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Do I need to make any modifications to my radio?
No. The SWL IR Remote connects to your radio's communications port,
and uses the communications protocol built into the radio for remote control.
This connection is commonly used for computer control of the radio. The SWL
IR Remote was designed to always connect as if it were the computer. RS-232C
cables used for computer control of the radio will work directly with the SWL IR
Remote. We supply cables for all radios except for the Uniden BC895XLT.
This is a very unique cable and can be found elsewhere on the Internet. The
SWL IR Remote for the Lowe HF-225 and HF-150 uses the KEYPAD port where the optional
keypad connects and sends information to the radio just the same as the KPAD-1 or
KPAD-2. The Kenwood R-5000 must have two ICs installed that were sold by Kenwood
as the optional IC-10 kit. This is where the optional Kenwood IF-232C level
converter connected for computer control of the receiver. The IC-10 chips
are included with the SWL IR Remote.
Is it safe to use with my radio?
The SWL IR Remote was designed to operate receivers using the computer
or keypad interface built into the radio. The SWL IR Remote performs the same
operations as a computer connected to the receiver would perform using the same
electrical signals as the computer or a level converter.
What kind of Universal Remote works best?
The best type of Universal Remote to use with the SWL IR Remote is a basic,
big button, TV remote. A remote with too many functions and buttons will be
confusing. The remote only needs to be able to operate a Sony TV, which virtually
every remote will, in order to operate the SWL IR Remote.
What range of operation of the Universal Remote can I expect?
The IR sensor in the remote control unit is rated for over 10 meters.
This distance is affected by ambient light. The IR sensor in the SWL IR Remote
will not be affected in operation by steady ambient light, but the range of operation
will be diminished by a lot of ambient light. The front of the SWL IR Remote
control box (black box that houses the electronics) is an Infrared filter.
The IR sensor sits behind this lens. The filter is designed to only pass Infrared
light and helps minimize the effect of ambient light. The farther away from
the control box, the more directional is the IR sensor. When you get back
far enough, you will have to point the Universal Remote directly at the IR sensor.
What powers the SWL IR Remote?
A 9-volt DC wall adapter supplied with the SWL IR Remote powers the control
box.
Can I supply power to the SWL IR Remote?
You can supply DC power to the SWL IR Remote. The control unit requires
100 milliamps max. In normal operation the control unit uses about 20 milliamps
when idle, and 40 milliamps in operation. Any power from 9-12 volts DC will
work fine. The coax power connector is a 5.5mm O.D x 2.1mm I.D. The
Center pin of the connector is positive. A blocking diode protects the control
electronics from reverse polarity. Internally the voltage is regulated to
volts, and is current limited to 100ma.
Why can't I control the volume with the Universal Remote?
If the manufacturer of the receiver provides a means to control the volume,
we provide that capability with the SWL IR Remote. Currently the only receivers
that permit volume control with the SWL IR Remote are the ICOM R75 and the Japan
Radio NRD-545. Some scanner receivers can only be muted with the SWL IR Remote.
Will the SWL IR Remote Interfere with my radio's reception?
RF noise and interference can come from just about any electrical or electronic
device. The SWL IR Remote is an electronic device utilizing a microcontroller
with firmware that operates on the Universal Remote IR stream, and converts that
into radio commands to perform the desired operation. The microcontroller
operates at 20Mhz and itself can potentially generate RF noise. The type of
antenna being used, the lead in wire used (shielded or unshielded), the proximity
of the receiver and/or antenna to noise generating devices, and grounding can all
affect the noise picked up by the receiver. Generally the SWL IR Remote does
not add appreciably to the noise heard on a receiver. Some receiver and SWL
IR Remote combinations generate a switching noise while the SWL IR Remote is in
operation, but it stops as soon as the operation is completed.
Why can't I tune below 1kHz on the Lowe HF-225 with the SWL IR Remote?
The SWL IR Remote replaces the optional Lowe keypad (KPAD-1) and connects
to the KEYPAD jack on the radio. This optional keypad allowed frequencies
to be entered up to 5 digits in kHz format. A frequency of 5960kHz would be
entered on the keypad as 0 5 9 6 0. There is no way to enter a frequency with
any values below 1kHz. You could not enter 5960.100Hz. The SWL IR Remote
does it's own frequency and stepping work, and only feeds the resultant frequency
to the radio using the keypad interface. Because the HF-225 cannot take digits
below 1kHz, there is no way for the remote to tune below 1kHz. If you were
to set a User Tuning Step of 100Hz, you would have to press the remote CH
key 10 times before the frequency of the HF-225 would actually change, either internally
or on the display. The only way to tune below 1kHz is with the tuning knob.
What frequency range can the SWL IR Remote tune?
The SWL IR Remote was designed for HF shortwave receivers and will limit
check for frequencies within the frequency range on each particular receiver.
The R75 tunes from 30kHz to 60MHz. The frequency range on most other receivers
is from about 100kHz to 30MHz. Direct frequency entry and frequency stepping
is limited to this range except for those receivers with the a VHF converter.
The frequency range of the particular VHF converter depends on the model of receiver.
The Scanner version does not do any limit checking on frequencies entered.
Different Scanners each have different frequency ranges throughout the spectrum.
If you try to tune a frequency out of the frequency ranges allowed, the Scanner
will ignore the frequency and the LED on the remote control box will slow blink
indicating that the Scanner does not accept that frequency.
Which remote is best for my ICOM Transceiver?
The best remote for your ICOM Transceiver depends on which CI-V commands
are implemented in the firmware of the Transceiver. In looking at the specifications
for some ICOM Transceivers, we have come up with suggestions for which remote would
work best with which Transceiver. We have not tested the SWL IR Remote with
each Transceiver and cannot guarantee all functions with all Transceivers.
Because the CI-V command set protocol is fairly standard though, most of the features
will work properly.
The SWL IR Remote for ICOM is recommended for the following Receivers and Transceivers:
706, 706MkII, 706MkIIG, 707, 725, 726, 728, 729, 735, 736, 737, 738, 751A, 756,
761, 765, 775DSP, 821H. These radios do not have the analog controls implemented
in the CI-V interface that would be operated by the R-75 version.
The SWL IR Remote for the ICOM R-75 is recommended for the following Receivers and
Transceivers: 703, 718, 7400, 746, 746Pro, 756Pro, 756ProII, 756ProIII, 7800, 910H,
R-10, R-20, R-75. These radios have the analog controls implemented in the
CI-V interface that would be operated by the R-75 version.
Not all the features of all Transceivers will work with the remotes. For example
the IC-706MKII has dual VFOs. The SWL IR Remote does not have the ability
to select the VFO A or B independently.
If you don't see your particular Transceiver listed, email us at
support and we'll try to investigate the CI-V command set for your radio
and give you a recommendation on the best remote.
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