Our primary goal has always been to maximize the uptime of our service and the reliability of our station infrastructure.
Sometimes, that involves making difficult decisions to leave some things behind. The following hardware and software integrations are gradually being phased out by the end of 2026.
However! Most of them have direct replacements that are superior, and will allow us to carry RHR through another decade of reliable operation.
SmartSDR and Maestro | deprecated |
SmartSDR CAT and DAX | replaced by TCI |
DXmate | replaced by MIDI keyers |
Desktop app | replaced by LocalMate |
Elecraft K3/0-Mini | deprecated |
FlexControl Knob | no change - still supported |
SmartSDR and Maestro - deprecated
With the transition of our fleet to the Icom suite of radios, SmartSDR and Maestro will no longer function.
SmartSDR CAT and DAX - replaced with TCI
The complex system of virtual audio and serial cables is being replaced by TCI, a much simpler protocol that works out-of-the-box with many programs, including WSJT-X.
DXmate - replaced with MIDI keyers
We are phasing out support for this CW interface. The dependency on serial DTR and RTS signals does not result in reliable timing for CW keying. It is used by less than 0.5% of operators.
Instead, we will continue to follow the increasing popularity of MIDI keying interfaces, such as CTR2-MIDI. We're also working closely with Halibut Electronics on tight integration with the HaliKey MIDI - coming soon.
Desktop app - replaced with LocalMate app
The RHR "desktop app", as it was colloquially known, is going away.
It is superseded by LocalMate, a small helper app that runs alongside your browser to bridge hardware and software with the console. LocalMate interfaces with all supported local hardware, and is configured from within the RHR console itself.
Elecraft K3/0-Mini - deprecated
We are phasing out support for this hardware interface. We have not had any Elecraft radios on the system for many years, and it no longer makes sense to maintain backwards compatibility for this device, which is used by fewer than 1% of operators.
FlexControl knob - still supported
This peripheral continues to be useful as a general-purpose VFO knob, so we will continue to support it, even on remote Icom radios.