Stream Deck Mk1 or Mk2 with SmartSDR Mac - how-to

Vince dEon

I did a thing. I saw lots of posts about using a MIDI Stream Deck and FR Stack and so on, but I had no desire to add more software or hardware to my existing configuration. So I interfaced my Mac SmartSDR with a Stream Deck Mk1. This will work for Mk1, Mk2 and either the 15 or 32 button versions. Note that you must have SSDR in focus in order to receive the keystrokes and take the desired actions.

Are you a Windows user? I can’t help you there as I have only SSDR for Mac, so I encourage you to check your manual.

I’m going to give you a basic outline, and my files are posted for you to download and experiment with. These aren’t comprehensive instructions but are intended as a guideline. Please read this over at least once before attempting to replicate my success, as Mama didn’t raise a documenter but a fellow who can talk.. and as a result I may be missing something below.

Steps:
Obtain Flex Radio, Stream Deck Mk1 or Mk2 and SSDR Mac. Get the software configured how you want it. Then,
Create Keyboard Key Assignments as desired (SSDR, Tools | Keyboard Shortcuts)
Map shortcut to desired key on Stream Deck, create icon for clarity
Return to step two until all keys are mapped

SSDR will show you a list of functions available, and not all things are available to be mapped. This is push button functionality only and are limited to those things available to you in SSDR.

For your convenience I have posted my two files, the Keyboard Shortcuts Mapping and my Stream Deck configuration on my public Dropbox. You can find the link to the Dropbox from the front page of my website under “Ham Smarter with VE6LK Tools”. You can load these two files into your SSDR and Stream Deck configuration and use them as-is, or you can modify to suit. Here's the link https://ve6lk.com/

Note that this next step will overwrite any mappings you currently have, and by default SSDR has none. To load the Keyboard Mapping file, in SSDR | Tools | Keyboard Mapping, click on the Edit Mapping button which opens up the Editor. Then click on the Utilities button, then Load and find downloaded file VE6LK SSDR Keyboard Mapping.map file and click Open.

You can have multiple Stream Deck profiles on your system at one time, so proceed with this step without fear. To load the Stream Deck file, open the configuration utility and hit the gear icon to open Preferences. Then touch the Profiles tab, and at the bottom of the lefthand window you’ll see a small downwards arrow, tap on it. From here you can import the file you downloaded earlier, filename VE6LK Stream Deck Flex.streamDeck.

Please note that standard disclaimers apply including, but not limited to, that I’m not responsible for what may happen to your computer, this is provided without warranty, I’m releasing it to the public at no cost, and I’m no expert at tech support but I know this works FB on my system.

Vy 73 de VE6LK/AI7LK
…Vince

K3CDY

Howdy Vince. There are Stream Deck plugins available that will generate MIDI commands to Mac SmartSDR, regardless of the type of Stream Deck you have.

The one I use extensively is available here: https://trevligaspel.se/streamdeck/midi/index.php

It appears to be well supported and works brilliantly.

Mike-VA3MW

Thanks Vince (and, if you don't know Vince, this is the same Vince from the

https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/

Nice work and thanks for taking the time to write this up.