Behringer CMD Micro Issues With SSDR for iOS

Rob Fissel

I thought I'd just put this in the community in case others come across this issue. Noticed a bug that's persisted over the last several released versions of SSDR for iOS. I would have frequent app crashes, and always seemed to have problems and responsiveness issues with the sliders in the app for things like RF gain, volume, etc. Sometimes the sliders wouldn't move, and the app's UI would hang. 

I use the Behringer CMD Micro midi controller, along with the controlling software CMDMicroFlex6k_v2 while in the shack all of the time. It's a great hardware solution if you want knobs/sliders/vfo's but don't have a need for a Maestro. However, it was causing a conflict with SSDR for iOS, leading to the aforementioned problems. As soon as I closed the software and unplugged the Behringer from the USB port, these problems in SSDR disappeared. Now I just have to remember to unplug the Behringer when not in use!

ThisUserDoesNotExist

Hi Bob,

I read this by chance as I usually don't look here often. I wonder why you wrote you found an issue with several releases of my App and didn't let me know.

Anyways, let's try to find the cause and fix it ;-)

Is my understanding right, that you are using the CMD Micro connected to the USB Port of your PC and at the same time you use my iOS App, right ?

73,
Marcus, DL8MRE

K5CG

Does the problem disappear if you leave the CMD Micro plugged in and **** the application instead?

Rob Fissel

Fair enough point, Marcus! I wanted to root cause it prior to releasing you. I HATE bothering devs about bugs only to find out that it's some other peripheral software/hardware issue unrelated to your wonderful app. 

Your understanding is correct - using the CMD connected via USB to the PC at the same time as using your app. Please let me know if there's anything in particular  you'd like me to try on my end to troubleshoot further. 

Rob Fissel

It does not. I need to not only close the software, but unplug the CMD from the PC to resolve the issue. 

ThisUserDoesNotExist

no worries Rob,

thanks for your reply.

To be honest, I never thought that the way how you are using the CMD Micro is working at all.

I would have said you would either have to use the CMD Micro connecting to the PC and use SmartSDR for Windows or you use my App and need to connect the CMD Micro to the iPad (or iPhone).

This is a bit difficult to track down indeed. It depends a bit on how the CMDMicroFlex6k_v2 is working.

Do you also have these issues when solely keep the CMD Micro connected to the USB Port of your PC but didn't start the CMDMicroFlex6k_v2 software ?

Rob Fissel

I can try a fresh boot later, plug in the CMD, and leave the software off, and try again.

I don't use the CMD in conjunction with the iOS app, and have simply left it plugged in and enabled 24/7 in the past as a matter of convenience when I'm using the radio from the shack PC. It's just a bit of a pain when I'm using the iOS app upstairs, and have to run down and unplug the device! 

ThisUserDoesNotExist

thanks Rob,

yes, I understand, it's indeed inconvenient if you always need to unplug the USB.

My feeling is, that the CMDMicroFlex6k software is continuously talking to the Radio and disrupting the communication from my App. But that's just a guess and booting the PC without running CMDMicroFlex6k but leaving the CMD Micro connected would be a good test.

Thanks Rob,
73,
Marcus, DL8MRE

Rob Fissel

That was my guess as well, Marcus. Most likely nothing to do with your app. I chose my wording poorly in the initial post, saying that it was a SSDR for iOS bug over the last few versions. Not sure if there's much you can do here.

A minor inconvenience for me considering the overall functionality of the Flex ecosystem. I thought I'd post so in case someone else out there was pulling their hair out, they could stop prior to going bald. 

ThisUserDoesNotExist

Rob, did you try this already:

"I can try a fresh boot later, plug in the CMD, and leave the software off, and try again. "

This would prove that it's indeed the CMDMicroFlex6k software causing the issue and then I would imagine a couple of things how the developer of CMDMicroFlex6k would be able to fix this issue. E.g. querying what client is connected to the radio or just by checking if SmartSDR is running etc. etc.

73,
Marcus

Rob Fissel

Totally slipped my mind. Will do tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder!