Remote Site Description
KT1I Memorial Remote Radio Station
Description of the remote hardware and software
Plaque made by AA1SE, thanks Ray!
This remote is a combined effort of N1MGO, KT1I , WB8PKK and W1EJK
This remote is located in Gardner, MA (Worcester County) GRID FN42an
The remote site uses several pieces of software
The main program is “RCForb server”. This provides the user-interface to the radio, and other hardware.
WriteLog remote is used when doing a contest, including the RC-1101 virtual front panel, and RCForb is not running when doing a contest.
We also use “KAT500 Remote” by Elecraft to provide access and control of the KAT500 autotuner (also used on the client side).
We use an openvpn server to provide access to software like KAT500remote.
For contesting use we use WriteLog in remote mode bypassing RCForb server.
For improved audio when doing soundcard modes like PSK31 or FT8 we run RemAud, by DF3CB (also used on the client side).
The hardware at the remote site:
The radio is an Elecraft K4D
The Amp/Tuner combination is an Elecraft KPA500 and KAT500
Automatic antenna switching is done with a combination of a FreqEZ band decoder (by K8UT) and Ameritron RCS-10 antenna switch.
Antennas:
160Mtr, 12Mtr, 10Mtr, 6Mtr all use the160Mtr OCF (OffCenterFed) Dipole.
For now the 160Mtr OCF dipole is the only antenna!!!
In the future (spring of 2023) we will finish installing the following antennas.
80/75Mtr: Fan Dipole, one cut for the Low end of the band, one cut for the high end.
40/30 Mtr: Fan Dipole
20/17 Mtr: Fan Dipole
15 Mtr: Dipole (cut for low end for CW/digital modes, will work with tuner for High end.
The dipoles are all made with the help of WB8PKK (thanks!) and hung from trees about 30 to 60 AGL. They are all about 400-450ft in the woods from the radio site.
I had a lot of help from the Mohawk and MARA ham club members to do the work in the woods. This involved tree cutting and trimming, along with running coax and putting the antennas up over the trees.
Thanks! Gordon – N1MGO