Setting band limits?

KD4UNX

Hi. I am new to FlexRadio, and just bought a 6400. I have a Mac, and I was hoping to set band limits like I had on my Icom IC-7300 -- to ensure that I do not transmit outside of my General privileges.

I have searched the forums here, have done web searches, and have looked through the SSDR manual... and have come up empty.

Is there a way to define band limits so that I do not transmit outside of my privileges?

I see the Band Plan, but I do not see a way to edit it.

Thanks.

K3CDY

Len’s utility is excellent, but it is a Windows native application, and would require you to run it in a virtual environment.

You could also create memory locations in the native Mac SmartSDR app and simply label them with the band edges of your privileges.

KD0RC

I have a utility called Flex Repeater Spots that can put band edges on your SmartSDR screen. It also has an out of band warning feature, if you want to use that as well. Here are some links:

https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8029504/flex-repeater-spots-utility

https://github.com/KD0RC/FlexRepeaterSpots

Even though this utility was originally written with FM repeaters in mind, it works great on all modes and bands.

KD0RC

Good catch Bill, I read right past the Mac part...

John KB4DU

I use the TNF built into thr radio. I create one at each band edge, like the lower limit of the phone segment. Place frequency on the desired location, right click to create a TMF, adjust it to the desired width and make it Permanent..The color changes to green. That’s it.

KD4UNX

TNF and memories -- these are great ideas. Thanks, guys. I'll do something like that.

n4mcc

Why are we having to clug fixes to something that should be incredibly simple? It looks like people have been request this and promises made to include since before 2018.

John KB4DU

well, DAX has been problematic longer than that.

Mike-VA3MW

It isn't 'that' simple. I depends on what other higher priority items are pending.

As well, you then need to do it for each country. Canada is different from the US as so on.

It quickly becomes not so simple to make sure that every entity is handled correctly.

KD4UNX

On the IC-7300, I was able to program my own band edges, and changed them from the defaults to match my FCC General ranges, so that I could not transmit outside of my privileges. Right now we have per-band "PTT inhibit" on the Flex, but custom band limits shouldn't be too much to ask, I wouldn't think.

I mean, yes, if we were to expect Flex to provide a solution that worked for every amateur anywhere, without any customization, then yes, that's too much to ask... but "custom band edges" should be a low bar.

WX7Y

Sounds like you need to write a API program to let you set the band Edges how you want them so FLEX can concentrate with the MAIN HIGH PRIORITY problems and updates.

KD0RC (Len) writes a nice little API program called "Flex Repeater Spots" that has Band Edge programing with a basic Config file using the API with the SPOTS built into SmartSDR. I'm sure with a little encouragement to change it how you need it changed with Len much quicker then FLEX will be able to get to it.

This is NOT a CLUGE but the way the FLEX infrastructure of SmartSDR has been written and is.

KD4UNX

Yeah, I found KD0RC's software sometime recently, but discovered that it is Windows only. I don't have a Windows system (I'm Mac and Unix only), so unfortunately that doesn't help me.

Since posting this, I have just started using my ARRL band plan card, and that's probably what I'll do for the foreseeable future. I'm not on the radio much anymore, and mostly FT8 when I am, so band edges are not a concern for me lately.

Mike-VA3MW

Doesn’t SmartSDR for MAC have a band plan chart? The iOS one does.

KD4UNX

It does, but I did not find a way to set it to my actual privileges. I do have the band plan visible in my waterfall view, but it shows Extra privileges. Also, I find the ARRL card to be much easier to read than the SSDR band plan chart. Maybe it's just me.

I'm very new to Flex & SmartSDR, so it's possible that there are ways to edit this that I haven't yet found.