio side, I use a Broadcast Tools DC8-Plus Dial-Up Remote Control which provides an audio hybrid for send/receive isolation and signal interfacing to the ISDN line. It includes an auto-answer function, and allows for passwords to connect. It also includes 3 status detectors, with auto-dialout of 3 different phone numbers with preset messages to alert me to panic problems at any time. It also includes a DTMF decoder which drives 8 relays, so that I can have an independent backup control interface for critical control functions, as required by FCC. I use one of these relays as a hardware reset for the station equipment in case something locks up.
Remote Site: Software
Another option for a serial server is to utilize an old computer with several com ports, and serial server software. There are acceptable software choices available both commercially and in shareware. For commercial software I have used Serial/Server from Tactical software, but this is no longer available and its replacement is not a cost effective solution. A shareware program I have used successfully is IPCOMserver. It costs $50 for ten ports and appears quite stable, but is not as easy to configure.
Home Site: Hardware
The only required hardware pieces here are the network access device, audio interfacing and of course, the computer. In my case I use another 3Com ISDN LanModem for network access. Other acceptable devices would be the same list as those that were mentioned for the remote site.
For audio I use a homebrew hybrid for audio interfacing, along with a touch-tone phone for dialing into and controlling of the remote audio interface. There are a couple of brands of hybrid coupler LSI modules that can be used as the core of a homebrew coupler. They used to run about $20, but I haven't looked at pricing lately. Check out ...www.cermetek.com and www.xecom.com.
I also have a mic amp to bring microphone audio up to line level, and a transformer-based soundcard interface for rtty and PSK-31 use. In addition, for cw keying I have included a tone generator so that I can use a paddle keyer, even though I also have a keyboard based keyer available in software. If you use a Rigblaster type interface box, you could press it into service for this.
Any decent Pentium class or better computer should be OK unless you are planning on running a lot of auxilliary programs. A large monitor is a plus, and dual monitors is the best way to go. You can't have enough real estate for remote control.
Home Site: Software
Device Server Clients - The main application required for the N8LP remote system is a program called Serial/IP from Tactical Software, www.tacticalsoftware.com. This application allows all of the other apps to communicate with the remote devices. At the remote (server) site, the Lantronix Servers convert the serial ports on each piece of station equipment into a TCP port which is network accessible. At the home (client) site, Serial/IP converts each TCP port into a virtual com port, which can then be used by the other programs to communicate with the remote equipment. Since I built my system, Tactical has raised the price considerably for Serial/IP. A less attractive, but workable alternative is the free Lantronix Com port Redirector which you can download from their site.
User Control Programs - The remaining programs that you use are up to you. I use TRX-Manager as my main control/logging program for two reasons. First, it does just about everything I want. Even more important is that Laurent, F6DEX, the author of TRX-Manager is very involved with the program, and has a Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TRX-Manager/, where he provides daily support for the product. He is also very involved with third party developers like me, which allows me to integrate my programs with TRX-Manager. All of the "LP" programs (LP-Monitor, LP-Rotor and the SteppIR-Virtual Control Program) have hooks into TRX through OLE, and work well with it. For digital modes, I use Hamscope, which also links to TRX-Manager through OLE. This lets me have one main program for rig control and logging, with other programs "extending" it's functionality. Hamscope is a RTTY/PSK/MFSK program that integrates rig control and logging with TRX-Manager.
LP-Monitor - LP-Monitor is the main monitoring program which communicates with the EECI boards. This program is being replaced by the LP-Remote program described below. Up to 22 relays can be controlled...12 directly by 12 customizable switches, and the remaining 10 relays are controlled by the band switch section. This section sends BCD band info to the last four relays, which are connected to an antenna switch that accepts BCD data, such as those from Top Ten Devices. You can control all relay functions from either LP-Monitor or TRX-Manager, and they can run simultaneously. LP-Monitor also provides 8 meters that display the analog data from the EECI A/D board. The meters can be user defined to display any function over any range.
LP-Remote - I am about to release a new remote controller board of my own design, It is aimed directly at the needs of hams, offers every option you could need, and provides isolation and/or conditioning of all inputs and outputs for easy interfacing. There are two versions of a program called LP-Remote that I am developing (target date Oct. 1, 2005) to control my LP-Remote hardware board. The freeware version will do most of what you would need, but I am also going to offer a more complex one that allows for complex patching of relay control through macros, along with the option of pulsed relays in addition to continuous operation. Check the LP-Remote section of my website for more info.
LP-Rotor - LP-Rotor interfaces to the remote rotator control box. LP-Rotor will control any Hy-Gain rotor that uses the DCU-1 computer interface or the RotorEZ interface. It also will control a Yaesu -SDX or -GDA series rotator using the correct RotorCard interface. RotorEZ and RotorCard are available from Idiompress (www.idiompress.com). LP-Rotor provides a continuous, high-resolution display of beam heading. It allows 4 different methods of presetting a beam heading...point/click/drag, keyboard entry, slider bar, and DDE linking to TRX-Manager. A heading can be set in TRX-Manager from the log or DX packet cluster, and LP-Rotor will execute the move. Control can be initiated or stopped from TRX or LP-Rotor independently. LP-Rotor allows for reverse antenna mounting and offset mounting.
Equipment List:
Below is a list of equipment used, along with street prices where commercial gear is used. I have also indicated acceptable alternatives, along with web addresses for manufacturers.
Serial Device Servers...
Lantronix UDS200-01, $175, RS-232 to 10/00baseT, two channel, www.lantronix.com.
Lantronix ETS8P, $650, RS-232 to 10/100baseT, 8 channels
The ETS8P can usually be found on eBay for around $50. It is technically a "terminal" server, and is a bit more difficult to get running than the UDS200, and requires special RJ45 to DB9 adapters/cables.
These are available from www.provantage.com and others.
There is also the option of using an old computer with serial server software. IPCOMServer is available for $39 shareware for up to 10 ports from http://www.tigme.com/software_index.htm
3Com ISDN LanModem...
www.3com.com, also available in 56k version, no longer in production. Look on eBay for these. I have also used a Linksys router, $50, with my DSL/Cable modem, and a Microsoft Wireless Access Point.
Relay Controller/ADC...
Electronic Energy Control Inc., www.eeci.com, ADC-16 A/D converter board $99, EX-16 relay driver board $89,
Power Cube $10. Relay cards of 8 relays each are ~ $90 each.
LP-Remote, www.telepostinc.com/lpremote.html, provides extensive remote control capability, aimed at ham use. Also available as a kit.
Audio Hybrid/DTMF Decoder...
Broadcast Tools Inc., DC8-Plus, $380, www.broadcasttools.com. I used this commercial unit for the
remote site, but built a homebrew unit for the home site.
Antenna Switch...
TopTen Devices, www.qth.com/topten ...$125
Array Solutions, www.arraysolutions.com ...$349
microHam, www.microham-usa.com, ...$309
These companies also offer band decoders for BCD band data.