This past weekend I was experimenting with a free product called Log Me In from logmein.com. Log Me In is simple to set up and the only requirement for a download of the free software is to create a general user account. No specific information is required except a user name, password and email address. Specific information is of course required to purchase the rather pricey "PRO" version. One caveat, be sure to download and install the free version, otherwise you will see that you will be running the "free 90 day PRO trial". If this happens to you, log into their site and change the account type back to the free version.
The premise behind Log Me In is that you "link" your home or other Windows desktop with Log Me In. Once your home system is linked, you will have remote control of your desktop as well as file transfer and printing capabilities. When accessing these features, your desktop user name and password are required as an additional level of security. Response time while manipulating the desktop was more than acceptable. During my first "test" my bandwidth was over cable but, based on my second experiment which will be in PART TWO, I suspect the bandwidth of DSL is more than sufficient.
The free version offers remote desktop, printing and file transfers. As you may already suspect, the PRO version offers many more options. One of those missing components of the free version is transferring sound over to the remote computer. Once again it's free software to the rescue! You may have heard of or already use Skype. Again, Skype is simple to set up and there are only two "tricks" to using it in a remote scenario like this. First, create one user account for your home desktop and a different account for your remote computer. Second, set up the home desktop Skype to "Auto Answer" incoming calls. This setting is found under tools/options/call settings/advanced section. That way you can simply call yourself.
My first test was to use Log me In conjunction with Skype to run Echolink from my remote location (work). Of course this could also be used to run your BIG RIG with CAT software, etc. To accomplish this:
- Assuming that Log Me In and Skype are properly installed on both systems:
- Call your home desktop via Skype.
- Access Log me In and log in via the Remote Desktop option.
- When your home desktop is displayed, run Echolink as you normally would.
- You may have to use the lightning bolt of the Echolink menu bar to switch between transmit and receive since the remote space bar doesn't cut it! You may have better luck than I did...
Gary Utz - ke2yk
Island Systems Engineering
the eHam Store
http://ehamstore.com
Source: www.articledashboard.com
