Does smart sdr need to be running for bcd on virtual port?

The USB ports will work and supply the necessary data whenever the radio is being operated.  It can be operated from SmartSDR, The M model front panel, Maestro or from an IOS device. 

To back up what Rick says, it does what you wish now.   This is the cool features of the Flex 6000 radio series and that is that the radio supports multiple clients at the same time.  I consider clients, logging programs, digital programs, amplifiers, band devices, steppirs, etc.

Other HF hardware available today is designed to support a single device or program.  Icom's CI-V was to be able to handle multiple devices with the CI-V bus, but I don't know many who actually did it and got it running well.

As well as being an amazing RF deck, the Flex was built from the ground up to be your Radio Server sharing band data, audio streams, transmitter, etc.   

Jamie, have you wired it up yet?

Mike

Good morning Mike...by wired up, do you mean the USB cable? IF so, no, not yet....baby steps here, doing a complete shack makeover, new pc on Windoze 10.....I have have the new Flex running on rx, and have received some rtty with it, next step TX I suppose, going slow as to make sure I get it right the first time...