Collective SOTA wisdom: is there a VHF rig that you can use and control wireless?
So my antenna socket is in the attic, base-station is connected, and I can monitor 145.500 FM remotely from the bedroom or kitchen, and can talk and control the frequency remotely.
The only solution I had previously was a Yaesu FT-8900 with cross-banding enabled, and talking through with a handheld - but that didn’t allow me to change frequency.
Many thanks, Mark
Hi Mark,
The ic706/7000, possibly 7100 series were able to be remotely controlled. One of the remote rig kits was specifically for the icoms. More recent remote systems might not cater for such old gear!
As you may recall Guru EA2IF used a series 1 706 and a remote rig setup. Your needs are somewhat less demanding, no internet needed.
73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA
and
with the beta firmware I got from the developer.
Combined with a Mumble server and VPN to access from whereever you want.
I just did not found the time to set it up myself…
73 Joe
IC9700 + WFView software
I remotely control my FT-857D (using RCForb software). I did the same with an IC-706MKIIG. I realize neither of these are still in production 
I recall that Icom made some dual band D-star rigs that had CAT control. There was also a Kenwood H/T (maybe TH-72A) that had CAT control.
It would be interesting to DIY something. Raspberry Pi, Webcam to see the display, servo wired to GPIO to turn the VFO, soundcard + VOX to get the audio in/out.
Looks like my IC-705 might do the trick! Going to investigate. SDR Control looks to be good.
Mark.
S2S are way more effektive than normal chasing.
That’s why I did not follow up the remote chasing rig.
WFView should work with an IC705 too.
It does
What’s more it works via an Ethernet or Wifi connection on your home network
Rick
705 only connects via wifi.
Duh - Sorry you are of course correct, no Ethernet
Rick
I do wish it had ethernet though!
2m is quiet around these parts and I’ve thought about setting up a remote VHF station with SDR control on my phone and the 705. With hamalerts for any 2m activity in GM/ES, I could jump on and try and give them another contact.
Yet to do anything about it mind you.
I agree Joe - but this is primarily so I start leaving the radio on for VHF contacts locally. I’ve noticed that the number of chasers here in the Lake District with VHF has dropped over the past year or so, and I feel a bit of a hypocrite not having the radio on when I am working, so I can provide one of the possibly vital contacts for folk who are only carrying a handheld.
I’d forgotten about wfview but that gives me exactly what I need without having to spend any money, at least initially. I probably need to invest in another duplexer however.
Cheers, Mark.
We’ve just upgraded to full fibre - and the wireless access points that Fibrus supply are super quick compared to the previous ones I’ve used (to be fair I never spent a lot of money). I see 100 MB/sec and more over them, which is effectively GB networking speed. Very impressive.
External connection is equally impressive: 950 MB download and 300 MB upload.
Of course the IC-705 will be limited to whatever specification the internal chipset supports.
Cheers, Mark.
Mark you might want to have a look at that video if you are not familiar with that method:
73 Joe
…thanks for that Joe, very useful knowledge…
Geoff vk3sq
Hi Mark,
Hey how about the VGC VRN7500 - see the video here:
It is a 2m/70cm radio that is Bluetooth attached and I think you can use an App on your smartphone to control/tune it over your home WiFi.
Sounds like it might be what you are looking for?
73 Ed.
UPDATE:
It appears connectivity to the radio box is Bluetooth not WiFi , so you would need to position the radio in BT range of your shack (10m unrestricted). Or add Bluetootht repeater such as one of these half way between the radio box and the shack - check it does what you need first - if not this (cheapest) one, that are multimode versions for a few pounds more:
73 Ed.
I too would like to be in chaser mode for those hardy activators who are braving this freezing weather. But I’m not going to sit in my unheated outside shack when even our long-haired cats – who sleep most of the year in the garage – are coming inside most of the day and night.
In previous winters I’ve run the coax feeder for my 80-10m OCF dipole and/or the one for my V2000 6/2/0.7m collinear (on the bungalow chimney) into the upstairs attic conversion. But it is and will be occupied by visiting guests for a month or two.
I have a FT857 and a FT817 doing nowt in the shack and have ‘remotely’ controlled both via cables to a PC 1m(!) away. I will investigate the RCForb software option. Does anyone know if the other above solutions can be used with these older rigs?
If you already have a shack PC that can control the radios then just “ssh” yourself in to that PC from another. If it’s Windows of some flavour, then Windows own RDP will move audio aswell as video and keystrokes, mouse clicks etc.
Nice idea. Sadly, I have just the one (elderly) Windows 10 laptop which I take out to the shack when it’s warm enough to sit there.
