Skip to content
  • Register
    • Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
    Need the latest SmartSDR, Power Genius, Tuner Genius and Antenna Genius Software?

    SmartSDR v3.8.23 and the SmartSDR v3.8.23 Release Notes
    SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
    Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.9 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.9
    Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
    Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
    If you are having a problem, please refer to the product documentation or check the Help Center for known solutions.
    Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.

    Barry K9IUT again

    Member ✭✭
    in FLEX-8000 Signature Series
    I have my new Flex 8400M up and running. I now have SmartSDR 3.8.23 installed on a Windows 11 laptop. I can use Smart Control to connect to my 8400M, but when I connect SmartControl my panadapter and waterfall appear only on my Windows 11 laptop and disappear from my 8400M display and from my attached large screen monitor. I can use both the laptop SmartSDR and my 8400M to control the radio but I can only view the pan fall spectrum display and slice receiver on the laptop screen. How can I view the panadapter and waterfall on BOTH the laptop and the 8400M?

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Answers

    • Member ✭✭✭
      edited March 8

      SmartControl doesn't display the panadapter it only reflects things like frequency and a few other things that you do in SmartSDR on the pc or changing frequency with the VFO knob it will show the change in frequency on the radio's frequency display and in SmartSDR on the pc. As has been mentioned before, you can run one instance of SmartSDR on your computer and one one the radio. The 8400M only supports two total panadapters . Two on the front panel or the pc. Or one on the front panel and the other on the pc. Only one instance of SmartSDR, either on the front panel or the pc can transmit at any given time. In other words, you cannot use SmartControl and see the same display on both the pc and the radio at the same time.

      James

      WD5GWY

    • Member ✭✭✭

      If you simply want to see the front panel display on a larger monitor than what is on the front panel of the 8400M, you can connect a external monitor to the HDMI port on the back of the radio.

      James

      WD5GWY

    • Member, Super Elmer Moderator

      Hi Barry, The Flex radios are designed to be able to be operated by up to two people simultaneously. Each GUI Client (SmartSDR, Maestro, M model front panel) is treated as a separate control station. So with your 8400M (not in SmartControl mode), the front panel is one station and SmartSDR is a separate, independent station. The knobs and buttons only control the front panel screen and the SmartSDR controls only control SmartSDR.

      Many hams wanted to be able to use the front panel and SmartSDR at the same time as one station (i.e. the front panel and SmartSDR are synchronized). SmartControl was the answer to this request. With SmartControl, the panadapter and waterfall of the front panel are not shown (I suppose) to conserve LAN bandwidth. With the current SmartControl, there is no way to get the panadapter and waterfall on both the computer and front panel at the same time.

      There is a whole discussion about this on these threads:

      https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8031272/8600m-standalone-and-pc-simultaneously

      https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8031225/flexradio-m-models-use-the-display-and-app-synchronously
    • Member ✭✭
      THANKS! But I’m 81. First licensed in 1956, inactive over 35 years - a lot to learn. As a computer guy I decided to go full SDR, but with neuropathy in my fingers, with some shakes touch screens are difficult. Of course my eyes aren’t what they used to be. The grandkids might also say my mind isn’t as sharp as it once was! So I’d like to see everything on my large monitor and control the radio with a mouse and with knobs. I’m hoping I can do that with SmartSDR. Can I?
    • Member, Super Elmer Moderator

      You sure can. Keep it in SmartControl mode and SmartSDR will control the radio using the mouse and keyboard. At the same time, the knobs and buttons of the front panel will also work. The only thing that you don't get in SmartControl is the panadapter and waterfall on the front panel or the HDMI output on the back.

      To get that extra monitor, plug it in to your computer instead of the HDMI video port on the radio. If your computer doesn't have an HDMI port, you can get an adapter pretty cheaply.

    • Member ✭✭✭

      Yes, just connect to the radio from your computer with SmartSDR and you can control everything on the radio. If you are wanting to use the knobs and buttons on the front of the radio you can do that using SmartControl. You just won't have the waterfall and spectrum display on the front panel of the radio. Just on the computer. If you know someone nearby who uses a Flex you might get them to come and help you set things up the way you need it.

      James

      WD5GWY

    • Member ✭✭
      THANKS! I’ve got that working - I will just rearrange the laptop and monitor so I can get everything more conveniently located.
    • Member ✭✭

      now you've got me thinking!! Can i use the computer to use the amp genius and tuner genius then turn off the computer and control the amp and tuner with the maestro?? I'm old fashioned also and LOVE the knobs on my 6600M ; have been waiting since May for the 8600M tnx for any info

    • Member ✭✭

      I’m not sure. I just got the 8400M! Trying to move from the old school my grandkids make fun of to the new. But from what I can tell you don’t even have to turn off the computer! In fact, I don’t want to because the computer now is showing me everything on my 32” monitor - and I can use the M (or Maestro) to actually operate!

    • Member ✭✭✭✭

      Barry—you don’t really need the computer to operate SSB or CW without external programs. Just plug your large screen into the 8400M’s HDMI socket.

    Leave a Comment

    Rich Text Editor. To edit a paragraph's style, hit tab to get to the paragraph menu. From there you will be able to pick one style. Nothing defaults to paragraph. An inline formatting menu will show up when you select text. Hit tab to get into that menu. Some elements, such as rich link embeds, images, loading indicators, and error messages may get inserted into the editor. You may navigate to these using the arrow keys inside of the editor and delete them with the delete or backspace key.

    Comment As ...

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Quick Links

    Categories