Bob: > On May 14, 2019, at 11:01 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <rmcg...@blomand.net> wrote: > > Consider adding a local phone and a touchtone decoder to do some basic > functions, on off, resets, and etc. More reliable than the internet and it > makes the station "legal" having a secondary means of control.
The Elecraft K3/RRC-1258MKII package recognizes when a connection is lost and will not command the K3 to transmit once connectivity is lost. The Flex configurations I use also recognize when external control is lost. Given that these radio manufacturers provide products with ‘positive control’ for remote operating and the manufacturers don’t provide any instructions on the need for ’secondary means of control’, my presumption is that using these products does not require a telco backup to legally use their products. As an example of how well the Elecraft/RRC-1258MKII approach works: I was in Texas and tried to turn on the K3. No joy. The LCD screen of the K3/IO-Mini had an error message indicating that PTT was on as the radio was being powered up and would not complete the connection process to prevent inadvertent transmission. When I got to Georgia I tried to power up the K3 and saw the same error message on the K3 and it wouldn’t fully ‘boot’ (e.g. no receiver). I subsequently discovered that somehow the external PTT switch assembly (which has a momentary PTT as well as separate lockable on position) at the ham shack was somehow left in the ‘locked on’ condition. Removed the PTT lock and the K3 booted normally and subsequent test with the K3/IO-Mini confirmed that it was working as well. Nice. That said. presumably the key control is the ability to prevent the transmitter from operating. One way to do this would be to turn off the 12VDC feeding the transceiver. So the approach I use is a R4005i for internet access that feeds 12 VDC output to the radio so that it adds a second means of powering down the transceiver (the first being the radio’s remote on/off connection.) The R4005i output port would be ‘on’ to provide 12 VDC to power the transceiver. In my case, I use a separate R4005i to provide power to each transceiver. This is particularly helpful with the Flex because I can force a master reboot by removing power to the transceiver in addition to controlling through remote on/off via a relay. True, I’m using internet as the only conduit into the shack, but I do have the ability to inhibit transmitter operation through multiple means. I always turn off the radios when not in use as the turning off the K3/IO-mini turns off the K3 as well . For the Flex I can access the R4005i to shut down Remote on/off as well as do master shutdown as a matter of course. Given that the shack is in SE Georgia where thunderstorms are prevalent , I alway power down when not in use as well as isolate the antenna connection through use of a Paradan Antenna Disconnect Device for each transceiver that disconnects the coax when power is removed from the transceiver. 73, Barry WD4ASW > > Bob, K4TAX > > > Sent from my iPhone > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
