SmartSDR for iOS App is AMAZING!!

John - AF3K

Just purchased the SmartSDR for iOS app over the weekend. It is truly amazing!! Amazing because it is beautifully designed, and fun to use. Congratulations to Marcus DL8MRE who independently developed this outside of Flex. Kudos to the Flex team for providing a great API to enable this. SmartSDR for iOS delivers almost every feature found in SmartSDR for Windows. In some ways, it's even better. subtly adding creative new things like showing DX cluster spots and band maps on the panadapter. It offers an alternative color option that to my eyes improves the already nice standard one in SmartSDR for Windows. The touch interface is full of little things that just make it work. I am amazed by this app and enjoying using it!! Thank you Flex and thank you Marcus. Great job guys. John AF3K

KC9NRN

I have an iPad 2, 4 years old and with the latest IOS slower than snails and won't run this app, at least not very well. I recently received my Maestro and so far love it but the iPad Pro 12" is calling out to me for SmartSDR as well as Netflix etc...

So, I just ordered a new iPad Pro 12", got a good deal on one so I'll be buying this app as soon as the iPad arrives.

Jim Gilliam

Any one had any luck trying to use this program with Softether L2TP configuration for WAN operation?

DV

Interested in Jim's question.  I would like to use the APP from a remote location.

Bob N7ZO

Jim, Doug,

There are VPN related comments in this thread:
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/smartsdr-ios-problems-with-vpn-and-audio

The short answer is yes, Softether L2TP VPN works fine with SmartSDR for iOS.

Larry _ NY8T

I have been at work today using softether with my iphone 6s. Four hours so far with zero disconnects.

Cal N3CAL

I've been listening to 40m all morning here at work!  Running Softether L2TP VPN with SmartSDR for IOS through my 4G connection.  Using a iPad Mini Air 4 with built in mic. I just worked a special event W8W and he gave me a glowing audio report.  He said he couldn't tell I was working remote!   I have not gotten any disconnects or dropouts.  It's been running steady all morning.   I'm pretty impressed so far! 

Cal/N3CAL

Andy F5VAI

Many thanks for all your hard work Marcus.  John AF3K has summed it all up, quite amazing.  Runs superbly on my iPad Air with 6300. 

Andy F5VAI

KY6LA_Howard

Works great on WAN

[Deleted User]

I can't get softether working for the life of me.

KY6LA_Howard

UDP ports (500, 4500 and 1701) need to be forwarded to the SoftEther Server device IP

W3PH

It runs very well on the 12" iPad Pro - SmartSDR for iOS is very smooth on that hardware.

K0UNX

I'd love to get it, but I can't find it on Apple's APP STORE in the USA, either searching "smartsdr" or two words, "smart sdr"  Where do I get it?

KY6LA_Howard



The above it is the response from the App Store

Jon_KF2E

Go to the iTunes store not the app store.

Jon...kf2e

Paul Christensen, W9AC

Question:  Is Raspberry Pi still required when connecting SSDR-ios with SoftEther VPN? 

What would be most helpful, is an updated video showing the complete steps required just for getting SSDR-ios up and running with SoftEther and an iPad and/or iPhone.   

Jon_KF2E

A Raspberry Pi ws never required. What is required is a server for Softether. That can be run on many platforms. Your Windows machine that you use for SmartSDR is an obvious choice.

Jon...kf2e

George KF2T

Also works very well with OSX Server's VPN. On the beach in Los Angeles listening to my rig!

Paul Christensen, W9AC

What's confusing is that many suggestions in the Flex Community refer to the 2-part K6OZY video for setting up SmartEther with SSDR-ios.  More confusing, the first 22 minutes of Part 1 discuss provisioning a Raspberry Pi, when the applicable material starts thereafter.

Again, it would be helpful for a power-user to start with a clean slate and either explicitly state the step-by-step instructions or produce a new video.

Paul, W9AC  

KY6LA_Howard

@Paul

There are lots of videos on how on the Internet to set up a VPN on the iPhone/iPad

Here is one

http://www.howtogeek.com/215730/how-to-connect-to-a-vpn-from-your-iphone-or-ipad/

It is so incredibly simple...

