Mac with VirtualBox Windows VM or Parallels or ???

dlwarnberg

Rick - W5FCX

I was able to operate on Parallels on Mac. The twist is I had to modify the Parallels networking mode to directly share the Mac network so UDP discovery of the Flex worked. Otherwise it was fine.

dlwarnberg

thank you

Ted VE3TRQ

Have also run SSDR on Mac under Parallels with bridged network, as well as VirtualBox under Linux.

dlwarnberg

Thanks

George KF2T

Of course, the DogPark Software applications (dpSDR, MacLoggerDX) work beautifully with Flex and are Mac-native.

Ted VE3TRQ

I certainly concur with George’s opinion - on a Mac, use dogParkSDR, until you need to run SSDR to update software on the Flex - then use that VM.

Bob G W1GLV

I've been using Parallels for about 4 years and never had a problem running SSDR on my MAC. Like George said, dogparkSDR is also a native program on the Mac to run your Flex radio. Both do a fantastic job.

Jim - wa6our

Burch - K4QXX

Watts - K4QJZ

I have used parrallels since version 1 series of Flex software on a now 9 year old Mac Tower.
There were speed issues in the very early days of version 1 but once Flex got to version 2 the software has had no issues with performance.
As with all Macs memory size effects operating performance. If you have performance issues at all upgrade your memory size.
I have had no issues with Parrallels and highly recommend it. Good advise on the network settings, worth noting, made the same mistake.
Ham radio Delux, Flex Smart SDR, WinLink, FT8, PC-ALE etc. all have worked well locally and via remote using Parrallel remote access.
Don’t forget your Mac can also run Windows natively by booting up in Windows 7 and even 10 if not too old a Mac.
I have had none of the Windows issues in 7 that we hear about from updates in the last 3 years running natively (booting up in Windows 7)). Perhaps the Apple drivers for Windows are better matched to the hardware.
Last the dog park software is great and has worked well for me also.
The Mac Hardware platform is my preference for Windows when required.
Watts
K4QJZ

Justin W4JTD

Lots and lots and lots and lots of success using parallels. I even remote in to my MacOS/Parallels combo with teamviewer running in MacOS, and everything works great. With two monitors and a MacPro, it’s like having to completely different machines. You can’t tell that the W10 display is a VM. I sometimes use DPSSDR to run all Mac when doing Sats, but usually run SSDR in W10 along with WSJT-X. I run MacLoggerDX in MacOS, and connect everything with JT-Bridge. You can very successfully use a Mac for all of your ham radio desires.... ;-) Hope that helps a little, good luck! 73 Justin KL2D

Ted VE3TRQ

One thing no one has mentioned, but can be a big part of being successful running Windows in a virtual machine is the ease of creating “restore points” - whenever you make a change that you want to be able to get back to, just make a copy of the virtual machine file :-) Quick and easy, and I’m sure everyone making use of VM’s knows about it, just didn’t mention it as a positive.

WA6FXT Mike

I’ve been running SmartSDR under “Bootcamp” for years. Bootcamp with Win7 Ultimate works fine, including DDUTIL v3. I’ve also run SmartSDR under VBox (Win10) on. 17” MacBook Pro. The only reason I haven’t switched to Dogpark is that it isn’t quite ready for prime time, YET. 73’s de Mike wa6fxt

WX7Y

dlwarnberg

Thanks George

dlwarnberg

W1MSG

I have been using Dogpark for about a year and love it !

Norm Ryan

Just downloaded the Dogpark software for 6700 that arrived on Monday.  Any user manuals hidden ?

Bob G W1GLV

the manual for dogpark are on the website

K7JV

Rick, how did modify Parallels to make it work?  I am able to run SmartSDR on the Mac, Catalina OS, Windows 10, Parallels, but the only radio that it sees is the FlexRadio 6400 that appears to have a WAN MAC address.  The LAN radio does NOT appear.

If you could, can you share what screen you might have navigated to in the Parallels setup and what values you entered to finally make it work.  I am at my wits end, here!

bobby

I am in parallels using win 10 xfrd from my pc connected to my network i can ping the flex at 192.168.2.169 which is its adx but smartsdr cannot see any radios. I have shared the mac network as recommended but see screenshot from win 10 showing a 10.x.x.x adx yet it pings fine. I know its a paralells setup issue as my win10 machine works fine on the same net. What do i need yet?

Ted VE3TRQ

You must use a Bridged network setup in Parallels - that way you will be in the same broadcast domain with your Flex (and the Mac). If your Mac and your Flex are on a 10. network, your Parallels version of Windows must also be on the 10. network.

You do this by setting Parallels up for bridged networking.

bobby

You got me on the right track after thinking ... I went to parallels win 10 hdwre configure and changed share mac network to thunderbolt ethernet adapter then in win 10 network used dhcp and changed dns server adx to my private network router adx of 192.168.2.1 the restarted windows and all works fab now. Thanks.

K7JV

Ted VE3TRQ

I just fired up Parallels and checked out a few things. The key is to go to the Parallels network settings (in the Window that has the Windows version you are running, it is the cobweb icon. Set to Bridged Network, and pick Ethernet (or however your Mac is connected). In the picture below, you can see that my IP address is 192.168.133.31, which comes from my LAN router (192.1698.133.0 network). Sees the Flex locally just fine. I think I mentioned this once before. Good luck.

K7JV

karlg

Bill N3HQB

No similar error here, running current versions of SmartSDR and CAT in current version of Parallels in Catalina.

Watts - K4QJZ

karlg