SDR Control gets APRS, getting your Mac’s clock accurate, WSTJ-X 3 further improved and mastering the maze of Mac drivers for radio rigs.
SDR Control for Icom got a big upgrade this week
German developer, Marcus Roskosch, announced the arrival of APRS on the Icom version of his popular SDR Control MacOS app. To his blog:
With the 2.9.85 update, users gain access to several powerful APRS functions:
Receive and monitor APRS packets – All incoming transmissions are displayed in a clear list, making it easy to follow activity in real time.
Visualize APRS traffic on a map – Positions and movement of nearby APRS stations can be plotted, helping operators see routes and coverage at a glance.
Compose and send messages – Send not only standard APRS messages but also Email, SMS, and even WinLink through the APRS network. Broadcast information – Share position reports and status updates quickly and reliably.
Is your Mac telling the time accurately? Probably not!
An accurate clock can be important for many reasons. In amateur radio, a super accurate clock is critical for digital modes. Until I did these two things, I had no idea how inaccurate my Mac clock was!
Mac Ham Radio updates
MacHamRadio.com had details of some interesting software developments this week. First, it gave an overview of the a Mac companion app for those with a VNA. From Gemini: “A VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) is a crucial piece of test equipment for ham radio operators, used to characterize and measure radio frequency (RF) components like antennas and cables by analyzing signal responses”.
Second up was news that A second release candidate of version three of WSTJ-X had been released. It contains loads of added features and big fixes. The latest version is 250924.
Mac drivers for radios
One of the more confusing aspects of working your Mac with rigs is the plethora of syncing or connections cables. There are the generic ones available on Amazon and eBay. Then companies like RT Systems have taken these cables and chipsets and renamed them. Not only are there three main types of drivers (from Silicon Labs (CP2102) , Future Technology Devices International (FTDI) and Prolific Technology Inc. (PL-2303)) then there are cables with 3.5mm and 2.55 mm plugs and some are stereo and the others mono. (Tip: Have a stereo to mono adapter handy). And then there are those with many other connectors. This article on Miklor is a good overview of the driver landscape.
If you are running Parallels, you’ll need the Windows version. This is a huge ‘bag of hurt’. Windows 10 is fine. Windows 11 not so. Tip: Use “Install from this location” rather than a direct install from an *.exe file. Type this into Gemini and follow the response: “Windows 11, install silicon labs drivers from this location”
Icom firmware updates
It’s time to pull the Windows PC out of the cupboard of fire up Parallels for Mac. Icom has a couple of firmware updates out this week for the IC-705 HF/VHF/UHF Portable and IC-7610 HF/50MHz Base Station Transceivers.
That’s it for this week.
73’s, Andrew
27 September 2025