Mac Amateur Radio Digital Applications

The Mac-Based Amateur Radio Digital Applications - Installation and Integration guide below is a guide for setting up your Mac-based system interfaced with an HF transceiver for operating casually in various modes (e.g.: CW, SSB, digital, etc.), HF digital modes using digital applications (the main thrust of the document), or in contesting.

Capabilities being addressed from a Mac-based processing platform are:

• Radio setup

• Mac setup

• Logger and digital applications’ interfacing and configuration

• Logging

• Call Book or call lookup data

• Digital signals’ encoding and decoding.  While the main digital signals being covered are PSK31 and FT8, others can be processed with their respective applications.

• Contesting

• Operational perspectives

• Problems or “gotchas”

The primary and Mac-based applications addressed are:  MacLoggerDX (MLDX), fldigi, and WSJT-X.  SkookumLogger and WinKeyer USB (with the MacWinKey app) are now included too.  The main Mac refereced is a MacBook Pro (16-ich, M1, 2021) running MacOS 14.7 - Sonoma.  The HF transceivers described are a Kenwood TS-990S HF/50 MHz Transceiver, a Kenwood TS-590S HF/50 MHz All Mode Transceiver, and an Icom IC-7300 HF/50 MHz Transceiver, a Yaesu FT-710 HF/50 MHz Transceiver, and a Yaesu FTDX10 HF/50 MHz Transceiver.  Other late model Kenwood HF transceivers may also be quite successfully integrated since being within the Kenwood family.  As with the hardware, each of the applications described and highlighted are with current versions.

The catalyst and then goal for this guide several years ago was documenting the many various configurations and settings in how things came together and successfully worked.  Hopefully, that will also save you from going through the hassles and frustration that I experienced – the hours, days, and weeks trying to tie-up various and fragmented bits of information, those that appeared to help at times, those that led down many “bunny holes”, and in discovering ways until finally getting it right.  That was especially true for configuring and integrating fldigi with MLDX.  There may even be some "nuggets" of information in there too.

This guide's new version, version 3.1, incorporates a Yaesu FTDX10 HF/50MHz Transceiver, a Radiosport RS60CF Boom-Mic Headset, and a Bose QC35 Gaming Headset with a custom interface.  The Yaesu FTDX10 replaces the FT-710 designated for the RV, and as a backup for the home station.  The FTDX10 was liked a lot more after seeing one at my friend’s place, Mike KV0MR.  Also included is the Icom SM-8 Desk Microphone missed being listed in the equipment line-up.  More expansive radio configurations are now included, including transmit audio configurations for hte TS-990S, Yaesu FTDX10, and Yaesu FT-710 (although not being on SSB much).

The recently acquired Yaesu FTDX10 has now been integrated with slight difficulty (or maybe I am just getting more used to Yaesu).  There was the previous integration difficulty with the FT-710 and fldigi “communicating” with the FT-710/MLDX setup [nothing new with fldigi with the issues previously experienced trying to get it integrated with MLDX].  Once again, fldigi is working using a less-than-stellar PTT work-around being used only with the FTDX10/MLDX setup (or the FT-710/MLDX setup, or 7300/MLDX setup).  A better solution for the 7300’s, 710’s, and DX10’s (and maybe others) PTT function with fldigi is still being worked.  No issues have been experienced when configuring WSJT-X – it just seems to integrate and work quite well.

Transitioning to MacOS 15 (Sequoia), released 16SEP24, has not been accomplished (yet).  I will remain with MacOS 14 (Sonoma) for a while until things settle-down.  That is unusual for me – I like getting updated firmware and software shortly after being released.  Issues with application(s) not working after transitioning to MacOS 15 (Sequoia) have been seen in forums.  The main one seen is with WSJT-X’s memory allocation failing.  I will “wait and see” how things are mitigated.

Also with this revision, each of the transceivers  - the Kenwood TS-990S, Kenwood TS-590S, Icom IC7300, Yaesu FT-710, and the Yaesu FTDX10 - each transceiver appears in the various configuiration areas addressing thier specific setups.

If you have successfully ingrated a transceiver using MLDX, WSJT-X, and fldigi not listed in the guide, then I would gratly appreciate receiving your integration screenshots, pictures, and configuration details in how you made it all work.  I will very gladly cite and reference your contribution.

Of course, your comments, ideas, suggestions, and feedback are very much welcomed.  The Mac-Based Amateur Radio Digital Applications - Installation and Integration document will be updated as needed for corrections, updates, and revisions.

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