Control JTDX from your smartphone while away from home

JTDX_Remote, currently under development, is a program for controlling automated JTDX operation from a smartphone browser. Actions such as “Auto operation” and “Stop” are sent to the Windows PC running JTDX.

On the same home LAN, your smartphone can access the PC directly. When you switch to a mobile network, however, the PC's local LAN address is no longer directly accessible. For this setup, we use Tailscale to create a private network that lets us reach the PC while away from home.

This guide installs Tailscale on both the Windows PC running JTDX_Remote and an Android smartphone. Tailscale provides the network connection; you must install and start JTDX_Remote separately.

Connection used in this guide

Smartphone browser → Tailscale VPN → JTDX_Remote on the Windows PC (port 8080) → JTDX

Both the PC and smartphone need an internet connection. Router port forwarding is normally unnecessary for this setup.

Before you start

• First, check that you can open the JTDX_Remote page from another device on the same LAN.
• Keep the Windows PC, JTDX, and JTDX_Remote running during remote operation. You cannot access the PC while it is asleep.
• Have an account ready for signing in to Tailscale. In this guide, both devices use the same account.

Tailscale offers a free Personal plan for individual, non-commercial use. Check the official pricing page for current terms and limits, which may change. The screenshots below record the installation on January 4, 2026, and may differ from the current interface.

1. Get started with Tailscale

Open the official Tailscale website and select a button such as Start connecting devices. Follow the instructions to sign in and create your own Tailscale network. This network is called a “tailnet.”

Choose your sign-in account

Select the account you want to use from the available identity providers. The screenshot shows the authentication screen used for this setup. Use the same account on the Windows PC and smartphone so that both join the same tailnet.

Complete identity verification if requested

Your identity provider may request additional verification. In this example, I selected a phone number to receive a verification code. Phone-based verification is not mandatory for every Tailscale user. Follow the authentication method required by your chosen account.

In this example, I entered the verification code received by SMS to complete authentication. The code is used for that sign-in attempt. Other authentication methods may display instructions for an authenticator app or another verification option.

2. Install Tailscale on the Windows PC

Select Windows as the device platform and click the download button. Install Tailscale on the Windows PC that runs JTDX_Remote. You can also obtain the installer from the official download page.

Run the downloaded Windows installer. If Windows displays a confirmation prompt, check that you obtained the installer from the official website before proceeding.

When Tailscale Setup opens, read the terms and other information. If you agree, check I agree and click Install.

Add the Windows PC to your network

Once installation is complete, click Get Started to begin setup.

Click Sign in to your network. When the sign-in page opens in your browser, sign in with the account you selected earlier.

On the device connection confirmation screen, check the network you are joining and click Connect. This adds the Windows PC to your tailnet.

The PC name and its Tailscale IP address appear. Waiting for your second device means that the first device has been added and Tailscale is waiting for another device to connect. Next, add your smartphone.

A Tailscale IP address typically has the format 100.x.x.x. It is separate from your home LAN address, such as 192.168.x.x, and is used later to access the PC from outside your home.

3. Install Tailscale on the Android smartphone

Open Google Play on your smartphone, search for Tailscale, and install the official app.

Launch the app and sign in with the same account you used on the Windows PC. If Android asks for permission to establish a VPN connection, review and allow it, then turn on the Tailscale connection. The smartphone interface differs from the Windows version, so follow the app's instructions.

4. Check that both devices are added and connected

In the Tailscale admin console, check that both the Windows PC and smartphone appear on the Machines page and show Connected. On the smartphone, you can also confirm that Tailscale is connected and the Windows PC appears in the device list.

In the screenshots below, the PC is named ji1fgx and its Tailscale IP address is 100.68.18.13. These are examples from my setup. Use the address assigned to your own PC.

EXIT NODE: None on the smartphone is fine for this purpose. You do not need to select an exit node just to access the PC. Seeing the devices in the list does not yet confirm that the application works, so continue with a browser connection test.

5. Open JTDX_Remote as you would from outside your home

1. Start JTDX and JTDX_Remote on the Windows PC, and make sure Tailscale is connected.
2. Turn off Wi-Fi on the smartphone and switch to the mobile network. Keep Tailscale connected.
3. Open the smartphone browser and enter the Windows PC's Tailscale IP address and the port used by JTDX_Remote.

http://100.68.18.13:8080/

This URL is an example based on the PC shown in the screenshots. Replace the IP address with your own PC's address. Port 8080 is the number shown in the JTDX_Remote screen at the beginning of this article. If you have changed the application's port setting, use that port instead. If the application uses a different URL path, include that path as well.

If the page opens and displays information such as logs, you have successfully accessed JTDX_Remote over the mobile network through Tailscale. Before testing any operation that causes a transmission, check your radio equipment and operating conditions.

What to check if you cannot connect

• The PC does not appear: check that both devices use the same account, belong to the same tailnet, and have Tailscale connected. Also check that the PC is powered on and awake.
• Both devices show Connected, but the page will not open: check that JTDX_Remote is running and that the IP address and port in the URL are correct. Installing Tailscale alone does not start the web interface.
• The page opens only on the PC itself: if the JTDX_Remote web server listens only on 127.0.0.1 (localhost), other devices cannot connect. Configure the application to accept connections through Tailscale, and allow the required application or port in Windows Firewall. You do not need to disable the entire firewall.
• You have changed the access permissions: check that Tailscale's access controls allow the smartphone to reach the required port on the PC.
• Another VPN is running on the smartphone: check whether another VPN app is interfering with Tailscale.

Keeping the system available for remote use

To operate the system while away from home, the destination PC must be on, with JTDX_Remote and Tailscale running. Check the PC's sleep settings and what starts after a reboot. If access stops working, also check whether Tailscale is requesting reauthentication.

This guide connects directly to the Windows PC running the application. If you later install Tailscale only on a separate Raspberry Pi and use it to reach a PC on your LAN, additional configuration, such as setting up a subnet router, will be required.

References: Tailscale official documentation: Connect to devices / Official downloads / Pricing and plan terms