Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Flex had a few issues with excessive fan noise with the new models when first released, my 8600 had to be returned for a fix that has largely but not completely cured the problem (this a story far too long to type!) all the latest models incorporate the mods. Support from Flex is superb, they really are next level surpassing IMHO Elecraft and of course far beyond anything Yacomwood offers. The backlog is clearing rapidly but it might be a good idea to wait until the long awaited and much anticipated Smartsdr V4 is released, maybe at Dayton?
The Flex ecosystem is superb, it's dream really - everything via your lan, I need to get myself a switch as my router has run out of ports.. :) I plan on tinkering with SO2R contesting and the Flex 6600/8600 does it all in one box. ATM I barely scratch the surface of what the Flex is capable of, as an example GI7NKK runs 4 slices and four instances of wsjt-x on 4 different bands controlling it all with gridtracker, I prefer the scalpel technique of the cherry picker rather than his blunderbus approach though! He was in Tenerife for a few days last week and working digital dx from the beach with his station here in Belfast. Mind you, If I was on a beach in Tenerife digital dx would be the last thing on my mind...! If you do decide to go the Flex route (and I recommend you do) make sure you get your hands on a copy of Software Defined Connectors by Yuri UT4LW, this is fantastic software that interfaces directly with Flex's API. I use it as a skimmer and a telnet server feeding cluster and skimmer spots to Logger32 and contesting software and thence to Smartsdr's panadapter but it is capable of so much more. Have look here:
Thanks for the great software Bob.
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Very enlightening. I have been in self imposed exile from Ham Radio for well over 15 years, but around Christmas time I thought I should probably give it one more whirl before I fall of my perch. A Flex 8xxx looked like the way to go. But, as it would be on back order, I procrastinated (I'm good at that), and just never got around to it. Maybe I should wait a while till they iron out the kinks. Again, thanks for the education. 73.
On 05/07/2025 1:15 PM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
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The manual is indeed very scant on virtual comm port details.
I use Logger32 as my main logging programme and have done for years, it is the best logging programme on any platform by a long, long way. The only other logging programmes I use are N1MM and latterly DXlog.net (I switched to DXlog recently) and the qso details are imported into Logger32 at the end of every contest which allows me to keep track of everything.
I don't think anything is particularly Logger32 specific, I have noticed that on launching N1MM or DXlog.net I sometimes have to change band using the logging software and it's keyboard shortcuts for things to sync up and thereafter all works fine. I should mention that when using Logger32 I am seldom changing band using Smartsdr, I am usually changing band by clicking on a spot on one of the several bandmaps I have open or a spot in the tracking window.
Smartsdr emulates a winkeyer, you simply create a port in Smartcat and define it as a winkey and then point your software to it. I've attached a grab of my Smartcat winkey port settings along with grabs of how I have configured N1MM and DXlog.net to use it, it's a bit jumbled up but you should be able to work out which is which. Incidently Logger32's CW machine works just fine with it but I don't use it as it duplicates the functionality of the CWX features that already exist within Smartsdr.
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Thank you so much 73 FM8TF ? ? check the setting in the 710 radio, the CAT / COM port speed. I think the default value is all the way up in 50-100,000 range, not 9,600 like you have in the logger ?
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On Wed, May 7, 2025 at 9:52?AM Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972= [email protected]> wrote: Aki, I installed the driver and have the two serial ports as you said. I had configured the radio on the enhanced port in Logger32 but I don't have any reaction when changing band or frequency on the transceiver in Logger32. How do I check if they are linked ? ? 73 de Jean-Jose FM8TF ? 
? 
? 
