Flex 6600, SmartSDR V2, and HRD Logbook setup?

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Hi:

For a week I have been successfully using WSJT-X 1.9.1, JTalert, and HRD Logbook on my Flex 6600.  Thanks to Ria, Michael, and few other users who emailed me, it's rock solid.

Next, I started playing with SSB a lot more.   

QUESTION:  I would like to have HRD logbook fill in the band/frequency when I go
to add an SSB log entry.   I realize that for this to happen with other rigs, I would configure HRD Rig Control.    But SmartSDR already *is* rig control.    In googling, I read articles that pointed to  DDutil or MiniDeluxe as providing a bridge for the needed information between SmartSDR and HRD applications like LogBook or DM780.   Is this true?   Can DDutil or minideluxe provide the band and frequency info to HRD logbook, for example?
And if that is true;  which of the two apps do people suggest I use?

Cheers,

Neal

WB0O

Neal,  I have used DDutil and HRD.  I tend to use the HRD program 95% of the time, since I also have other HF rigs that it can control.   I have read from others that they didn't like that way as it is yet another program drawing down on the PC,  but I haven't noticed any issue at all.  I just start up HRD, and minimize it , but keep the HRD logbook up on my screen.  Works great for me.  r/Mike

WK2Y

I'm using SliceMaster to get track band and freq for HRD.  I like it, but I haven't heard or tried the apps you mention.

73,
Bob, WK2Y

Roger_W6VZV

Sure seems to me that just using HRD to fill in the mode/band/freq. is the easiest way to do it.  That's what I do.

Craig_KØCF

You need to think of SmartSDR as the radio (which it is!) and not rig control. Rig control from logging software to a radio is traditionally done by serial (or "COM") ports, using a cable from an RS232 connector on your PC to a similar connector on the radio.

This capability is provided in SmartSDR by SmartSDR CAT, a separate program. This creates a virtual COM port, automatically connected to the radio, to which HDR or other logging software connects and both reads the radio status and controls it. I suggest downloading the current version of the SmartSDR CAT manual from the FlexRadio web site and studying it.
Basically, you will create a CAT port in SmartSDR CAT, then connect to the port in HDR setup. Simple and easy! It takes more time to tell about it than it does to do it.
73,
Craig, KØCF

Craig_KØCF

Of course, I should have type "HRD". I must have had 4k HDR TVs on my mind instead of "Ham Radio Deluxe"!

Mark NS9N

Google search DDutil and HRD Logbook. I did not want the HRD rig control as Flex has this more than covered but wanted everything else HRD has to offer. With a bit of configuration everything plays perfectly. Actually I find it the perfect companion to the Flex SW, you get to monitor the temp of your radio, and link it to QRZ. Flex on monitor one and HRD and DDutil on monitor two. Yes there is a beauty in a PC based station.

Mark NS9N

Google search DDutil and HRD Logbook. I did not want the HRD rig control as Flex has this more than covered but wanted everything else HRD has to offer. With a bit of configuration everything plays perfectly. Actually I find it the perfect companion to the Flex SW, you get to monitor the temp of your radio, and link it to QRZ. Flex on monitor one and HRD and DDutil on monitor two. Yes there is a beauty in a PC based station.

Mike-VA3MW

This can be done without DDUtil if you choose.

All you need is HRD MiniDeluxe https://github.com/krisp/MiniDeluxe/wiki

This will broker the communication between CAT and HRD.  MiniDeluxe needs to know which CAT port to listen to, so you will have to add a CAT port of course and which Slice to read the frequency.  Usually Slice A.

It looks like this:

Radio <-> CAT Port <-> HRD MiniDeluxe <-> HRD Logbook (etc)

Now, HRD can hear the frequency from the radio to update your logbook, etc.

Mike