I. How to Remote Control Your Radio with Voice

I. Introduction

a. Background

i. How to remote control your radio with voice.

1. Remote control also allows you to do digital modes

2. Remote control also allows you to do CW

ii. Very involved process when using Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD), TRX-Manager. FlDigi doesn’t support remote as far as I know.

iii. Difficult to get required port forwarding to work

iv. There has to be an easier way.

b. Support

i. HRD has good support but cannot help with port forwarding through your router, firewall, or other Windows issues

ii. TRX-Mgr has good support but can’t do digital modes

II. Purpose

a. Find a easier way to use voice on remote control

b. Use the minimum number of hardware and software controls

III. Audience: Any Ham wishing to remote control their radio

IV. Equipment required

a. Minimum requirements

i. Computer dedicated to the radio (HOST)

ii. A radio. HF, VHF/UHF, or both. Capable of CAT control

iii. Sound card interface, such as SignaLink, RigBlaster, MFJ

iv. 2 Skype accounts

1. One on the Host computer with an account name (i.e., Radio)

2. One on the Remote computer with an account name (i.e., Mike)

3. (Optional) One on your smartphone (can be the same account as the remote)

b. Optional Equipment

i. Computer to be used for remote control (REMOTE). May also use a smartphone.

ii. CAT cable connected from the HOST computer to the radio RS-232 port

iii. TeamViewer or other remote access software. (Does not have to be running for remote control but may be required if you want to QSY on HF or change modes and/or memory channels on VHF/UHF)

iv. Rig control (CAT) software such as HRD, TRX-Manager, FlDigi. (Does not have to be running for remote control but may be required if you want to QSY on HF or change memory channels on VHF/UHF)

(Optional) Wired or wireless headset for the Remote computer

V. Setup

a. Rig Control software and interfaces should already be installed, configured and operational. How to do this is beyond the scope of this article.

i. Include CAT cable between computer and radio

ii. Include sound card interface and cable

b. Install TeamViewer (free for personal use) on both HOST and REMOTE computers. Can also be installed on your smartphone but it difficult to use on a phone.

c. Install Skype on HOST and REMOTE and smartphone if desired.

VI. Operation

a. HOST computer must be on. This powers up the sound card interface

b. Launch TeamViewer on HOST and REMOTE computers. This is optional.

i. This allows your REMOTE computer to completely control the HOST computer.

ii. TeamViewer does NOT have to be running for remote control but is very useful to do so.

c. Launch Skype on both HOST and REMOTE computers (or smartphone)

d. Skype on the HOST

i. Skype on the HOST must have a different name than the REMOTE account

ii. Set Skype to auto answer on the HOST

iii. Set Skype to accept call only from the Contacts list on the HOST

iv. The Contacts list should only have the name of the REMOTE Skype account

e. Skype on the REMOTE or Smartphone

i. Skype on the REMOTE must have a different name than the HOST account. You can use the same account name on the Smartphone app.

ii. The Contacts list should only have the name of the REMOTE Skype account if you only use Skype for remote control. Otherwise, other contact names are OK.

iii. A wired or wireless headset is useful to reduce or eliminate extraneous room noises.

iv. IMPORTANT: You MUST use Skype’s Microphone mute button. This is the Tx/Rx switch for remote voice. If you leave the Skype microphone on you will never hear receive audio and you will antagonize repeater users.

VII. When you are done with your remote session.

a. Close Skype on the REMOTE computer or Smartphone.

b. Skype on the HOST computer can continue to run but I would suggest closing it if you are not going to start another remote session soon.

VIII. Have fun!!

(A simplified method of remote control with voice, v0.1)