Feature Proposal / Comment Solicitation: Terminal or Remote Mode

[bmo]

It may be outside the scope of this project for this, but is there any interest in a "terminal" mode for the transceiver where the UI + hardware is used in conjunction with a remote McHF or other transceiver?

In this way, the radio could be used in a similar way to how K3/0s (out of production) are used today to control other remote radios.

The McHF could potentially be used with RCForb (http://remotehams.com), and certainly Omnirig in the way described in this post: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2021-March/284122.html

-Brian N9ADG

[jimktrains]

CAT along with audio or i/q is already supported. I'm not familiar with either of those software packages and dont have an k3. Can you provide anymore details on what enhancements you'd like to see?

[bmo]

"Remote Mode" would NOT generate any RF locally. It's different from CAT in that it would encode any UI inputs (knobs, buttons, etc.) to the transceiver to emit a stream of characters, which could potentially be used to control:

1. Another McHF Transceiver (control/remote relationship)
2. Remotehams.com RCForb software
3. RemoteHamRadio.com client software
4. SmartSDR / PowerSDR client software
5. Any other SDR or amateur radio software that needed "knob" functionality

Today, #2 and #3 can use Elecraft K3/0 (K3/Mini) hardware, which is no longer manufactured. The K3/K3s can also be used in this way -- placing those in "terminal mode" doesn't generate RF, but does generate events via a serial stream, and accepts data for the LCD display and LEDs on the front panel.

It would be convenient to be able to use McHF in "knob mode" with PowerSDR/SmartSDR software. That software expects a stream of characters in response to the knob direction and velocity.

Since the McHF can represent an audio input/output device, that would also be available in "terminal mode" to be able to play audio from the remote, and generate an audio stream from the microphone.

Here's the elecraft description of their remote mode: https://elecraft.com/collections/k3-remote-system