The ability to turn on or off your radio while operating remotely is a necessary convenience when using SmartLink.
The FLEX-8000 and FLEX-6000 Signature Series SDRs have a connector, REM ON (REMote ON), that will allow you to start or boot the radio using a contact-to-ground connection if the radio has power applied to it.
NOTE: To use this remote power-on feature, you have to ENABLE the REM ON option in the Settings->Radio Setup->Radio tab.
Here is the "best practice" method for shutting down a FLEX-8000/FLEX-6000 remotely.
Use two (2) remote-controlled switches for powering the radio.
The first is a web-controlled AC switch that is connected to the 13.8 VDC supply. This is essentially a "kill switch" if anything goes wrong and you need to shut down the radio quickly and completely. An example of this would be the Digital Loggers Pro Switch (https://dlidirect.com/products/new-pro-switch)
The second is a web-controlled Digital Loggers contact switch that is connected to the REM ON connector on the radio. This is the control used to boot and shut down the radio during normal operating conditions. An example would be the Digital Loggers Enclosed Power Relay (https://www.digital-loggers.com/ac.html)
This device can be purchased directly from FlexRadio: FlexRadio Approved Remote On Plug and Play Kit
The Radio Power-On Sequence is:
1.) Turn on the DC power supply using the web-controlled AC switch and wait two minutes to ensure the PSoC processor has completely initialized.
2.) Now close the Digital Loggers switch, which starts the radio boot-up process. About 1 minute late,r the radio should be completely booted up
The Power-Down Sequence is:
1.) I open the Digital Loggers switch, which starts the radio boot shutdown process. About 1 minute late,r the radio should be shut down. Now, wait one additional minute for the PSoC to shut down its connected systems. The total time is 2 minutes.
2.) Now I turn off the DC power supply using the web-controlled AC switch.
Using the front panel power switch is the same as using the Digital Loggers switch to boot up and shut down the radio, so you are essentially substituting a power button press for the Digital Loggers switch closure and switch opening.
CAUTION: We recommend that you do not use a web-controlled AC switch to power on and off the power supply while using a grounded RCA male plug inserted into the REM ON connector and the REM ON connector enabled. This does not allow the radio sufficient time to initialize before starting the booting process.