Messages

1

Feature Requests / Is the Nano now a "mature" product?

« on: 2021-10-18, 14:11:24 »

I really like the Nano app for my TS480 station. It gives me the ability to check on the band activity and condition of my remote station practically wherever I am. What I am disappointed in is that there does not appear to be any development  of improvements of the product. The Nano was a $50US app, which I gladly paid to have it, but I did expect some development of the product. What is the future of the Nano product?

73, Joe, K1ike

2

General / Re: NANO Kenwood Pro problems

« on: 2021-10-18, 14:03:09 »

Well, I found the answer to the problem that I am having. I went to the remote site and found that the RS-232 connector had come loose from com2 on the RRC1258 Radio unit.

Doing a little research, I found that the Nano smartphone software communicates commands to the RRC1258 via the RS232 connector on the TS-480 transceiver, not the RJ12 on the front of the radio. The console RRC1258 communicates commands to the TS480 via the RJ12 jack and not the RS232 port on the radio. So, this is why the RRC1258 console unit could talk to the TS480 but not the Nano app. This is probably the case with the micro dongle application.

73, Joe, K1ike

3

General / NANO Kenwood Pro problems

« on: 2021-10-16, 04:37:09 »

I purchased a new Android smartphone. Went to Play Store and picked "Remoterig RRC-Nano PRO K". It said that it was "Purchased". Installed it and set up all parameters as before. I can connect to the site, but no audio or control. (See the attachment)

My RRC1258 Control Unit works fine. Any ideas?

Joe, K1ike

4

General / Re: Nano + 480 (Radio on / off)

« on: 2019-10-22, 12:39:38 »

Hello,

We have a TS480SAT remote setup that has the units 700 miles apart at times.  For extra protection you can set MENU #22 Time Out Timer on the 480 to “3”, “5”, “10”, “20”, or “30” minutes.  This should shut down the station from transmitting if something gets locked up.

We have had the RRC devices working now for years and never had a problem so far.

73, Joe, K1ike

5

General discussion forum / Re: TS480 and FT8 operation at the console unit

« on: 2019-04-30, 13:54:00 »

I finally got FT8 working well while at the console end of the connection. Adjusting the Delay and Jitter settings fixed the audio problems 99.9% of the time. The mike audio problem was solved by using PTT at the RRC console end so that Mic audio would pass from the console to the radio RRC units. I found the easiest "out of the box" solution was to use a SignaLink USB unit and configure it to use the VOX option in the SignaLink. (Not the VOX option in the TS480).

Mitch, thanks for the help. FT8 has to be the most fascinating modes I've operated in a while.  Boring, yes.  Addictive, Yes.

73, Joe, K1ike

6

General discussion forum / Re: TS480 and FT8 operation at the console unit

« on: 2019-04-21, 14:20:15 »

Hello Mitch,

Setting RTP to continuous would most likely solve the Mic audio problem, but it would add additional data to the cell service we sometimes use.  I have opted to not use CAT PTT and use the DTR option in WSJT-X to key the radio.  This is working just fine.  As noted in the RCc manual, RTP continuous can also cause security issues.  The system is used mostly for SSB operation and I would rather not keep the mike active all the time.

RTP explains why I was not able to pass audio.  Evidently, PTT at the mic connector needs to be active in order for the control RCC to pass Mic audio.

Thanks for the tip.  Joe K1ike

7

General discussion forum / Re: cable TS-480 to microphone connector

« on: 2019-04-21, 12:02:11 »

Setting RTP to continuous will fix this problem, but can cause excessive data use on a metered service like cell phone data service.  Also, as the manual says, it also can be a security issue.

I'm using WSJT-X at the RCC console end and finally got it working properly by NOT using the CAT PTT option.  There seems to be an issue with passing audio thru the Mic jack on the control RCC when PTT is not active.  I don't want to use RTP set to continuous because the primary use of the RemoteRig setup is for SSB.  I opted to use the DTR method of PTT in WSJT-X software for the Kenwood TS480.  This requires another serial COM port, but works well.  I'm presently using a RigBlaster nomic interface and 2 USB-to-serial adapters on my laptop computer.

During troubleshooting I watched the serial data stream coming from the computer to the control RRC.  The WSJT-X software sends the CAT command "TX;" instead of "TX0;" when using CAT PTT.  I compared this to Ham Radio Deluxe and the Kenwood ARCP software that uses the "TX0;" command for PTT.  At first I thought this was a problem, but the Kenwood documentation says that the command "TX;" will default to "TX0;". (see the attachment)

If you don't want to use 2 COM ports (one for CAT and the other for PTT) you can use the Signalink-USB and eliminate the need for a USB to Serial adapter.  But, you will have to use the VOX option within the Signalink to provide PTT.  Not always the best choice, but it should work.