? ? Jiean-Jose Please read USB driver install manual provided by Yaesu. On 2025-05-07 Ë® 10:58:03, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi Aki, ? It seems I have some problem to install the driver. When I connect the USB Cable the unit is not known. So the two serial port as you said doesn't appear. ? ? ? Jiean-Jose You need following steps. 1. Download and install USB driver (Yaesu web site) 3. Look at Windows device manager. You see two serial port"'Enhanced" and "Standard") 4. Select FT991 as radio and correct com port (Enhanced) in Logger32 radio setup table. 5. Baudrate is the same as one in FT891 menu setting. What is your problem with the USB driver ? On 2025-05-07 Ë® 8:54:50, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi, ? I just received my new YAESU FT-710 could you please help me to have it connected to Logger32. I have the USB Cable but seems to have some matter with the USB Driver. ? Thank you for your answer. ? 73 FM8TF Jean-Jose
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
The manual is indeed very scant on virtual comm port details.
I use Logger32 as my main logging programme and have done for years, it is the best logging programme on any platform by a long, long way. The only other logging programmes I use are N1MM and latterly DXlog.net (I switched to DXlog recently) and the qso details are imported into Logger32 at the end of every contest which allows me to keep track of everything.
I don't think anything is particularly Logger32 specific, I have noticed that on launching N1MM or DXlog.net I sometimes have to change band using the logging software and it's keyboard shortcuts for things to sync up and thereafter all works fine. I should mention that when using Logger32 I am seldom changing band using Smartsdr, I am usually changing band by clicking on a spot on one of the several bandmaps I have open or a spot in the tracking window.
Smartsdr emulates a winkeyer, you simply create a port in Smartcat and define it as a winkey and then point your software to it. I've attached a grab of my Smartcat winkey port settings along with grabs of how I have configured N1MM and DXlog.net to use it, it's a bit jumbled up but you should be able to work out which is which. Incidently Logger32's CW machine works just fine with it but I don't use it as it duplicates the functionality of the CWX features that already exist within Smartsdr.
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Again, thanks. And thanks for already experimenting with lower baud rates. That's the document I already searched, and the word?'baud' is conspicuous?by it
s absence.
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Do you by chance have/use another logging program? I wonder if this Flex-8xxx weirdness?is Logger32 specific.
?
At the end of the document. there is reference to OTRSP and WinKey supported commands. How/where/why would one plug a WinKey into a Fl3x 8500, and if one did how/where would one click the mouse to send commands to the WinKey? Is there a WinKey specific window somewhere in SmartSDR? The same applies to OTRSP..
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On 05/07/2025 11:36 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
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Hi there Bob! I set Logger32 at 115200 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit because that is what is in the manual on page 999. I had no problems with these settings with my old 6600 only when I upgraded to my current 8600 did I experience a few issues. I did try varying the baud rate but it didn't seem to make any difference, I assumed rightly or wrongly that as these ports are virtual they should be able to handle just about any speed thrown at them. You know as much about Smartcat as I do and I've read the manual! I can only assume that Smartcat does sync itself to Logger32's settings as there is nothing at all in the manual re baud rate parity etc. If you feel so inclined you can have read at the manual here:
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73, Frank GI4NKB
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check the setting in the 710 radio, the CAT / COM port speed. I think the default value is all the way up in 50-100,000 range, not 9,600 like you have in the logger
On Wed, May 7, 2025 at 9:52?AM Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972= [email protected]> wrote: Aki, I installed the driver and have the two serial ports as you said. I had configured the radio on the enhanced port in Logger32 but I don't have any reaction when changing band or frequency on the transceiver in Logger32. How do I check if they are linked ? ? 73 de Jean-Jose FM8TF ? 
? 
? 
