Using USB to Ethernet Adapter with RF2K-S amp

[JJ4SDR]

As part of experimentation, I have migrated from using Ethernet (and TCI) between my radio and an RF2K-S amp to USB for CAT control.

Now, I would like to continue having my RF2K-S amp communicating with the radio in a way that I could still use VNC (the amp has a VNC server) as I did before.

Does anyone have experience with connecting this amp to Thetis using a USB to Ethernet Adapter? The amp has both a USB port and a LAN port and I am thinking that I could plug the USB to Ethernet Adapter into one of the available USB ports (it has 4 USB3.2 and 4 USB2.0 ports), then run an Ethernet cable from the amp's LAN port to the Ethernet end of the Adapter on the PC.

I could use the WiFi radio in the amp and still access VNC from my PC, being able to see the control panel of the amp on the PC which is really convenient and it works well. However, with WiFi, the amp kicked out and caused "Wrong Frequency" errors which I no longer observed, even once, after I dropped WiFi and went with cabled Ethernet.

Would appreciate hearing from any owners of RF2K-S amps.

Juha

[w-u-2-o]

If you are using the USB for CAT control, then the existing Ethernet port on the back of the amp remains available for VNC. Is that not correct? If it is correct then you don't need anything else.

[JJ4SDR]

Scott,
That's what I thought of too, but I believe that the amp needs to be configured to use either USB or Ethernet, not both at the same time as that would cause a "conflict." I have posted this query on the amp community page too.
Juha

[w-u-2-o]

It's a plain old Raspberry Pi. There's nothing that flows over the Ethernet port that will conflict. VNC is a totally separate application that runs alongside the RF2K app. And it should be setup to run as a server at bootup, meaning it's running all the time. Connect with the VNC client from your PC or don't connect, it doesn't care.

[JJ4SDR]

Scott,

The designer of the amp posted (by "control the amp through USB", he means, being able to access the VNC server in the amp won't work via USB):

"There is no way to control the amp through USB. IP only either through VNC or through a program like Node Red using the commands in the build in API."

If the above is true, and given that I am not a coder, this wouldn't pan out. BUT, the designer commented prior to my query about using a USB to Ethernet Adapter.

Juha

[w-u-2-o]

I clearly have no understanding of what you want to do

The amp will happily receive CAT band and frequency data over serial USB. It will happily be remote controlled by VNC over Ethernet. What more do you want it to do?

[JJ4SDR]

Scott,

It is working as I wanted.

CAT band data via USB and controlling amp via VNC from PC.

As has become patently clear, I have a huge "talent" for making basic things very complex

Juha