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AetherSDR — Open-Source Linux Client for Flex Radios

ten98
ten98 Member ✭✭
edited March 16 in Third-Party Software
Hey all,

I've been building a native Linux client for our Flex radios and wanted to share it with the community. It's called AetherSDR — it's free, open-source (GPLv3), and available today for anyone to build and run.

If you've ever wanted to operate your Flex from a Linux box without Wine or a VM, this is for you.

What's working today (v0.2.0):

Full panadapter with FFT spectrum and waterfall
RX audio, S-meter, click-to-tune
All operating modes (SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY, Digital)
Complete RX controls — filters, DSP, AGC, squelch, RIT/XIT
TX controls — power, profiles, ATU, TUNE/MOX
Mic TX, EQ, VOX, compression metering
FM duplex with CTCSS and repeater offset
Band memory (per-band settings persist across sessions)
4o3a TGXL tuner support
Auto-discovery and auto-connect
Currently tested on a FLEX-8600 running SmartSDR v4.1.5.

We're still in early development, but everything you see above was built in the last 3 days. I've been pair-programming with Claude (Anthropic's AI) as a co-contributor, which has been a massive force multiplier — expect continued high-velocity feature development as we work toward full SmartSDR feature parity.

This is a community-driven FOSS project — the source is on GitHub, PRs and feedback are welcome. I'd love to get more eyes on it, especially from folks running other Flex models who can help test compatibility.

GitHub: https://github.com/ten9876/AetherSDR

73,
KK7GWY
«1345

Comments

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    Version 0.2.2 just released to fix an issue with Multi-Flex support.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Works great! Once I got past a few dozen typos ( mine) and got everything to build properly with With Linux Mint. Thanks for being patient with me and helping me figure out how to get QT6 installed in Mint. My AU-520M wasn't happy with it. But, my 6600 ( no front panel) connected just fine.

    Thanks for your hard work.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    I just released v0.2.2 which should work for M-models. Let me know if you're still having issues on your AU-520M once you get the new release installed.

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    Also I've had another user verify that it will work on macOS as well if you install it using homebrew.

  • BillB
    BillB Member ✭
    My club, Hill Country ARC, has two 6400Ms in our station and the ability to remotely connect. Our club station manager sent me capture of this post.

    I use Linux on my shack primary computer, currently Linux Mint 22. Is all of the information to compile this on GitHub with the needed dependencies?

    Bill Beal, W5OXL
  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    Yes everything is in the readme on the github page. Pay close attention to the Qt6 requirements since Mint doesn't ship with them installed out of the box.

  • DaveC
    DaveC Member ✭✭

    I was able to install and build the APP. It also started up OK. I did not see a CAT or DAX start up. Are they not implemented yet? I am running Ubuntu 24.04.4 LT

    I assuming not all features are implemented as of yet. Great job so far! Thanks!

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    CAT & DAX haven't been implemented yet along with a few other things. But, basic features are working well.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    Running Ubuntu I get a "NO CMAKE_CXX_COMPLIER could not be found"

    What am I missing on my Ubuntu installation? I installed the pre-requites that were list for UBUNTU.

    Thanks guys

    73

    Bret WX7Y

  • John K3MA
    John K3MA Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 16

    Bret, I had the same issue and the instruction I was given are below and they worked for me.

    Try building without ninja.

    rm -rf build

    cmake -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo

    cmake --build build -j$(nproc)

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17

    I had to remove the CXX library and a couple other Libraries, delete a bad compile and clean everything up and then after updating and upgrading everything I was able to make the APP, Really surprised me when it popped up on the screen.

    I do have to say, I AM VERY impressed so far with this and thank KK7GWY and group for the hours of work and they have done a WONDERFUL job. We have needed this missing LINK for the 6000 and 8000 series Radio's

    I noticed it doesn't find the FreeDVL or FreeDVU Mode selection when the FreeDV PI Application I have running on the same Pi as Node-Red else were on the network.

