Kenwood Sky Command

[gmarch]

I'm having a hard time finding what Kenwood models can be controlled remotely via Sky Command and I was hoping the knowledge of the forums might be able to help.

I have a TH-D72A and I am thinking about getting a rig for my house. The remote control aspects of Sky Command are interesting, but Kenwood isn't clear on which models can be the controller and which can be controlled.

Thanks!

 

[vagrant]

You can use the TH-D72A to control a TS-2000 which is an HF/VHF/UHF radio. You can also use the TH-D72A to control a TM-D710 which can be connected to a TS-480SAT/HX, TS-590s or the new TS-590sg radios. I am not sure if the VM71A can be swapped in place of the TM-D710, but either way, you'll need the proper cables to connect the D710 to the 480 or 590s models in order to use Sky Command II.

* I do not recommend a TS-2000 radio if you want to enjoy HF. Go with the 480SAT or the even better 590s models.

Let's say you pick up a TS-2000, you'll basically have access to it from the D72A, as far as the D72A can transmit. Remember, you'll need a VHF/UHF antenna for the TS-2000 so that it can send and receive signals from the D72A and an HF antenna somewhere in there as well. This may work well if you want to sit in the yard and work some stations on a sunny day. For further distances, not so much. The weak point is going to be the D72A and it's transmit power/antenna. You could also control a TS-2000 from a TM-D710 in your vehicle, but then that leaves out your D72A.

- or -

I have a laptop connected to my 480SAT. I am able to remotely control the 480 from another computer via the Internet using Kenwood's free software. I can turn on/off the radio remotely and control it with the interface with full access. This is my preferred choice for working the radio poolside, at work, in the garage, or in another country. If latency is pretty bad you will have issues, but I have enjoyed some low ping with my connections. I should advise that my audio is not as good when using a Heil microphone at home, but it isn't that bad either. It's pretty cool to be 5000 miles away from your station in another country and be able to enjoy a rag chew with your regular crowd, or check-in to a net without worrying about propagation.

 

[gmarch]

You can use the TH-D72A to control a TS-2000 which is an HF/VHF/UHF radio. You can also use the TH-D72A to control a TM-D710 which can be connected to a TS-480SAT/HX, TS-590s or the new TS-590sg radios. I am not sure if the VM71A can be swapped in place of the TM-D710, but either way, you'll need the proper cables to connect the D710 to the 480 or 590s models in order to use Sky Command II.

So, the D72A can control the D710? In other words, if I wanted to use the D710 as my base rig in my house, could I control it from the D72A when sitting out by the pool?

This is the setup I'm looking for right now. I'm only a tech, and I can't afford the more expensive HF rigs. (And, I'm still trying to explain to the SO why I'm spending money to put an antenna on the roof!)

Thanks...

 

[vagrant]

The answer is yes. Per the Kenwood TH-D72_14_WIRELESS_TH-D72A_E.pdf manual,

--------
"If you also have a Kenwood multi-band mobile transceiver, you can control one of its bands by sending DTMF tones from this handy transceiver. You will find this function useful when you want to control your mobile transceiver from a location outside your vehicle."
Note:
◆ You can remotely control only mobile transceivers that have both the secret number and Remote Control functions.
◆ FCC rules permit you to send control codes only on the 440 MHz band.
---------
Each respective radio manual page tells you how to set it up.

Now that has been answered, why not just use the handheld and avoid the extra expense of another radio? Are you too far away to hit a particular repeater, or do you want to work simplex? Get a better antenna. The stock antenna that came with the D72A can be improved upon. You may want to try a Diamond SRH77CA antenna. You can purchase it for less than $25. While you may not be able to hit a particular repeater's VHF frequency, if they offer a UHF frequency you might do very well with that.

As to the antenna on the roof, that will dramatically improve your receive and transmit even on the handheld. There are two factors going for you there:
1. Height
2. Antenna gain

Having the antenna itself over the roofline reduces many physical barriers and most base antennas will provide plenty of gain. There is another important factor and that is the coax. Do not go cheap here. While I personally use LMR400, LMR240 may work for you and keep it budget friendly. As to base antennas I have used a Diamond X-50 in the past, but a Tram 1480 for $50 in the same location significantly improved my transmit and receive.

One step at a time would be prudent. Improving the HT antenna would be the first step. Second would be an antenna on the roof with some good coax. You may be very satisfied with using the HT and the outdoor antenna like that, with an appropriate coupler to the radio. Finally, and this may be the tougher one with your SO, a dual-band mobile radio for hundreds. Of course you could ease her into it by saying you want a $1700 Kenwood TS-590SG radio. Then you can relent and offer up a $650 D710GA mobile instead at less than half the price of the other.

 

[gmarch]

The answer is yes. Per the Kenwood TH-D72_14_WIRELESS_TH-D72A_E.pdf manual,

Ah! Very good!

