Remote AIM Control

[g3nrw]

Hello all,

Having recently purchased an AIM4170B, I've spent many happy hours indoors putting it through its paces. But I then hit the #1 practical problem: how can I make adjustments on the antenna and see the effects of the adjustments without repeatedly running backwards and forwards between the shack and the backyard?

I then thought about the possibility of remote control of the AIM program from the backyard. After a little experimenting I've got it working.

My solution turned out to be very simple. In a (very small) nutshell:
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1. Install Free LogMeIn on the computer in the shack that's running the AIM software. LogMeIn is at secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en. You will need to create an account, but this is straightforward.

2. Start the LogMeIn software on the AIM computer.

3. Take your wireless laptop into the backyard, start a browser, and go to secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en. Login to your account. You will now see a link to the name of your AIM computer.

4. Click on the link. You will now be invited to enter the Windows user name and password. You are now logged in to the AIM computer.

5. A new LogMeIn screen appears. Click on "Remote Control", and you're in, with a full view of the AIM computer's desktop.
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From now on you can control everything from your backyard laptop.

One big advantage is that you don't need to install any special software on the laptop. All you need is a browser. And the laptop doesn't even need to run Windows -- for example, I am now remote controlling the AIM computer from my little Linux eeePC.

This is pure magic! I've not been so excited about a product for a long, long time. No more running backwards and forwards. See the effects of any antenna changes instantly. You don't even need to take the AIM box out into the rain.

(Bob: the above description is very brief. If it helps, I'll be happy to write an appendix to the manual describing the setup in detail. It may even help to sell more boxes!).

--
73
Ian, G3NRW

[g0bxu]

This looks like an excellent idea. The ability to 'see' the whole of the antenna as the radio 'sees' it will give a true response to adjustments made without needing to juggle laptop and AIM in the open air.

Will look at getting it to work tomorrow.

Thanks Ian

Alan

[Bob]

Hi Ian,
This is a major breakthrough in remote operation of the AIM. I'm sure a lot of people will find it helpful.

Please send me the details and I'll post an ap note immediately and add an appendix to the manual.

--73/Bob

[w0qe]

Ian,

LogMeIn is but one of a bunch of programs that allow remote control of a PC which is what you need for controlling the 4170 remotely. I have played with a couple of the following but haven't used any of them enough to be able to speak to the pros and cons of each product. Some other choices are PC Remote (not free), Ultra VNC (free), and Real VNC (free). I'm sure there are others also. Perhaps someone knows this type of software better than I do.

73, Larry W0QE

[g3nrw]

Jan 4, 2009 21:12:48 GMT -5 w0qe said:

LogMeIn is but one of a bunch of programs that allow remote control of a PC which is what you need for controlling the 4170 remotely.

Hi Larry. Yes, there are others, but I haven't tried them with AIM. One reason for choosing LogMeIn was that it doesn't require special VNC client software. An ordinary browser functions as the client. This means you should be able to use any platform for the backyard laptop: XP, Vista, Linux, OS2, Win98...

--
73
Ian, G3NRW

[g3nrw]

Jan 4, 2009 18:12:31 GMT -5 Bob said:

Hi Ian,
This is a major breakthrough in remote operation of the AIM. I'm sure a lot of people will find it helpful.

Please send me the details and I'll post an ap note immediately and add an appendix to the manual.

--73/Bob

Bob, I'll work on it this coming weekend.

--
73
Ian, G3NRW

[g0bxu]

I can only say 'Thank you Ian for a brilliant idea.

Have used Ian's instructions to set up my shack pc and my laptop to control the AIM and it works a treat.

As with all 'problems', I am sure there is more than one 'solution', however, this one definitely works, so no need to look elsewhere.

Now all I need is some better weather to get out there and tune my Hustler, cos the AIM shows me how hopelessly out of tune it is now.

Thanks again Ian.

Alan

[w0qe]

Ian,

Not needing VNC client software would seem to be a plus. I will play around with LogMeIn in the next few days.

73, Larry W0QE

[g3nrw]

Jan 4, 2009 21:12:48 GMT -5 w0qe said:

Some other choices are PC Remote (not free), Ultra VNC (free), and Real VNC (free).

Prompted by Larry's comments, I tried UltraVNC, but abandoned it, for three reasons:
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1. The displayed image on the client machine was noticeably more jerky than with LogMeIn.

2. The displayed image on the client did not include every object that was displayed on the UltraVNC server host -- a pop-up on the host did not appear at all on the client (a common issue with remote access).

3. Although UltraVNC more-or-less worked first time, I couldn't log in on subsequent attempts. This turned out to be an UltraVNC password entry problem -- a long-standing known issue that has been discussed at length in the UltraVNC forum.
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#2 above was the real showstopper, so no more UltraVNC for me.

--
73
Ian, G3NRW