73, Joe, K1ike

8

General discussion forum / Re: TS480 and FT8 operation at the console unit

« on: 2019-04-14, 16:01:14 »

Hello again Mitch,

I reloaded all the radio setting from scratch and now the CAT and PTT is working just fine.  I don't see any difference in what I had set, but it is working now.  My buffers are set as follows:
RX jitter buffer=4
RX jitter delay=3
Audit packet size=40

Any suggestions on the settings?

Joe, K1ike

9

General discussion forum / Re: TS480 and FT8 operation at the console unit

« on: 2019-04-14, 02:56:02 »

Hi Mitch,

I think I will eventually get FT8 work.  I have COM2 at the site looped back to COM1 at the site in order to connect an ALS600 PA for band switching control.  Then I have COM2 at the control end programmed for CAT control in order to connect the laptop to the control unit so that I can run WSJT FT8 software.  The WSJT software CAT control test is working, but not PTT test.  WSJT can control the radio and switch bands, but it gives an error.

I need to spend some more time and work things out.  The Internet latency seems to be the biggest problem now.  I'l try increasing the buffer size.

Thanks, Joe, K1ike

10

General discussion forum / TS480 and FT8 operation at the console unit

« on: 2019-04-13, 14:58:19 »

Hello to All,

I decided to try an experiment with FT8.  I configured COM2 so that I have CAT control at the console unit.  I verified that it works by running the Kenwood ARCP software and it works fine.  I then ran the WSJT software and had some success.  The WSJT software can control the TS480, but an error comes up.  I'm still working on that problem.  PTT via CAT is not working, another problem.

The biggest problem that I have is that any brief Internet interruptions causes the decoder not to work.  I'm taking audio off the RemoteRig SP (speaker) jack and feeding it into the sound card mike jack of the laptop.

I'm beginning to think that the best way to run FT8 with RemoteRig is to have a computer at the remote site where the radio is.  This way there is no interruption of the audio stream.

Any ideas?  Anyone running FT8 remotely?

73, Joe, K1ike

11

General / Nano and IC-706

« on: 2018-11-22, 12:16:55 »

Is the Nano compatible with the IC-706 radios?  I can't get it to work properly.  I found a note that said that power on/off can only be done with the iC-7100.

Joe

12

General / Purchasing another Nano control App

« on: 2018-11-20, 10:18:49 »

Hello,

I presently have the Kenwood and the Elecraft Apps.  It's been a while since I purchased these and now I am adding the Icom App.  It used to be $10 for each additional App that was purchased, has this changed?  I see the price now as $49.99 for the Icom Pro App.

Joe

13

General discussion forum / Noise on transmit

« on: 2018-02-19, 14:40:45 »

We are experiencing noise on transmissions when nothing is being said.  In other words, while transmitting and you stop talking the background noise gets louder.  When a word is spoken the noise floor immediately goes back to normal until you stop talking again.  It reminds me of AVC or AGC where a circuit is adjusting the level of audio.

The configuration is two 1258 units purchased several years ago as a pair, serial # 4262 and 4032 .  The following info is the same in both original units:
PID   4
Version   5
HW   6
Software   2.91
Bootloader   1.9
Compiler   4.6.2
Build   Jun 16 2016 07:13:13

A standard non-amplified microphone is used.

When I use my newer 1258 control head the problem does not happen.  Serial # 9964.  The difference between my control head and the older one is that mine is Version 7, HW 8.
PID   4
Version   7
HW   8
Software   2.91
Bootloader   1.10
Compiler   4.6.2
Build   Jun 16 2016 07:13:13

Do you have any idea why this is happening? As I recall, it happened in previous software builds.

73, Joe K1ike

14

General / Re: New phone, how do I transfer license?

« on: 2018-02-12, 03:22:33 »

I removed and reloaded the App on my new phone and it now is working.  I will email you (Mike) the new license number.  The only difference is that this is the Beta test version, don't know it=f that made any difference.

73, Joe, K1ike

15

General / Re: New phone, how do I transfer license?

« on: 2018-02-12, 02:54:50 »

I can connect with my Nextbook tablet using the same setup and license #1885.  I will remove the App off my new phone and reload it to see what happens.

Joe