A Linux-native client for FlexRadio Systems transceivers
AetherSDR brings FlexRadio operation to Linux without Wine or virtual machines. Built from the ground up with Qt6 and C++20, it speaks the SmartSDR protocol natively and aims to replicate the full SmartSDR experience.
Current version: 0.9.7 | Download | Discussions | What's New
Cross-platform downloads available: Linux AppImage, macOS universal DMG, Windows installer and portable ZIP. Linux is the primary supported platform. macOS and Windows builds are provided as a courtesy.
Native. Open. Yours.
- GPU-accelerated rendering — QRhi waterfall + FFT spectrum on GPU (OpenGL/Metal/D3D11), 71% CPU reduction, heat map FFT display
- Multi-slice operation — color-coded VFO overlays, independent TX assignment, diversity mode with ESC beamforming
- Multi-panadapter — up to 8 pans (FLEX-6700) with 6 layout options, detachable pop-out windows, per-pan display controls, native VITA-49 waterfall tiles
- Full RX/TX controls — filter presets, custom filter edges, AGC, DSP, EQ, mic/compression gauges, ATU, TUNE/MOX
- Aetherial Audio Channel Strip — unified TX DSP suite (gate, EQ, compressor, de-esser, tube, AetherVoice exciter, Freeverb, brickwall limiter) with savable preset library
- Client-side noise reduction — NR2 (spectral), RN2 (RNNoise neural), BNR (NVIDIA GPU AI denoiser)
- AetherSweep — in-panadapter SWR analyzer with log scale, threshold-band shading, interpolated bandwidth at SWR ≤ 1.5 / 2.0
- Network Diagnostics — per-metric trend graphs, packet loss / RTT / jitter metrics, live log tail
- Memory channels + profiles — memory bank with quick-recall, global / mic / TX profile management synced with the radio
- CW operator suite — real-time Morse decoder with auto pitch/speed detection, keyboard + MIDI-mapped straight key and iambic paddles with full break-in / QSK respect, optional Apollo-era Quindar tones on PTT
- SpotHub — DX Cluster, RBN, WSJT-X, POTA, and FreeDV Reporter spots with density badges, auto-mode switch, and auto-reconnect
- DAX virtual audio — 4 RX + 1 TX channels for WSJT-X, fldigi, VARA, JS8Call (Linux PipeWire native / PulseAudio, macOS CoreAudio; Windows via TCI / external bridges)
- DAX IQ streaming — raw I/Q to SDR apps at 24/48/96/192 kHz
- SmartLink remote operation — Auth0 login, TLS command channel, WAN UDP streaming with credential persistence
- TCI server — full TCI v2.0 protocol over WebSocket: CAT + audio + IQ + CW + spots in one connection
- CAT control — 4-channel rigctld TCP + virtual serial ports, CW macros for contest loggers
- MIDI controller mapping — Learn mode, 50+ parameters, named profiles
- FlexControl USB tuning knob — auto-detect, acceleration, configurable buttons
- Serial PTT/CW keying — USB-serial DTR/RTS for external keyers and foot switches
- FreeDV RADE — AI-based digital voice codec with client-side neural encoder/decoder
- 4o3a Tuner Genius XL — relay control, autotune, 3x1 antenna switch, SWR/power gauges
- Multi-Flex — independent operation alongside SmartSDR/Maestro with clickable dashboard
- Adaptive predistortion (APD) — SmartSignal toggle and status display for FLEX-8000 series, including External APD sampler-port selection (firmware 4.2.18+) for training APD against an external linear amplifier's output
Works with any FlexRadio transceiver: FLEX-6300, 6400, 6400M, 6500, 6600, 6600M, 6700, 8400, 8400M, 8600, 8600M, Aurora (AU-510, AU-520), and ML- / CL- / RT-series. Active test target is FLEX-8600 firmware 4.1.5 (SmartSDR protocol v1.4.0.0); v3.x firmware likely works but is not tested.
