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SmartSDR for Mac, 4 FT8 windows, 4 panadapters: Which one is TX?

Hello community!

I have a Flex 6600 and I like to run four FT8 windows on four panadapters, in order to monitor four different bands. Previously, when I double-clicked a call in any FT8 window, the software would move the TX focus to the panadapter to which that FT8 decode window corresponded. Recently, when I double-click a call in the FT8 window, the TX focus does not change, and instead the transmit signal is routed to the panadapter with the "TX" indicator. I updated SmartSDR for Mac from 2.9.86 to 2.9.89, and there was no change.

For example, say that TX is on the panadapter for 30m, and I'm trying to respond to a CQ on 40m. I double-click on the caller in my 40m FT8 window, and my signal is transmitted on 30m instead of 40m.

I have to manually switch TX focus to the panadapter I want, when before this was not the case. I was able to double-click in any FT8 window and the software would change TX focus to the corresponding panadapter.

I understand about DAX mappings between panadapters (or slices?) and the FT8 windows. I have tried various combinations of "TX Slice options: Always make TX Slice the active Slice / Always make active Slice the TX Slice" to no avail. And most confusing is why this behavior changed.

Is anyone else running multiple FT8 windows on multiple panadapters and having similar problems?

73,
Vince KB6NTW

SmartSDR-macOS V2.9.89, D4.2.06 C:US-en fw:3.10.10 running on arm64 on macOS Version 15.6.1 (Build 24G90)

Best Answer

  • vincetronics
    vincetronics Member
    Answer ✓
    Thanks, Henkka. Following up on my situation: I had an email discussion with Marcus the developer, and he was able to figure it out from my overly-exhaustive description ;-) . The behavior of not forcing the TX to move focus to the active FT8 window was a new feature to enable full-duplex FT8 operation (e.g. satellites?), with the unintended consequence of making it no longer automatic. Marcus advised me to watch out for a fix (to allow control over the TX focus behavior) in an upcoming release. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly Marcus responded... he's a team of one, and he's got the whole MacOS Flex Radio community to support!

    73,
    Vince KB6NTW

Answers

  • Henkka
    Henkka Member ✭✭

    Hi Vince,

    I have had exactly the same problem for a few months now. I did contact Marcus but he couldnt reproduce the problem. So unfortunately no help from the product developer side to fix the problem.

    This bug pretty much makes SO2R working not possible using Mac software, at least when using digital modes. I used to love work multiple FT8 bands simultaneously (odd/even) using Full Duplex and meanwhile monitor opening of the other bands.

    P.S I have other challenges ongoing also atm, if I change a profile program will immediately freeze and quit. Same happens with both iOS and Mac. So changing bands using profiles is not a option at the moment. Factory reset/cold boot didnt help.

    My equipment: 8600M, PGXL, TGXL, MacBook, iPhone

    Best regards,

    Henkka OH5KNL

  • Henkka
    Henkka Member ✭✭

    Yes sir he is very fast and supportive. Language barrier sometimes causes some delays/setbacks. Thank you for your couraging update. Im very keen to get my hands on the future update and dive back to the SO2R world.

  • Fixed in Version 2.9.91 (20254502). I installed and tested it with 4 panadapters and 4 FT8 windows on my Flex 6600, and it's working as I expected.
    73,
    Vince KB6NTW
  • Dan Trainor
    Dan Trainor Member ✭✭✭

    Marcus fixes things very quickly!

  • Henkka
    Henkka Member ✭✭

    Happy camper here as well, now SO2R works again!! Seems like profiles are more stable also, great work from Marcus.