Steel City ARC – Remote Stations
Below is the descriptions of the Steel City ARC remote stations. These are provided as a member benefit of belonging to the Steel City ARC. If you live in an apartment or travel a lot these remote stations let you keep in touch with your fellow ham friends. So if you live close to Pittsburgh, PA feel free to come up to our club house and check out all of our radios and then sign up for a membership.
Remote 1:
Our members can access our Remote 1 station from anywhere in the world. performance. With the combination of of the club array of antennas this remote radio can access the HF bands from 160 to 10 meters. It can also cover the 6 meter, 2 meter, 70 meter bands with all modes capable. We have had members win DX and national contest via this remote station while they were on vacation in Florida. Provision of main and sub bands enables dual-channel watch. This all-mode multibander can simultaneously receive two frequencies, even on the same band, allowing such combinations as HF+VHF/UHF, and VHF+UHF. This means, for instance, that you can pick up local information on V/UHF while operating HF on the main band. Members have even cross band HF bands to VHF to let users of our repeaters access our 10 meter nets.
This radio is an full time remote station
Remote 2:
Our Remote 2 station severs dual duty. If at the clubhouse any members can operate the station locally but when your at home or away you can still access this station remotely. One of our members won an 160 meter band contest recently using this as an remote station. The radio beside covering all the HF bands from 160 meter though 10 meter also cover the 6 meter band. We have several members that use this radio for 6m meteor scatter. Since you are connecting though a computer you can run any PC software on the computer. This lets you also have access to digital mode like PSK31, JT65, and SSTV so whatever you like to do in Ham Radio you can do with these remotes.
| This radio can be used at the club or as a remote station. Club rules dictate that the clubhouse user has the right over any remote use. |
Remote3:
Our newest remote is an deciated VHF/UHF radio which is attached to Steel City array of VHF/UHF beam antennas. So now you can work DX on the upper bands. This radio fully covers the 2m, 70cm, 23cm bands with all the modes from SSB to FM and CW too. We have had members chase meteor tails to working halfway across the country on UHF frequencies. This remote is also a dual use remote you can operate the radio at the club house or via the remote. Please note that local clubhouse user always have priority over any remote users.
| This radio can be used at the club or as a remote station. Club rules dictate that the clubhouse user has the right over any remote use. |
Steel City has now switched over to the RemoteHams.com software. This software will work on all three remotes and will handles the radio control and audio for the radio. So you no longer need to have VNC and Skype two separate programs to work our remote. The software handle all the voice modes and even sending out CW via the remote. You will only need VNC connection if you work one of the digital modes. The software is free to use and all Steel City members have full access to the remotes.
You will need a PC, laptop, and/or phone with the Remote Desktop program called RealVNC This will give you access to the computer that is running the radio control program. With this remote desk top viewer you will have full control of turning the radio on and off, change modes & frequencies. This will also let you run other programs to do thing like PSK31, JT-65, or even SSTV modes.
Now to get the radio and your audio to the radio you will also need to install Skype. Skype is an useful VoIP {Voice over IP} tool it will let you call other people or computers. In our case it will let you “dial” our remote computers to let you talk and listen to the radios. You will have to use RealVNC to click the talk/transmit button on the radio but by using Skype your voice will go to remote computer and out though the radio. Important Tip: You will need a microphone and it is recommend that you have a headset plug into your computer. It is not recommend to use your built in speaker or mic.
MEMBERS
CHECK OUT THE MEMBER ONLY SECTION FOR
INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS