The general idea behind project #2 is that anyone with Internet access and a decent multimedia PC should be able to control my HF-rig and listen to it's audio-output via the Internet.




As a matter of fact, visitors of my website should be able to

1. Control various parameters of my rig, like
   1. Frequency
   2. Mode
   3. IF-bandwidth
2. Steer the heading of my 3-EL HF Beam
3. Get "live" pictures from a Web-cam in my shack

The system making all this possible will be build on a Linux-based webserver.
This webserver will be connected to the internet via a high bandwidth connection provided by the local cable-company.

On the webserver, HTML-pages will be made available that provide visitors with an easy-to-understand GUI of the HF-rig, rotor- and webcam-control.

The webserver will be interconnected to the HF-rig (most likely a FT-900AT) via RS-232.
Obviously, a Linux-based driver will have to be implemented to control the rig. This driver will be accessible via a CGI-interface or something alike.

The rotor will be coupled to the webserver via a dedicated interface-card that will be equipped with three relais and an A/D-converter. This piece of hardware will make it possible to steer the heading of the antenne making use of an ordinary CDE-rotor.
The relay-outputs will take over the function of the three buttons on the front of the rotor control-box (clock-wise, counter clock-wise, break).
The A/D-converter will be interconnected to the heading-indication meter in the control-box, thereby providing a simple way of obtaining a digital readout of the HF-beam's heading.
(My sincere thanks go to John Melton for this idea!).
Besides the design of this interface hardware, a Linux-based driver will be build to let the webserver application "talk" to this hardware.

Last item to control is the webcam. I guess I will buy a decent camera and interface it to the parallel-port, but I haven't given this aspect much thought so far.

As in project #1, remote control of a (HF-)station via a VHF/UHF-link, certificates or "digital signatures" will be used to make a distinction between an occasional visitor of the site and someone who is known to me.
Anyone is allowed to "claim" a certain period of time (15 minutes?) to exclusively take over control of my rig. However, to control the HF-beam and the webcam You will have to apply for Your own certificate.
The application-form will ask You for some details that make it possible for me to check out if You're a nice guy (or girl), and not just someone who is out on rotating my beam all night when I try to get some sleep.......

Are You interested in participating in this experiment?
Are You a Hamradio-operator who wants to check out how his transmitter is functioning by tuning into Your own signal over here in The Netherlands?
If so, drop me a line via E-mail, or better yet, sign-up the mailing-list on my homepage!
This guarantees I'll keep You posted!