Apache Labs Community Forum

I have an Atlas-bus based SDR (several, actually, for HF, 2m and microwave IF). It has served me well for years. Metis, Mercury, Alex, Gibraltar, Penelope

The original computer died, and I installed on a new Lenovo computer. I WAS able to import the profile. Or so I thought.

Several questions:

1. Looks like Thetis is the latest software. As I read the documentation, Thetis REQUIRES Protocol 2 on the ethernet interface. I never saw that Protocol 2 was implemented on Metis for Atlas-bus systems. Was it, and I don't know it? If so, could someone please point me to how to upgrade?

2. Related, was PureSibgnal ever implemented for Atlas-bus based systems? Last I heard, it was NOT, and probably could not based on the bandwidth of the Atlas bus. Again, if it was, could someone point me there?

3. The spacebar PTT is not working. In setup > keyboard I have PTT/MOX asserted under Spacebar. Yet it doesn't key the transmitter. This has worked in the past; something changed. Is there another setting I need to look at?

4. I've been using a document that I printed in 2019, after my first open-heart surgery. I'm told it is obsolete -- if someone could point me to the newest document for virtualizing the SDR, I would be most grateful.

5. I am using a Behringer sound card with ASIO drivers, set up accordingb tgo the W1AEX document. I always get compliments on my audio and how clean my signal is.

Any advice gratefully appreciated.
Jim
wb4gcs@wb4gcs.org

Where did you read Thetis requires P2??

wb4gcs@wb4gcs.org wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 10:18 pm
1. Looks like Thetis is the latest software. As I read the documentation, Thetis REQUIRES Protocol 2 on the ethernet interface. I never saw that Protocol 2 was implemented on Metis for Atlas-bus systems. Was it, and I don't know it? If so, could someone please point me to how to upgrade?

Thetis does support P1 firmware. There are a couple of minor limitations, which, if I remember correctly, are a maximum sample rate of 192KHz, and the stitched receiver feature is not supported.

However, I don't know if Thetis will support the really old stuff, i.e. the Atlas board set. The oldest hardware option in the settings is "Hermes". It would not take much effort to test this, of course. But the reality is that you will probably have to use PowerSDR mRX. The last release, 3.4.9, can be found here: https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR

2. Related, was PureSibgnal ever implemented for Atlas-bus based systems? Last I heard, it was NOT, and probably could not based on the bandwidth of the Atlas bus. Again, if it was, could someone point me there?

With the disclaimer that I've got exactly zero experience with the openHPSDR hardware prior to Hermes, looking at some very old web pages this morning it would appear that the answer is "No". Not only is the Mercury receiver bandwidth limited, it also only supports a single DDC block, and at least two are required for PureSignal.

3. The spacebar PTT is not working. In setup > keyboard I have PTT/MOX asserted under Spacebar. Yet it doesn't key the transmitter. This has worked in the past; something changed. Is there another setting I need to look at?

Ensure that the "Enable Shortcuts" option is checked on the Keyboard setup tab.

4. I've been using a document that I printed in 2019, after my first open-heart surgery. I'm told it is obsolete -- if someone could point me to the newest document for virtualizing the SDR, I would be most grateful.

If by "virtualizing" you mean using PC-based audio for transmit and receive, and assuming you are using my old guide it would still be relevant for PowerSDR mRX. It is, however, quite obsolete for Thetis.

5. I am using a Behringer sound card with ASIO drivers, set up accordingb tgo the W1AEX document. I always get compliments on my audio and how clean my signal is.

If you have to use PowerSDR mRX, then you should simple duplicate your previous setup. However, if you do get Thetis to work, then you will want to look in the program directory where thetis.exe is and find the "cmASIO" instructional PDF file. cmASIO is now the best method for incorporating ASIO-capable sound interfaces with Thetis.

Thanks.

I think I will stay PowerSDR mRX for now.

I do not see an "enable shortcuts" on the keyboard tab. There ARE a bumnch of defined shortcuts there, (I assume defaults) but I do not see "Enable Shortcuts" on the keyboard tab. I'll look elsewhere.

Thank you again,
Jim

I AM using your old guide. It has served me well.
Jim