Mac Mini setup for SDR FDM-SW2 (Windows) and WSJT (MacOS)

I am running the ELAD FDM-SW2 SDR software under Parallels and Windows 10 on my Mac Mini, 

FDM-SW2 under Parallels & Windows 10

This is the setup I have for signal routing to get everything to where it is supposed to be. I have connected all three USB connection on the FDM-DUO to the Mac Mini. 

SOUNDSOURCE

I am using SoundSource  to direct the sound coming from FDM-SW2 through Parallels to a Bluetooth LS.

In this way the specific audio output of Parallels is directed to the Bluetooth "Anker Soundcore" LS. (the BT connection has to be "Connect" in MacOS for this, of course).

WINDOWS 10

Next we have to set up FDM-SW2 SDR software running under windows. We need not only to set up the audio, but also switch one of the USB inputs to Windows. This is the FDM-DUO "RX" connection to deliver the SDR IQ data. This can be done in the Widows 10 desktop by using the Parallels tools, opened by sliding the cursor to the top of the window.

Select the USB Icon and chose the FDMDUO USB FW v4.9 connection to Windows. FDMDUO has an odd naming convention for its USB connections, they correspond to

- FDM-DUO Audio v1.04 = TX connector, audio IN and OUT digital 48kHz

- FDMDUO USB FW v4.9 = RX connector, for FDM-SW2 software

- FT232R USB UART = CAT connector , ASCII commands IN and OUT for CAT control

why ELAD can't name them sensibly is a puzzle for another day.

PARALLELS

Parallels is set up to send its audio to "Default" as it is captured and re-directed by SoundSource (above). 

FDM-SW2

In FDM-SW2 chose "SET" and the Audio tab, and chose Soundcard and output device "Speakers (High Definition Audio)" which is what Parallels calls its audio output

WSJT

WSJT on a MacOS desktop

To run WSJT at the same time but under MacOS, Open it in a new desktop and  under WSJT > Preferences chose the Audio tab and set a direct connection to the USB audio to/from the FDM-DUO TX connection (it is not only TX input as the marking would suggest, but also RX digital audio output!)

SO...

After all that, phew! You can use WSJT and FDM-SW2 SDR at the same time. Both programs will issue CAT commands, if you set the frequency in WSJT to for example 7074.0kHZ for 40m, then the central frequency of the FDM-DUO is set to this and this is what FDM-SW2 display shows as the RED frequency (it will also set it to Upper Side Band). Use the yellow, green or blue receivers set to LSB to transmit SSB on the lower bands.

SSB TX

To transmit on SSB you must set up the FDM-DUO to accept USB or MIC audio input by Menu 32 TXIN set to AUTO. Then PTT will trigger with the microphone as usual. WSJT will also PTT using RTS signal on the CAT connection.

AND THE BEST BIT, AND THE WORST BIT

Funneling the output audio through SoundSource has a big advantage. Voice communications occur in a narrow band of audio frequencies based around 500-2500Hz. SoundSource has the ability to apply audio filters to any application channel. And this can be used to filter the output of Parallels to the Bluetooth speaker using a 10 band EQ. This makes a dramatic difference to the capture of weak voice signals! I am testing if the same routing can be done for an externally connected microphone feeding audio into Parallels an don to FDM-SW2 on transmit...

Of course FDM-SW2 has also an audio processor with EQ, VOX and Compression for trasnsmit, would that was easier to setup and use!!! It can take its input from a USB or normal microphone plugged into the Mac Mini. And feed its output to the TX digital input of the FDM-DUO radio via the TX input. But then you cannot use TX & CAT for WSJT FT8... sigh.

Even on a pure Windows setup getting WSJT to work is a mess of different softwares needed to redirect the audio to/from FDM-SW2 and the CAT control from WSJT... not a pretty site.