While my dual channel switch can be run over any TCP socket, I though it might be fun to program a Windows desktop controller using Delphi.

Above left, you can see a little Windows application for remote control. On the right, you can see it tucked in with other windows of SDRuno controlling my RSPduo.

This program is written in Delphi using a TCP socket to communicate with the antenna control NodeMCU over my home network. You can see two green lights on the app, indicating both connectivity and control are active.

The drop down combination box let’s me choose which receiver is being fed the loop array. My current choices are RSPduo, ANAN-7000, Afedri AFE822x and the NCC-1 phaser to use with my single channel radios.

In the center of the Windows desktop controller is mode selection for each loop. Mode “A” is an East-West and Mode “B” North-South. My “Vertical” position is for an E-Field array. Each of my loops can select a different mode. These are run by the AAA-1C control box.

Finally, I can insert dual medium wave bandstop filters into the system by checking a box.

Windows Desktop Controller using ASCII Commands over TCP

Once you have defined a simple text command protocol, it’s pretty easy to use a socket for wireless control between a Windows PC and a NodeMCU controller. My approach works with a plain TCP socket client or an Android phone and would work well using Node Red.

But an actual Windows application looks more professional. You can write one in a couple of hours using Delphi Community Edition, or any other language using Visual Studio.

Soon, I am going to write a series about how to design both client and server software for an Internet of Things (IoT) system, like my dual channel radio switching board.