Pre-built binaries are available from Releases:
| Platform | Download | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Linux x86_64 | AetherSDR-*-x86_64.AppImage |
Single file, no install needed. chmod +x and run. |
| Linux ARM | AetherSDR-*-aarch64.AppImage |
Raspberry Pi, ARM laptops. chmod +x and run. |
| macOS | AetherSDR-*-macOS-apple-silicon.dmg |
Apple Silicon (M1+). Intel Macs via Rosetta. Signed & notarized. |
| Windows Installer | AetherSDR-*-Windows-x64-setup.exe |
Setup wizard with Start Menu shortcut and uninstaller. |
| Windows Portable | AetherSDR-*-Windows-x64-portable.zip |
No install needed. Extract and run. |
Install all dependencies for a full-featured build. Optional packages are noted — the build succeeds without them but the corresponding features are disabled.
# Arch / CachyOS / Manjaro
sudo pacman -S qt6-base qt6-multimedia qt6-websockets qt6-serialport \
qt6-shadertools cmake ninja pkgconf autoconf automake libtool \
fftw portaudio hidapi qtkeychain-qt6
# Ubuntu 24.04+ / Debian / Linux Mint
sudo apt install qt6-base-dev qt6-base-private-dev qt6-multimedia-dev \
qt6-websockets-dev qt6-serialport-dev qt6-shader-baker qt6-shadertools-dev \
cmake ninja-build pkg-config autoconf automake libtool \
libfftw3-dev portaudio19-dev libhidapi-dev qtkeychain-qt6-dev \
libxkbcommon-dev gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio gstreamer1.0-plugins-base
# Fedora
sudo dnf install qt6-qtbase-devel qt6-qtbase-private-devel qt6-qtmultimedia-devel \
qt6-qtwebsockets-devel qt6-qtserialport-devel qt6-qtshadertools-devel \
cmake ninja-build autoconf automake libtool \
fftw3-devel portaudio-devel hidapi-devel qtkeychain-qt6-devel
# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install qt@6 ninja cmake pkgconf autoconf automake libtool \
fftw portaudio hidapi qtkeychainWhat each dependency enables
| Package | Feature |
|---|---|
| qt6-base, qt6-multimedia | Core application (required) |
| qt6-base-private-dev | GPU-accelerated spectrum/waterfall (QRhi) |
| qt6-shadertools-dev | GPU shader compilation |
| qt6-websockets-dev | TCI server, FreeDV Reporter spots |
| qt6-serialport-dev | FlexControl, serial PTT/CW, MIDI controllers |
| libfftw3-dev | NR2 spectral noise reduction |
| portaudio19-dev | PortAudio audio backend |
| libhidapi-dev | USB HID encoders (RC-28, PowerMate, FlexControl) |
| qtkeychain-qt6-dev | SmartLink credential persistence |
Linux Mint / Ubuntu note: If PC audio devices show as "Dummy Output", install
gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio. For PipeWire systems, also installgstreamer1.0-pipewire.
git clone https://github.com/ten9876/AetherSDR.git
cd AetherSDR
cmake -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo
cmake --build build -j$(nproc)
./build/AetherSDRRADE-enabled builds use a vendored Opus snapshot, so no additional Opus download is required during configure or build.
sudo cmake --install build- CW ultimatic keyer mode (#416)
- Native DAX audio channels on Windows
- Stream Deck plugin (in development)
See the full issue tracker for all planned features.
PRs, bug reports, and feature requests welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
Development environment: AetherSDR is developed using Claude Code as the primary development tool. We encourage contributors to use Claude Code for consistency. PRs must follow project conventions, pass CI, and include GPG-signed commits.
Not a developer? Click the lightbulb button in AetherSDR's title bar to create an AI-assisted bug report or feature request.
Linux and Windows binaries are GPG-signed. macOS artifacts are Apple notarized. Each release includes .asc signatures and SHA256SUMS.txt.
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ten9876/AetherSDR/main/docs/RELEASE-SIGNING-KEY.pub.asc | gpg --import
gpg --verify AetherSDR-vX.Y.Z-x86_64.AppImage.asc AetherSDR-vX.Y.Z-x86_64.AppImageSee docs/VERIFYING-RELEASES.md for full instructions.
AetherSDR is free and open-source software licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.
AetherSDR is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FlexRadio Systems.