Black Cat Systems


Follow our tweets!

Home
Lost Reg Code?
News
Online KiwiSDRs
macOS Software
Windows Software
Ham Radio iPhone/iPad
Linux Software
Support/FAQ
Update Policy

USB Icom CI-V Interface

Radio Hobbyist Products

  22m Programmable Beacon Kit
  22m Part 15 Beacon Kit
  CW Keyer For Beacons Kit
  Jellyfish Transformer
  Cyclops Antenna Transformer

General Interest Programs

  Atomic Mac/PC
  Audiocorder
  Audio Toolbox
  Black Cat Timer
  Diet Sleuth
  iUnit
  Graffikon
  Graph Paper Maker
  Health Tracker
  Image Resizer
  Knitting Wizard
  Label Wizard
  Prog Audio Gen
  Sound Byte
  Synth 76477

Amateur Radio Programs
  AirSpyHF+ Server
  Audiocorder
  Black Cat Absolute ACARS
  Black Cat ACARS
  Black Cat ALE
  Black Cat ALE Vacuum Cleaner
  Black Cat NetFinder
  Black Cat GMDSS
  Black Cat HF Fax
  Black Cat SSTV
  Black Cat NAVTEX SITOR-B
  Carrier Sleuth
  Cocoa 1090
  Cocoa RTL Server
  DGPS Decoding
  DX Toolbox
  Elmer
  MatchMaker
  KiwiKonnect
  KiwiSDR Monitor
  KiwiSDR Sound Client
  MININEC Pro
  Morse Mania
  MultiMode
  sdrRewind
  RF Toolbox
  SDRuno Plugin
  SDRuno Equalizer Plugin
  SelCall
  Sonde

iPhone/iPad Apps
  ALE
  Atoms To Go
  dB Calc
  Clik Trak
  DGPS Decoder
  Drill Calc
  DX Toolbox
  Elmer Extra
  Elmer General
  Elmer Tech
  Feld Hellschreiber
  Field Strength Calc
  Function Generator Pad
  GMDSS
  Godafoss
  HF Weather Fax
  iAttenuate
  iFunctionGenerator
  iSoundex
  iSoundByte
  iSweep
  iUnit
  Morse Mania
  ACARS Pad
  Morse Pad
  NAVTEX Pad
  Packet Pad
  PSK31 Pad
  SSTV Pad
  Photon Calc
  Rad Map Tracker
  RF Link Calc
  SelCall Tone Gen
  Sound Byte
  Sound Byte Control
  Spectrum Pad
  SWBC Schedules
  Synth 76477
  Synth Motion
  Transmission Line Calc
  Weather Calc
  Wire Calc

iPhone/iPad Bundles
  RF Calculator Apps
  Ham Radio Decoder Apps
  Audio Utility Apps
  Shortwave Weather Apps
  Ham Radio Exam Study Apps
  Shortwave Decoder Apps

About Black Cat Systems
Site Map
Our software for Mac OSX
Privacy Policy
Press/Media
HFunderground
Apple /// Emulator

Macintosh Links
Shortwave Radio
Pirate Radio
Spy Numbers Stations
Science and Electronics
Ham Radio Software


   

macOS Server App For AirSpyHF+ / Discovery SDR

This app lets you run your AirSpy HF+ / Discovery on your Mac, in macOS, without the need for Windows!

It only works with the AirSpyHF+ and Discovery, no other AirSpy versions.

It works well with SdrDx, which IMHO is the best SDR app out there for the Mac. SdrDx can be downloaded from: http://fyngyrz.com/?p=915

Please note, I cannot help with general questions about the use of SdrDx.

Plug in your AirSpyHF+ / Discovery

Download a copy of the server app (download link at the botton of this page). Unzip (if needed) and run the app.

To use this app, you need to have libusb installed. If you do not have it installed, you can do so as follows (at your own risk, of course!), using the terminal:

If the directory /usr/local/lib does not exist, create it:

sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib
Then copy libusb-1.0.0.dylib, included with the download, to /usr/local/lib:
sudo cp path_to_blah_blah/libusb-1.0.0.dylib /usr/local/lib/
Replace "path_to_blah_blah" with the path to the downloaded dylib you are copying. If you get an error/crash reporting it cannot find libusb-1.0.0.dylib then note the directory it is looking in from the crash report, and copy it there instead.

Run the server. If your Mac complains it can't open an unidentified app, right click, select open. If it still complains (likely if running a very recent macOS version, due to Apple's security restrictions), you may need to codesign the app and/or the dylib. I cannot help with this, unfortunately.

When you run the server app, it should look like this. If you get an error that it could not find the AirSpyHF+, you'll need to figure out why. Maybe it wasn't plugged in? Or there's an issue with the libusb dylib.

In the server app, you can select which TCP/UDP port to use, 50000 is the default, whatever value you set must also match in SdrDx. You can also change the IP address to which UDP data packets are sent, the default 127.0.0.1 keeps them on your machine. In theory you can direct them to other machines on your network, but I have no experience doing this nor can I offer any assistance.

Then you need to go to SdrDx and configure it to use the server. You need to do two things.

First, click the NET button (low left part of the SdrDx window) to bring up the network settings, and check the box "Just use 127.0.0.1". Also make sure the SDR TCP Port setting is the same in the server app, 50000 is the default value:

Click OK. The bottom of the SdrDx window should display AirSpyHF+ Connected in big green text.

Also, the server app should now say it is connected.

Then you need to click the SDR button (also lower left part of the SdrDx window). In the SDR Setup, you need to do a few things:

Under custom settings, set the Sample rate and Bandwidth both to one of the valid sample rates listed in the server app. Also set the bandwidth.

Then check the Custom Grid Spacing, SR BW checkbox below that:

Click OK.

You should now be able to click the Run button, and enjoy the AirSpyHF+ running under SdrDx on your Mac, without any need for Windows.

Version 2.0 adds the ability to record I/Q data to files, in RF Space Spectravue / SdrDx format. You will need to set the save directory as well as the file size (you should probably keep this under 2 GB). Then click the Run/Save button to start recording. Data will be written to timestamped files. if a file reaches the limit, a new one will be started. Watch out, you can fill up your hard drive. Click the Stop button to stop recording.

Looking for a great SWBC/DXing app that also is integrated with SdrDx, but also works stand alone for any DXer no matter what radio? Take a look at Dx ToolBox which is available for both Mac and Windows.

Download the AirSpyHF+ macoS Server - Version 2.0, 23 August 2023. 64 bit app. Requires macOS 10.6 or later

Download the AirSpyHF+ macoS Server - Version 1.8, 20 October 2021. 64 bit app. Requires macOS 10.6 or later

If you want run it on Big Sur or later you will need to sign / notarize the libusb dylib and possibly the app itself.


Email your comments and questions to info@blackcatsystems.com

Last modified August 23, 2023