Using a Maestro for FT8

W2PP

so I realized that there is no easy way to run FT8 using the Maestro. Specifically without a USB port how have you done it? Has anyone done this?

Peter

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Peter

You can still use your Maestro for 'command and control, but you then run WSJT on a computer with SmartSDR DAX (do a full SmartSDR install). Start DAX and CAT and then associated it with your Maestro.

Look here on both CAT and DAX (this is mine).

Yours will likely show up as Maestro (or whatever name you gave it).

That is how you use a computer to do your FT8 and the Maestro at the same time.

Give it a try, 73

W2PP

ah ok I get it. Thx

W2PP

actually for clarification am I really just running SmartSDR on the computer back to my home location or am I connecting the laptop to the Maestro and it is communicating with home base?

If I’m connecting to the Maestro from the laptop then to the Maestro I guess I’m going to see the Maestro as a radio choice inside SmartSDR?

Thanks

Peter

KD0RC

Hi Peter, the radio is a server which your various clients (CAT, DAX, Maestro, SmartSDR) connect to. The clients do not connect to each other.

So your computer runs DAX and CAT. Each is a client that connects to the radio and provides data and control to WSJT-X which is also running on your computer.

The Maestro is a GUI client (special type of client that has graphical data in the form of a panadapter and waterfall as well as audio), and controls the radio, but is blissfully unaware of what CAT, DAX and WSJT-X are doing.

To summarize, CAT provides control capability to WSJT-X. DAX provides audio and IQ signals to WSJT-X (I'm not sure which it uses). The Maestro provides rig control to you, the operator. DAX, CAT and the Maestro each talk directly to the radio, but not to one another.

I hope that helps clear all that up.

W2PP

indeed it helped. One more question. Let’s say that three slices are open at the home base. I then open SmartSDR on my local laptop which is many miles from home. I begin FT8. It would appear that now all 4 slices are active and the Maestro can’t connect. Am I correct?

Peter

KD0RC

You can connect two GUI clients at any given time. So if you have SmartSDR open local to the radio, then open SmartSDR on a remote PC (local to you, remote to the radio) you will have used both connections and the Maestro won't be able to connect.

If you have SmartSDR connected to the radio (local or remote) and have the maximum number of slices available open, you can still connect the Maestro. While it will show the panadapters, it will not be able to open any slices. Once you close a slice on SmartSDR, a slice will come available on the Maestro.

W2PP

ok got it. Is there a way to remove a local slice so at the remote location you can now connect?

KD0RC

Whoever is operating the local client would need to close a slice. If you are able to use TeamViewer or AnyDesk or something like that, you could close the slice remotely.

Rick Wykoff

Just trying to set the Maestro C to FT8. Was successful. My question is this. I cannot see what WSJT-X is doing if I am remote on my Maestro. I see when the computer transmits but don't see who I would like to contact via FT8 on the Maestro. How do I know if I have made a contact? Am I missing something ?