Web Based Repeater Power Controller

This week we installed a new Yaesu Fusion DR-1X repeater at a very nice site in Central Illinois. One of the things I’m a big fan of is controlling supply power via the web. This ability to remotely control the repeater is great – even if the controller goes belly up, you can turn the entire system off or just remotely power cycle it. I’ve used the Digital Loggers data center type power strips before, but they are a bit expensive – over $100. So for this site, I used the Iot Relay – Enclosed High-power Power Relay for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, PIC or Wifi, Relay Shield also from Digital Loggers. At under $20 from Amazon, it’s a great deal. It’s a relay connected to four outlets, enclosed in a very nice plastic case. Hooked to a Raspberry Pi, this little box provides me the ability to power cycle or turn off any equipment via the web. How do I get the from the web to the remote repeater site? Well through AREDN ham mesh software running on 5GHz equipment of course!

Since I had an extra Raspberry Pi on the shelf, this quick hack made for a fun project. I’m also going to add a temperature and humidity sensor so that we can monitor the environmental conditions in the repeater building. Here’s a short 3 minute video I made explaining the code and the connections. Have fun! Put the Amateur back in Amateur Radio!

Michael Brown, KG9DW, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Illinois, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

2 Responses to “Web Based Repeater Power Controller”

  • Donald Casillo KD5UGY:

    Central Illinois is a broad term. Could you give a city or town please?

  • Dave G0WBX:

    Hope you have a SECURE log-in to that thing, that no one else but you, and some others in your group can use.

    IoT systems are notoriously insecure.

    If it’s not hiding behind a NAT router, and that to is “Stealthed” someone will find it and “play”…

    73.

    Dave.

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