The wonder that is the FlexRadio 6400, SmartSDR and WSJT-X

So, it's been a bit since my last update. During that time, life kinda got in the way, and then we all got introduced to this thing called COVID-19. Here's to hoping life levels-out a little bit here soon!

During this time, I have been lucky to be granted remote access to Lu W4LT's FlexRadio 6400. Having been a big fan of Icom since my first HF experiences, I will say that I think a FlexRadio 6400 will be my next radio! It is a fully-featured radio that has remote capabilities built-in to it from the beginning, instead of most radios/setups where remote is an after-thought. FlexRadio offers the SmartSDR app for remotely controlling their radios, and it's available for Windows and iOS. Hopefully one day it'll also be available for Linux and Android!

I got started on it getting ready for Florida QSO Party (since we can't run from the clubhouse, and I'm a man-without-a-shack atm), so I have it all set-up with my Yamaha CM-500 headset. In the next day or so I'll get the final piece to assemble my USB-to-serial-to-1/4 jack-to-footswitch PTT setup using SmartSDR: that'll likely be my next blog entry.

While playing around with SmartSDR, I wondered how easy/hard it would be to interface WSJT-X to SmartSDR. I checked out a few YouTube videos that, while older, gave me a lead into how the remote mechanics for CAT/PTT/DAX would work. Using that, I compiled the following instructions for using SmartSDR 3.1.8 to interface with WSJT-X, and have used it to successfully make a few dozen FT4/FT8 QSOs. Hopefully this helps someone else out in the future!

* Caveat: This how-to assumes that you've installed SmartSDR, SmartSDR CAT, SmartSDR DAX, and WSJT-X on your machine, including all of the SmartSDR DAX Audio devices! *

1. Open SmartSDR, SmartSDR CAT, and SmartSDR DAX, and connect to your radio

2. In SmartSDR CAT: add a COM port for CAT by clicking "Add" button, and setting it to the following settings:

   a. Name: WSJTX-CAT

   b. Port Protocol: CAT

   c. Port Type: Serial

   d. Serial Port:  FlexVSP

   e. Client COM:  COM11 (pick the next available port)

   f. VFO A Slice:  A

   g. Auto Switch TX Slice: Enabled

   h. Split Mode: SO2R (normal)

3. In SmartSDR CAT: add a COM port for PTT by clicking "Add" button, and setting it to the following settings:

   a. Name: WSJTX-PTT

   b. Port Protocol: PTT

   c. Port Type: Serial

   d. Serial Port:  FlexVSP

   e. Client COM:  COM12 (pick the next available port)

   f. VFO A Slice:  A

   g. RTS: RTS Enabled

   h. Polarity: Active Low

   i. Auto Switch TX Slice: Enabled

4. In SmartSDR:  set mode to "DIGU" and input audio source to DAX, as shown by the yellow arrows on the image below:

5. In SmartSDR DAX: Make sure the following settings are as shown:

   a. TX: enabled and streaming

   b. RX Streams 1 (Slice A): enabled and streaming

6. In WSJT-X: Create a new configuration, and set the following:

   a. WSJT-X Configuration - Radio Settings:

      1. Rig:   Kenwood TS-2000
      2. Serial Port:  COM11 (whatever you set "WSJTX-CAT" to in step 2 above)

      3. Baud Rate:  115200

      4. Data bits: 8

      5. Stop bits: 2

      6. Handshake: none

      7. Force Control Lines:  blank

      8. PTT Method: RTS and COM12 (whatever you set "WSJTX-PTT" to in step 3)

      9. Transmit Audio Source: grayed-out

      10. Mode:  None (this allows the radio to stay in “DIGU” mode)

      11. Split Operation: Fake It

      12. Test CAT Button: Click it and ensure it goes green

      13. Test PTT Button: Click it and ensure it keys the radio

   b. WSJT-X Configuration - Audio Settings:

      1. Input: DAX Audio RX 1 (FlexRadio Systems DAX Audio)

      2. Output: DAX Audio TX (FlexRadio Systems DAX TX)

        

Now: try a QSO!  If for whatever reason DAX RX or TX isn't working, try closing everything, then loading in this order:

        

1. SmartSDR

2. SmartSDR DAX

3. SmartSDR CAT

4. WSJT-X