VARC currently has a remote controlled radio that allows access to the HF bands. Members of the club can be given access to the remote which will allow them to both receive and transmit from the cabin site from the comfort of their home using a PC/laptop. This is a Windows only system.
This facility allows for members to operate a radio in an RF quiet evironment (minimum interference – QRM) with a set up that many can not hope to set up at home, either because of space, local QRM or with too much risk of annoying family and neighbours!
We are looking to run two remote stations from the site, one on the opti-beam (10, 15 and 20m) and the other on an end fed and a 4/6m dual band beam, with a switching arrangement giving most bands between 80 and 4m! At present we have just the one which is at present connected to an end fed wire giving all bands from 80m upwards on HF. The current remote uses an IC-7300 which is capable of giving 100 watts output. In the near future we are looking to set up a Yaesu FTdx10 for the lower HF bands and the 4 and 6m beam while the IC-7300 will run on the optibeam giving 10, 15 and 20m.
We have a number of PDF documents that you can download from the links below. We are using the ‘Remotehams’ system, so if you are a member that is looking to use the remote, then you will need to go to the Remotehams website (www.remotehams.com) and create an account. For the username use you callsign in lower case. If you then let me know your callsign (peter@g0oik.co.uk) I can then add it to the list of operators which will give control over the remote when you log in.
VARC Remotehams PDFs
Software
Receiver Controls
Chat Room and Etiquette
SSB and Data Setup
N1MM+ setup and CW Operation