SDR++ server mode for easy listening

SDR++ continues to impress as an excellent SDR client. One terrific feature is that it has a server mode built in. You run the server side on the command line with --server after it and then run SDR++ from another machine to connect to it. 

I'm running the server in my low noise shack and using the client in the house. They are connected via wifi at both ends but operation and reception is smooth.

To record this and capture the audio on macOS I use the free VB-Cable to connect the output of the receiver to the built in screen recorder. The problem with this is I can't hear the audio while I'm recording so it's hard to tune around. The solution was to run an audio recorder/editor (in my case Sound Studio) which has a feature to pass through input audio so I can monitor.

Black & White

 

New digital mode: FreeData

A Reddit post drew my attention to a new digital mode that uses the OFDM modem code from FreeDV for having keyboard to keyboard chats. It's called FreeData, which I have to say isn't a great name for searching.

As you can see it has some advanced features such as a notification that the other party is typing. Messages are confirmed and the software will re-try until it gets through.

There is a wiki with documentation and an active Discord space to discuss the software. There is also a map which shows Barry, VK3BRT and me looking rather lonely here in Victoria, Australia at the moment.

The software is available for macOS, Linux and Windows. You can download the software, currently in alpha, from the Github project.