Now that has been answered, why not just use the handheld and avoid the extra expense of another radio? Are you too far away to hit a particular repeater, or do you want to work simplex? Get a better antenna. The stock antenna that came with the D72A can be improved upon. You may want to try a Diamond SRH77CA antenna. You can purchase it for less than $25. While you may not be able to hit a particular repeater's VHF frequency, if they offer a UHF frequency you might do very well with that.

As to the antenna on the roof, that will dramatically improve your receive and transmit even on the handheld. There are two factors going for you there:
1. Height
2. Antenna gain

To be honest, I have been enjoying walking around the house while talking. There have been a couple of repeaters that I have a hard time hitting, so I was looking at a better antenna. However, if I go with the roof antenna, I'm tethered to a particular spot in my house. When I read about Sky Command and cross banding, I thought that it would be a great way to get around the tether issue. And... I could get a more powerful mobile/base rig with a good antenna.

Having the antenna itself over the roofline reduces many physical barriers and most base antennas will provide plenty of gain. There is another important factor and that is the coax. Do not go cheap here. While I personally use LMR400, LMR240 may work for you and keep it budget friendly. As to base antennas I have used a Diamond X-50 in the past, but a Tram 1480 for $50 in the same location significantly improved my transmit and receive.

I was looking at a Comet CX-333 with an eve mount and LMR240. My friend and I were planning on putting up the same configuration. I have a crimping tool and PL-259 connectors, just waiting to measure for the coax and order the antenna.

Thanks for the info. This was very helpful.

 

[mrweather]

Any handheld capable of transmitting DTMF can control a TM-D710, or TM-V71A for that matter. The remote control function of both these radios is pretty basic.

The point of Sky Command is to be able to control a Kenwood HF radio from Kenwood dual-band radios that have Sky Command functionality. The TS-2000 has had this functionality since day one because it covers all the necessary bands (HF for actual use, 2M for audio and 70CM for control). Other Kenwood HF radios can be used provided they're properly interfaced with a Sky Command capable dual-band radio (TH-D7A, TH-D72A, TM-D700, TM-D710).

I have a TS-2000 and TH-D7A and have dabbled in Sky Command before. It's a neat system to use and I certainly commend Kenwood for offering it. But the interface is kind of kludgey and you need a of cheat sheet with all the commands! Plus, the audio from the HF side of continuously transmitted on 2M, i.e. 100% duty cycle, so you must turn the 2M transmit power down.

 

[vagrant]

All good points by mrweather as you're looking to cross-band repeat (forget Sky Command). A V71A radio can be had for under $400 and it is rather easy to setup "wireless control" and "cross-band repeating". As mrweather noted, a radio that can send DTMF tones can control (wireless control) the V71A as well so you are not limited to using the D72A or only Kenwood for that matter. The manual tells you this under "wireless control".

Also, you may be best served to have the V71A power set to 5 watts on both sides as you do not need 50 watts blasing into your handheld, nor into the repeaters if you can mostly hit them now with the handheld. I use the low power setting on my HT as well.

 

[Token]

Plus, the audio from the HF side of continuously transmitted on 2M, i.e. 100% duty cycle, so you must turn the 2M transmit power down.

Only if you do not use squelch on the HF side. While HF, SSB, and Squelch do not often go together I find that the squelch on the TS2K is acceptable for many signals. I can set the TS2K up on 40 meters and work in the yard, while monitoring and checking into the 40 meter Swap Net, and I only miss the very weakest signals. If the station is 2 or 3 S units above the noise floor the Squelch works fine.

It probably is going to depend on your noise level and local noise types whether you can affectively use the squelch on HF or not. In my case the noise is low, and more importantly, consistent.

T!

 

[mrweather]

Good point about no audio will be transmitted on 2M if the HF signal is squelched. Unfortunately where I live my noise floor is quite high (S7-9) so those signals I can hear just at the noise level would be lost if I turned the squelch up to overcome the noise.

 

[gmarch]

So, one more question. Sorry for being such a noob.

I'm still finding it difficult to locate details on what radios Sky Command can be used with by function. Maybe I'm answering my own question here, but all of the references to Sky Command are that of an HT or Mobile controlling an HF rig. And, maybe that is all that is allowed (by the FCC?).

But, in some of the diagrams, I've seen a TM-D710 used as both the commander and the transporter. The diagrams show that when it is used as the transporter, it is hard wired to an HF rig that is in the same visual "box" labeled transporter.

So, the D710 can be the transporter, and then tell the HF rig to transmit. But, can the D710 be used to directly transmit out over the air when it is used as a transporter? Or must it be hardwired to another rig?

I am exploring using the Sky Command features of my D72 to control a D710 rather than using the "wireless" (DTMF) method.

Thanks for your patience... I am learning a lot though!