Radio Internet remote control

[berkinet]

I am looking for a means to control a handheld radio (probably a CCR) over the Internet.

Requirements are basic: two-way audio and PTT control.  There is no need to change channel/frequency, etc.

 

Most commercial solutions are built for ham low-band rigs and cost an arm and a leg.

 

I would prefer a turn-key setup since, while I will operate the radio, it will be located a great distance from me and I won't be there to install it. However,  I could build something (Raspberry-Pi?) where I am and then mail it to the person who will maintain it.  I was also wondering if a repeater network interface might be adaptable for this.

 

Any, all ideas welcome?

[scottmckinney67]

Do you know of a CCR that interfaces with a pc to do PTT?  If so, remote desktop would get you what you need with no hassle.  I have a retevis that does bluetooth PTT with android devices.  I tried to run an android emulator on a PC and the android app wouldn't work right.  Probably not much help, but figured Id throw it out there. 

[berkinet]

Do you know of a CCR that interfaces with a pc to do PTT? 

 

Thanks...

I was thinking about wiring a relay across the PTT switch. Also, some radios that accept a remote mic already have those contacts exposed in the mic connector.  Bluetooth would be interesting, But I don't have a BT compatible radio in my pile of CCRs.

[scottmckinney67]

I think the anytone dmr's now have it.  Not cheap but not expensive for what they are, at least in my opinion.  I assume they'd do ptt from a pc, but not sure.  Then it's just remote desktop and you're done.

[berkinet]

The Anytone looks good, but is probably more than I need. I am looking for something pretty low-end. The radio will be used to talk over a repeater located on the roof of the location where the radio is to be installed. So, power, receiver quality, etc. are all pretty irrelevant. 

[scottmckinney67]

I hear ya.  Good luck man.

[kipandlee]

not sure if this would work as you are intending  but i have tested it with minor issues that could be sorted out had kinda same idea but the project got set aside for now' echostation  http://www.synergenics.com/sc/ also some more interesting tools http://www.w1hkj.com/index.html and of course remote access could be done several ways I use  PhoneMyPC http://softwareforme.com/?page_id=6 forgive me if I missed your idea or intent 

[berkinet]

...http://www.synergenics.com/sc/ ...  http://www.w1hkj.com/index.html ... http://softwareforme.com/?page_id=6 forgive me if I missed your idea or intent 

No, you got the right idea. The problem is I do not run anything on Windows except in a VM to program radios as-needed.  Otherwise, I use MacOS and Linux.  BTW, The third package you noted is no longer being distributed.

 

However, I sort have made progress... I installed Svxlink on a r-Pi and can connect top it using EchoLink software on my phone and desktop. I don't have a sound-card yet (next week) so audio is one-way. But, it works. And, I know how to use the GPIO to trigger the PTT and get COS from the Audio-out of a radio. But, the whole thing comes to a crashing halt because EchoLink expressly prohibits anything but Ham uses.

 

I am looking at PulseAudio, some people have gotten that to work for APRS, and maybe I should look at Asterisk... though I am hoping someone knowledgable on Asterisk can confirm whether it could work.

[kipandlee]

glad to hear you've made progress ill have to get that project started up again when time permits please keep us updated on your success 

[berkinet]

UPDATE: After various failed attempts, I think I have finally found the right approach. HAMVoIP using IAX to communicate between my remote device (phone, laptop, etc.) and the HAMVoIP server (Asterisk+Allstar).  I am using a direct connection between client and server, so there was no need to register my node with Allstar. For the client software, I am using Zoiper5. At the moment I am only using a test connection in sort of an intercom mode. But, it works. Next step is to modify my USB sound-card to add COS (Carrier detection) and PTT support.

 

I had some fairly restrictive requirements which made this harder than it might have needed to be. First, I wanted to use a simple, inexpensive, single-board computer, like a Raspberry-Pi, at the remote radio site. This pretty much ruled out Zello, which only runs in Windows, or Wine on a i386 Linux board. I spend two days trying to get i386 emulation and Wine working on the Pi, and finally gave up. It just won't work on Debian/Raspian Buster.

 

The next step was Asterisk with Allstar. I first tried using a special Raspian (RasPBX) image that came with Asterisk and FreePBX. That installed, but getting Allstar (apt_rpt) to work was pretty much hopeless. There is almost nothing on the net on how to do that. And then, finally, I found HAMVoIP, this is a special setup of Arch Linux with Asterisk+Allstar installed, and a simple config system. That worked.

 

On the other end, I want to use my Macintosh as the client. There seem to have been a number of soft phones for OS-X around 10 years ago, but almost nothing now. And, I needed IAX support as well to talk to the HAMVoIP server. But, Zoiper5 solved that problem.

 

Anyway, now that I have a working core system, I will take the next step to actually controlling a radio. Stay tuned...

[Jones]

For your COR, you might try adding a small subroutine in software to listen to the audio input from the radio, and transmit back down the internet whenever it hears and decodes the correct CTCSS tone coming from the repeater.  That would give you TOR, which is more accurate than COR anyway,

[berkinet]

For your COR, you might try adding a small subroutine in software to listen to the audio input from the radio,...

 

Conceptually, that seems reasonable. But, a) I have no idea where to place such code, and  isn't that essentially vox?

[Solly]

There are several ways I have accomplished this on ham radio. I have made my own cables after watching this video on you tube,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhABubFZCQ4. This can be done with a free Zello or team  speak accounts. The radio must be on vox and the app must be on vox. Another way would be to purchase an Allstar hot spot and raspberry pie. 

[Solly]

With APRS there tend to be an astronomical amount of distortion of the packets. Approximately 1:5 packets are properly received. Allstar has very similar results but tends to be better.