? ? Jiean-Jose Please read USB driver install manual provided by Yaesu. On 2025-05-07 Ë® 10:58:03, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi Aki, ? It seems I have some problem to install the driver. When I connect the USB Cable the unit is not known. So the two serial port as you said doesn't appear. ? ? ? Jiean-Jose You need following steps. 1. Download and install USB driver (Yaesu web site) 3. Look at Windows device manager. You see two serial port"'Enhanced" and "Standard") 4. Select FT991 as radio and correct com port (Enhanced) in Logger32 radio setup table. 5. Baudrate is the same as one in FT891 menu setting. What is your problem with the USB driver ? On 2025-05-07 Ë® 8:54:50, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi, ? I just received my new YAESU FT-710 could you please help me to have it connected to Logger32. I have the USB Cable but seems to have some matter with the USB Driver. ? Thank you for your answer. ? 73 FM8TF Jean-Jose
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Hi there Bob! I set Logger32 at 115200 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit because that is what is in the manual on page 999. I had no problems with these settings with my old 6600 only when I upgraded to my current 8600 did I experience a few issues. I did try varying the baud rate but it didn't seem to make any difference, I assumed rightly or wrongly that as these ports are virtual they should be able to handle just about any speed thrown at them. You know as much about Smartcat as I do and I've read the manual! I can only assume that Smartcat does sync itself to Logger32's settings as there is nothing at all in the manual re baud rate parity etc. If you feel so inclined you can have read at the manual here:
?
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Aki, I installed the driver and have the two serial ports as you said. I had configured the radio on the enhanced port in Logger32 but I don't have any reaction when changing band or frequency on the transceiver in Logger32. How do I check if they are linked ? ? 73 de Jean-Jose FM8TF ? 
? 
? 
? ? Jiean-Jose Please read USB driver install manual provided by Yaesu.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2025-05-07 Ë® 10:58:03, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via groups.io <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi Aki, ? It seems I have some problem to install the driver. When I connect the USB Cable the unit is not known. So the two serial port as you said doesn't appear. ? ? ? Jiean-Jose You need following steps. 1. Download and install USB driver (Yaesu web site) 3. Look at Windows device manager. You see two serial port"'Enhanced" and "Standard") 4. Select FT991 as radio and correct com port (Enhanced) in Logger32 radio setup table. 5. Baudrate is the same as one in FT891 menu setting. What is your problem with the USB driver ? On 2025-05-07 Ë® 8:54:50, Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN via groups.io <fm8tf972@...> wrote: Hi, ? I just received my new YAESU FT-710 could you please help me to have it connected to Logger32. I have the USB Cable but seems to have some matter with the USB Driver. ? Thank you for your answer. ? 73 FM8TF Jean-Jose
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Thanks, but how did you know to set Logger32 at 115200, no parity,? 1 stop, and 8 data bits? Does SmartCAT automatically sync to the Logger32 settings?
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With any sign of instability/reliability, my first SWAG would be to reduce the baud rate.
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SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 8:28 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
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Hi Bob, I've attached a grab of my configuration for both Smartcat and Logger32, I'm not suggesting this is the best or the only way to do things cuz I ain't smart either ;-) but they work for me.
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Luxury! We were lucky to have logarithmic tables and a slide rules! :)
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Mine was a RadioShack TRS80.....
73
Jan PA4JJ
Op 7-5-2025 om 14:02 schreef Bob via
groups.io:
... and, as a
personal observation, from what you describe, we have made no
real progress in computing since my very first computer, an
Altair 8800 in the mid '70s. No 8" floppy for me (I couldn't
afford one), It booted with a Radio Shack cassette tape
recorder. 73.
On 05/07/2025 7:52 AM EDT Bob via groups.io
<k4cy@...> wrote: ?
?
Thanks for
the insight. What about the Logger32 Serial port settings -
baud rate /parity/stop bits/data bits?
?
SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 7:41 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io
<gi4nkb@...> wrote: ?
?
Hi Johan, I had this problem for a time with my 8600 but
never with my old 6600. The latest firmware seems to have
largely cured the issue, but here's how to make sure you
don't have any issues:
Always start Smartsdr and Smartcat (this also applies to
Thetis and before all that PowerSDR) before starting
Logger32 or any other logging software for that matter
(N1MM, DXlog etc) and let the logging software find
Smartsdr. Polling rate matters, I have found that I can can
use a polling rate as low as 50ms provided that after
launching Logger32 I wait a few minutes for everything
settle down and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr
by scrolling the waterfall. The delay seems to be the key.