    Thanks and 73

    Bret

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    JJust downloaded the latest version . Wow! What a difference! More and more features are starting to work.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • DaveC
    DaveC Member ✭✭

    After I update from 2.5 to 3.0, I am getting this when I try to build:

    cmake -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo
    -- Could NOT find XKB (missing: XKB_LIBRARY XKB_INCLUDE_DIR) (Required is at least version "0.5.0")
    -- Checking for module 'portaudio-2.0'
    -- Package 'portaudio-2.0', required by 'virtual:world', not found
    -- Configuring done (0.3s)
    -- Generating done (0.0s)
    -- Build files have been written to: /home/david/AetherSDR/build

    What do I need to do here?

  • DaveC
    DaveC Member ✭✭

    Never mind. Figured it out.

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    I can't seem to find where to change from computer Speaker Receive Audio to the Radio's Audio output, I wonder if anyone has found it that can give me a pointer.

    Thanks and 73

    Bret WX7Y

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    I don't believe there is a selection to switch to the radio's audio output. I have looked and so far nothing appears to let the audio go out the radio's powered speakers ( line level) output.

    Good catch!

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    I just left a bug report on the Github page. Hopefully Jeremy will see it before too long.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • KA7KDX
    KA7KDX Member ✭✭

    Future looks bright, built mine on a dedicated laptop running Ubuntu. Looking forward to DAX/CAT and slices/xvtr ops

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    version 0.4.0 is out now, a few fix's and my bug report I left this morning about the FreeDV waveform from the "FreeDV-Flexradio application" is now working and the Radio has the built in FreeDVU and FreeDVL modes if your running the FreeDV-Flexradio application on your Network.

    Testing now to see if things are working but the band is dead here.

  • OK2AWO
    OK2AWO Member ✭
    Hey, noobie question as I haven't really dived in depth into the protocols that Flex radios use.
    But would it be possible to add support for Flex 1500? I'll gladly do it myself, just gotta know whether it's even possible or if it's a lost cause of a dream.
    It would make my 1500 a less of a dead weight collecting dust - ditched Windows everywhere a long time ago!

    Tnx
    73 Rob OK2AWO
  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    @OK2AWO Michael Walker has already confirmed that the older 1500 and 3000 series radios don't support the SmartSDR FlexLib API structure that AetherSDR depends on to work so I don't think it will be possible.

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    Ten98, I updated to version 0.4.7 and I can't believe the progress you guys have made in 24 hours, I Really like the NB2, it really works well even with 20db + Receive SSB and CW signals here on my 8600, the artifacts are not nearly as bad as the Original SmartSDR NB on strong signals though still there a little bit, If I remember right NB2 is as least as good as the ANAN Thetis NB2 if not a little better!

    Are there plans to implement the Local Radio Speakers some time in the Future, though thinking about it I would bet that NB2 may have to do the signal processing in the Computer it self?

    Anyway thanks for the great and Hard work your team have done with this it is VERY exciting.

    73

    Bret WX7Y

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    The noise reduction 2 is being processed in your computer. It generates a Wisdom file just like it does in Thetis when first installed. I too hope that he will be able to fix the local audio issue. In my case, when first starting AetherSDR audio does come out of the rear ,powered speakers line level output. But, within a few seconds it goes away. And none of the settings will bring it back. There is a command in the Ethernet API that can enable/disable, the line level audio output and direct it to the pc for playback. I don't know if he has found that command or not.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭

    Will try to get both the local audio on Ubuntu working as well as the line out speaker issue fixed this evening.

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭
    edited March 19

    Both issues for the Ubuntu no audio and the Powered Speaker / Line Output have been resolved in the latest v0.4.11 release. Please test and let me know if you're still having issues after you upgrade.

    73, KK7GWY

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    You guys are GREAT 👍️

    73

    Bret WX7Y

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Except it is unstable and switching between pc audio and line-out ( powered speakers) on the radio causes AetherSDR to freeze and crash if toggled more than once. It's getting close!

    James

    WD5GWY

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    must be something causing this at least with 0.4.12 it does not lock up here when I toggle between the two, and it is stable after switching over 20 times.

  • ten98
    ten98 Member ✭✭
    edited March 19

    Just for giggles I added a CW decoder to v0.4.13. It will be out shortly.

  • DaveC
    DaveC Member ✭✭

    getting this error from the latest build. Running Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS

    cmake --build build -j$(nproc)
    ninja: error: 'build_opus-prefix/src/build_opus/.libs/libopus.a', needed by 'CMakeFiles/AetherSDR_autogen_timestamp_deps', missing and no known rule to make it

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