Connect to PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and Cisco IPSec

1.To set up a VPN, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad,

2. tap the General category, and

3.  tap VPN near the bottom of the list.

4.  Tap “Add VPN Configuration” to add your first VPN settings to the phone or tablet. If you need to configure multiple VPNs, you can add them from this screen, too.

5.  Select the L2TP option for L2TP/IPSec, PPTP for PPTP, or IPSec for Cisco IPsec

If you are using SoftEther at your base then choose L2TP

6. Enter your VPN’s connection details on this screen to connect. .

That it...

KY6LA_Howard

https://www.softether.org/4-docs/2-howto/9.L2TPIPsec_Setup_Guide_for_SoftEther_VPN_Server/2.iPhone_i...

Here is how to connect a softether VPN to the iPhone

Again.. incredibly easy to do..

Paul Christensen, W9AC

Howard,

Way past that part and had that set up long ago...I'm referring to the Ethersoft set-up for use with the iPhone's L2TP.  After getting past the 22 minute intro, one problem with the K6OZY video is that the screen image cannot be expanded for a clearer view. 

Paul, W9AC 

Rob Fissel

Adding to Howard, I had to open Port 51 for Softether VPN (L2TP) to allow my iOS devices to connect. Go figure....

Rob Fissel

Adding to Howard, I had to open Port 51 for Softether VPN (L2TP) to allow my iOS devices to connect. Go figure....

KC9NRN

Have you run it over VPN yet?

Rob Fissel

I have on an iPad Pro 9.7" - PPTP VPN over fiber, cable broadband, and LTE/4G hotspot. Also directly on my iPhone 6 with PPTP VPN over LTE. I've had no issues (other than when cell service is spotty/drops out while driving). The cable broadband experience was particularly good considering it was in a very rural area with 20/2 mbps service. Needless to say, it works excellent on your LAN at home as well. 

KY6LA_Howard

@ Paul

Did you get it working yet?

Ken - NM9P

@Paul, to put it another way....The Pi isn't required on the home network.
But if you want to use L2TP/iPsec VPN with Softether to host your iPad/iPhone, you must have the Softether server running on SOMETHING in the shack/home network.  

It can run on your main shack computer, a separate older computer doing server duty, a compatible "hacked" router, a NAS Drive Box (I call mine a "Toaster.") or a simple Raspberry Pi, in order to relieve your other computers of this duty.  

I purchased a Raspberry Pi 3 at Dayton this year with intentions of experimentation with Softether in the shack, but haven't gotten around to it yet -- testing SSDR-ios has been too much fun and I already have it going with a simple PPTP VPN connection.

The other usage of the Raspberry Pi that others are confusing with this is when interfacing the Maestro via VPN.  Since the Maestro does not yet have VPN Client software integrated, some folks, like K6OZY have been using a Raspberry Pi as a wifi connection / VPN Client to allow the Maestro to connect to your home VPN.  Since the Softether Client can be installed on the Pi,  it made easy sense.

Hope this helps.

I am amazed at the creativity some in our ranks have demonstrated.  I need to learn to program my own Pi in order to keep up!

Paul Christensen, W9AC

Howard & Ken,

Yes.  Got it going yesterday and described what it took to get there! 

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/smartsdr-ios-problems-with-vpn-and-audio

Paul

Ken - NM9P

Oops!  I even read your post yesterday!  (They say that short term memory is the first to go.....)

But I had a brain cramp and was only focusing on the Raspberry Pi Question!
Perhaps my answer will help clarify things for someone else.

Glad you got it running.  Having fun now!

Ken - NM9P

Steve K9ZW

Awesome APP! Much fun from my iPhone 6+ and iPad. Not certain the XYL is exactly thrilled that I can work QSOs from a phone pulled from my pocket. Thinking she is worried I will "go radio" if houseguests drone on mindlessly. Sounds better to me though! Excellent "smile making" application- thank you! 73 Steve K9ZW