Split Station
Topic notes for January 21, 2019 (KC7MM, NCS)
The problem:
For a fixed station, the best location for the radios and antennas sometimes is not the best spot from which to operate them.
When travelling away from the station, the capabilities of available radios and antennas are generally lower, compared to those of base stations. The lower the frequency, the more this so.
A possible solution:
Divide the station into functional parts, each self-contained and optimally located:
Connect them together through some manner of communications link:
Requires interfaces on each end of the comm link. The general setup:
[
Controls] <-> [
interface] <-> [
comm link] <-> [
interface] <-> [
Radios]
Discussion
My situation:
The best location in my home for radios is the garage
Electricity is available from our home solar system, which includes battery backup
Near the home’s electrical entry, with its ground system.
There are two openings through the roof that can be used for transmission lines.
The garage is not the best location to sit and operate a station.
I want a real station
Ideally, the operating desk would work identically to a single-site station, with all the normal control. That is, it would not be an on-screen computer simulation. I want tactile controls such as tuning dials and CW keys.
I would like to be able to operate from anywhere in the house, should the need arise. I’m getting old and already have some mobility limitations, which can only get more restrictive as time passes. I want to be able to have my station come to me, if necessary.
Is it possible?
The technology to do this sort of thing already exists — witness the remote stations available for use over the Internet. The interesting challenge for me is how to scale that to my needs so that I can both implement it and afford it.
To my mind, SDR makes it a realistic goal — one that can be achieved.
When the radio is a computer with standard interfaces, it can be treated as just another node on a digital network.
I expect that all new radios will be SDR within a short time, now that it can be done relatively inexpensively. (Witness SDR QRP rigs available for less that a hundred dollars.) Radio will go the way of audio, printing, photograpy, and so many others.
Can it be done with Linux?
Things working against split station
Manufacturers
Employ proprietary interfaces
Interfaces are inconsitent between products from the same manufacturer.
Rely on outdated digital technology (e.g., RS-232) for computer connectivity.
Windows-based control software predominates, even for SDR — Flex, Icom.
Commercial software
Things working for split station
Digital-mode software developed for Linux: fldigi, WSJT.
There are Linux implementations of useful types of software potentiall useful for split-station operation.
The popularity of the Raspberry Pi is a powerful force inducing people to use and develop for Linux.
-
DIY
hamlib library with language bindings (Python and others)
-
Comm links
Preference: use radio, on Ham frequencies if possible.
On a network, possibly use VNC for remote operation of a station computer.
Legality question: can control signals be encrypted?
Mesh with commercial routers
This would be nice, as it would make the entire system Amateur Radio. There are Amateur frequencies on both WIFI allocations of the 3 and 5 GHz bands.
LAN
WIFI
Ethernet
Use
rtl_tcp
to send data over
LAN. Dongle connected to NSLU2.
HERE This could be used in a split-station scenario.
-
WAN
Internet
Cell phone or POTS?