A remote base station is a common name for an

amateur radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communic ...

auxiliary station that is controlled and operated from a remote location. Most remote base stations have similar features to any other

Amateur radio station An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground sta ...

but can be controlled over a direct wired connection or the

internet The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, pub ...

, or by

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

. In many ways, remote base stations controlled by radio, resemble

repeater In telecommunications, a repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it. Repeaters are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer distances or be received on the other side of an obstruction. Some ...

s with additional features. Remote base stations are usually run and maintained by individual hobbyists or clubs. Unlike repeaters, they are not usually open to all

amateur radio operator An amateur radio operator is someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators hav ...

s. A remote base is one type of station where the primary control point is not at the station location. When using a radio link, remotely controlling an auxiliary base station consists of sending the primary signal (voice or data) along with some form of

control signal In telecommunication, signaling is the use of signals for controlling communications. This may constitute an information exchange concerning the establishment and control of a telecommunication circuit and the management of the network. Classif ...

, such as

DTMF Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling (DTMF) is a telecommunication signaling system using the voice-frequency band over telephone lines between telephone equipment and other communications devices and switching centers. DTMF was first developed ...

tones, to another station to change its operating parameters i.e. turn it on or off, change frequency or transmitter power level, rotate the

antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...

, etc. These signals are considered one form of primary station control, for which the station licensee, and/or a control operator are primarily responsible. References in two paragraphs following are noted in square brackets and refer to the United States FCC Regulation 97 28th Revised Edition Updated to January 2012, governing the Amateur Radio Service. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, radio control link frequencies must be above 144.5 MHz. 7.201(b)However, the base station being controlled may operate on any amateur frequency. The FCC says that if a radio link is used, the station where the control commands are performed is an auxiliary station, 7.213(a)and an auxiliary station is "an amateur station transmitting communications point-to-point within a system of cooperating amateur stations" 7.3(a)(7) Start of the 21st century technology has enabled

ham radio operator An amateur radio operator is someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators hav ...

s to control remote bases via the Internet. Many people use

IRLP The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Inte ...

Echolink EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between t ...

to remotely control their stations.

Telecommand A telecommand or telecontrol is a command sent to control a remote system or systems not directly connected (e.g. via wires) to the place from which the telecommand is sent. The word is derived from ''tele'' = remote (Greek), and ''command'' = to ...

is defined by the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...

as a one-way transmission to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a device at a distance 7.3(a)(43) Control (or telecommand) links for a remote base station may be wire (

telephone line A telephone line or telephone circuit (or just line or circuit industrywide) is a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system. It is designed to reproduce speech of a quality that is understandable. It is the physical wire or ot ...

fiber optic An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means to ...

line, Internet, etc.) or radio.

External links

Remote Hams
Created by KG6YPI.
Software package offered by W4MQ
Stations running this program may be accessed from a web browser. {{DEFAULTSORT:Remote Base Station Amateur radio