Idigi CAT with SmarSDR Mac OS ?

Andrew O'Brien · January 22

I am trying a test version of Idigi, a multimode Mac OS application (FT8, FT4, SSTV, PSK, RTTY, FAX). The CAT config area inserts the localhost IP and Port 5432 when a Flex series radio is selected . That does not appear to work. I tried 5002 and 5003 but no luck.

Anyone figured this software out for use with a Flex ? My Flex uses SmartSDR for Mac OS.

Andy K3UK

g4ivv · January 23

Hi Andy,

I'm sure John is right, it looks like you have a typo in the IP address, hopefully that will fix your problem.

Jonathan

Richard Saue · January 23

Assuming you are writing about the Fldigi application; In the Mac SmartSDR CAT control panel, alter the "Type" definition from "Flexradio CAT" to "Kenwood TS-2000 CAT". Works fine in my shack.

73 de LB2EG Richard

g4ivv · January 23

Hello Andrew,

I have iDigi working with SmartSDR for MacOS, it works well. Assuming both programs are running on the same Mac, all you have to do is make sure that the CAT settings are compatible in both apps. Here's a couple of screenshots to help.

First I enabled CAT in SmartSDR for Mac:

Note that I have the port number set to listen on 5001 and I have mapped the CAT control to slice A.

Then in iDigi we can setup the CAT connection to the same port number:

Don't worry that it says 6xxx (thats from HamLib I think), it works fine with the 8xxx series radios as well.

That should get the CAT control working for you. I can also go through the audio setup if that would help.

73,
Jonathan G4IVV

Andrew O'Brien · January 23

Hello Jonathan,

Hmm, I tried matching your settings but no luck. I have attached a screenshot of my settings . Is there some additions steps in Idigi that I need to make after setting the port and rig type ? I see the CAT icon in Idigi occasionally change from amber to red . If I change bands , the Flex does not follow . No sign of rig control . My receive audio is fine, can't test TX audio until I get PTT/CAT set correctly .

Andy K3UK

Screenshot 2026-01-23 at 11.04.55 AM.png

johnn1jm · January 23

Under your preferences pane you might try 127.0.0.1 for ip address instead of127.1.1.0.

Andrew O'Brien · January 23

Yikes !

Andrew O'Brien · January 23

Interesting, I fixed the IP address , rebooted and Idigi STILL came up with the former, incorrect IP address . I rebooted a couple more times and it finally stored the correct one. THANKS for all the help. I am looking forward to this application. I have used Fldigi for years (also Multipsk on Windows ) . I assume Idigi does not yet support Reed-Solomon ID tones, I will poke around further .

Andy K3UK

johnn1jm · January 24

Where does the audio to decode come from? I get nothing but noise.

Andrew O'Brien · January 25

The audio for decoding by iDigi comes from your audio device established in your Mac (kind of like VAC in Windows , or VB Audio ). I use Blackhole . So SmartSDR for Mac OS, under the Radio/Settings/DAX Streaming has to specify your audio client . Then in SmartSDR you need to have DAX set to ON. Plus , the slice flag's DAX button has to specify which Dax port you want. Then in iDigi , PREFERENCES , then AUDIO and then enter your input and output audio path . In my case , it is Blackhole for both . You should be seeing audio in iDigi's waterfall . Chose a mode like FT8 at first , for testing audio in/out.

Andy K3UK

Screenshot 2026-01-24 at 7.47.30 PM.png

johnn1jm · January 25

Thanks Andy. I have Loopback which should do the same thing.

Andrew O'Brien · January 25

Yep.

KD4UNX · February 27

I'm trying iDigi too, and seeing the same thing — I'm using SmartSDR on my Mac, and I have CAT control enabled on port 5002 (slice A). iDigi does not connect when configured for this.

Note that the CAT indicator is red. CAT Control 1 is enabled on port 5002, and iDigi is configured for slice ! on port 5002.

Anybody sort this out yet?

g4ivv · February 27

Hello,

Yes, you don't need to use CAT control in Mac SmartSDR (you can leave it disabled). In iDigi, the "FlexRadio SmartSDR Slice A" comes from the iDigi built-in HamLib library code to directly connect to your Flex radio.

So, in the iDigi "Rig Control" settings you have shown, just make the following changes:

set the IP Address to that of your Flex radio, rather than the Mac local address 127.0.0.1
change the Port to the standard Flex API port of 4992.

That should make it work - the rest of your settings are the same as mine.

73, Jonathan

KD4UNX · February 27

Thanks - that fixed the CAT Control. Now to figure out how to use the app. :D

Idigi CAT with SmarSDR Mac OS ?

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