Currently I am using a polling rate of 150ms and provided I
start Smartsdr and then Logger32 and confirm that Logger32
is tracking Smartsdr as described above, I am good to go ie
no settling down period is necessary.
73, Frank GI4NKB
?
?
--
____________________________________________________
my dxspider clusters running on a raspberry pi:
pa4jj-2 77.174.195.163 port 7300
NO FT8/FT4 spots on pa4jj-3 77.174.195.163 port 7388
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Hi Bob, I've attached a grab of my configuration for both Smartcat and Logger32, I'm not suggesting this is the best or the only way to do things cuz I ain't smart either ;-) but they work for me.
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
... and, as a personal observation, from what you describe, we have made no real progress in computing since my very first computer, an Altair 8800 in the mid '70s. No 8" floppy for me (I couldn't afford one), It booted with a Radio Shack cassette tape recorder. 73.
On 05/07/2025 7:52 AM EDT Bob via groups.io <k4cy@...> wrote:
?
?
Thanks for the insight. What about the Logger32 Serial port settings - baud rate /parity/stop bits/data bits?
?
SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 7:41 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Johan, I had this problem for a time with my 8600 but never with my old 6600. The latest firmware seems to have largely cured the issue, but here's how to make sure you don't have any issues:
Always start Smartsdr and Smartcat (this also applies to Thetis and before all that PowerSDR) before starting Logger32 or any other logging software for that matter (N1MM, DXlog etc) and let the logging software find Smartsdr. Polling rate matters, I have found that I can can use a polling rate as low as 50ms provided that after launching Logger32 I wait a few minutes for everything settle down and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr by scrolling the waterfall. The delay seems to be the key.
Currently I am using a polling rate of 150ms and provided I start Smartsdr and then Logger32 and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr as described above, I am good to go ie no settling down period is necessary.
73, Frank GI4NKB
?
?
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Thanks for the insight. What about the Logger32 Serial port settings - baud rate /parity/stop bits/data bits?
?
SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 7:41 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Johan, I had this problem for a time with my 8600 but never with my old 6600. The latest firmware seems to have largely cured the issue, but here's how to make sure you don't have any issues:
Always start Smartsdr and Smartcat (this also applies to Thetis and before all that PowerSDR) before starting Logger32 or any other logging software for that matter (N1MM, DXlog etc) and let the logging software find Smartsdr. Polling rate matters, I have found that I can can use a polling rate as low as 50ms provided that after launching Logger32 I wait a few minutes for everything settle down and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr by scrolling the waterfall. The delay seems to be the key.
Currently I am using a polling rate of 150ms and provided I start Smartsdr and then Logger32 and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr as described above, I am good to go ie no settling down period is necessary.
73, Frank GI4NKB
?
?
|
Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Hi Johan, I had this problem for a time with my 8600 but never with my old 6600. The latest firmware seems to have largely cured the issue, but here's how to make sure you don't have any issues:
Always start Smartsdr and Smartcat (this also applies to Thetis and before all that PowerSDR) before starting Logger32 or any other logging software for that matter (N1MM, DXlog etc) and let the logging software find Smartsdr. Polling rate matters, I have found that I can can use a polling rate as low as 50ms provided that after launching Logger32 I wait a few minutes for everything settle down and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr by scrolling the waterfall. The delay seems to be the key.
Currently I am using a polling rate of 150ms and provided I start Smartsdr and then Logger32 and confirm that Logger32 is tracking Smartsdr as described above, I am good to go ie no settling down period is necessary.
73, Frank GI4NKB
?
?
|
Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
So what are the settings for the Logger32 end? Guess I 'aint so smart.?I downloaded the FlexRadio CAT docs, and it doesn't contain the word 'baud'.
?
How/where/when foes a user define the the serial port parameters to use, and what options are available?
?
SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 7:06 AM EDT Frank Hunter via groups.io <gi4nkb@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Bob, once a comm port is created in Smartcat and defined as a serial port it is not possible to configure baud rate/parity etc. Smart innit? :-)
?
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Hi Bob, once a comm port is created in Smartcat and defined as a serial port it is not possible to configure baud rate/parity etc. Smart innit? :-)
?
73, Frank GI4NKB
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Alec, where are the settings in SmartSDR for baud/parity/etc? I see nothing in the documentation. SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 6:27 AM EDT Alec SP2EWQ via groups.io <aleksander.otulak@...> wrote:
?
?
?
?
Hi,
?
I use Flex-6400 with Logger32 and have never had any such issues.
However, Flex-8400 is another animal and I hear a lot of comments
stating it is technologically still in a crawling state...
?
Best regards,
Alec
?
?
------ Wiadomo?? oryginalna ------
Data 07.05.2025 12:15:14
Temat Re: [hamlogger] soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
?
I Googled the SmartSDR documentation, but find no reference to Baud rate/parity/etc. of the serial port. What speed settings are available, and what are you configured for?
?
Both Logger32 and SmartSDR have event monitors (debug windows) they?show message exchange. The clues you need are probably there. SeventyThree(s).
?
PS. Again, it would be nice if someone who as actually seen a FlexRadio would offer advice.
On 05/06/2025 11:16 PM EDT Johan ZS1A via groups.io <j-s@...> wrote:
?
?
Thanks Sir. Yes i did try the poll settings and I did change it to 200ms but still happens sometimes...
73
Groete uit Kaapstad
?
?
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Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Thanks Alec. Johan, on Logger32 click VIEW and make sure the option ENABLE ERROR TRAPPING is checked. Logger32 will now generate error messages if there's anything it doesn't like.. SeventyThree(s).
On 05/07/2025 6:27 AM EDT Alec SP2EWQ via groups.io <aleksander.otulak@...> wrote:
?
?
?
?
Hi,
?
I use Flex-6400 with Logger32 and have never had any such issues.
However, Flex-8400 is another animal and I hear a lot of comments
stating it is technologically still in a crawling state...
?
Best regards,
Alec
?
?
------ Wiadomo?? oryginalna ------
Data 07.05.2025 12:15:14
Temat Re: [hamlogger] soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
?
I Googled the SmartSDR documentation, but find no reference to Baud rate/parity/etc. of the serial port. What speed settings are available, and what are you configured for?
?
Both Logger32 and SmartSDR have event monitors (debug windows) they?show message exchange. The clues you need are probably there. SeventyThree(s).
?
PS. Again, it would be nice if someone who as actually seen a FlexRadio would offer advice.
On 05/06/2025 11:16 PM EDT Johan ZS1A via groups.io <j-s@...> wrote:
?
?
Thanks Sir. Yes i did try the poll settings and I did change it to 200ms but still happens sometimes...
73
Groete uit Kaapstad
?
?
|
Re: soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
Hi,
I use Flex-6400 with Logger32 and have never had any such issues. However, Flex-8400 is another animal and I hear a lot of comments stating it is technologically still in a crawling state...
Best regards, Alec
------ Wiadomo?? oryginalna ------
Data 07.05.2025 12:15:14
Temat Re: [hamlogger] soemtimes Flex (SmartSDR) and logger lose each other
I Googled the SmartSDR documentation, but find no reference to Baud rate/parity/etc. of the serial port. What speed settings are available, and what are you configured for?
?
Both Logger32 and SmartSDR have event monitors (debug windows) they?show message exchange. The clues you need are probably there. SeventyThree(s).
?
PS. Again, it would be nice if someone who as actually seen a FlexRadio would offer advice.
On 05/06/2025 11:16 PM EDT Johan ZS1A via groups.io <j-s@...> wrote:
?
?
Thanks Sir. Yes i did try the poll settings and I did change it to 200ms but still happens sometimes...
73
Groete uit Kaapstad
|
Jean-Jos¨¦ JULIEN
Alex Malyava - K2BB
Jan
