Hello everyone,

I’m very happy to announce that the Morse Machine v4 app is available both on Google and Apple stores.

The links are:

Apple Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/morse-machine/id1455507957

Google Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iu4apc.morsemachine

The new version is a complete rewrite and it’s just the start of a lot of new features that are in development. The main improvements are:

• available for iOS (new) as well as for Android
• new more modern and simple interface
• both landscape and portrait mode
• top 40 words training
• top 10 scores page
• lot of bug fixes

So the wait for iPhone and iPad users is over!

Again this is just the start. I’m already working on some suggestion from users and some are already available in the latest update.

Here are some screenshots of the new version:

Spread the word!

Cheers,

Andrea

Hi everyone,

it’s ages since I write something in the blog and it’s ages since I came back working on the apps.

In reality I wrote apps every day (in React Native) as it’s my job and that’s probably why I could not find the right motivation to get back home and spend time writing apps also during my free time. Also a lot of things happened in those years that made me focus on different things. Most important one is that now I live and work in the UK!

But things have changed now as I’ve found a very interesting platform to work with and so I spent the last weeks learning it and developing a totally new version of the Morse Machine. The new platform is named Flutter and it is developed by Google. I’ll talk more about it in another post that I want to dedicate to it as if I’m back coding apps during my free time is mainly thanks to it.

Version 4 of Morse Machine is really close to be ready and it’ll be available for both Android and iOS almost at the same time.

It’s a complete rewrite and it’ll be clear just by looking at it. But the features for now will be almost exactly the same of the old one.

Thanks to all the people that is using the old version and that keeps writing me with suggestions and saying how much they like it. I decided to come back with the Morse Machine for this reason.

So spread the word to all the iOS users that soon Morse Machine will be available for them as well.

More updates in the coming days.

Cheers,

Andrea

Hi everyone,

it’s been a long time since I wrote and that’s because I got a new job that it taking me out of home for all the day and I can only work on ham radio apps during the spare time in the weekend.

This post is to say that this morning my Nexus 5 has been upgraded (officially) to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and that means that soon I’ll release an updated version of all my apps to make sure that they are all ready for it.

I’ll try to integrate at least some of the fixes/new features that I planned in the past months and that many of you have pointed out and suggested.

I won’t update them all at once but one at the time.

Thanks again everyone for the great feedback and suggestions you send me almost daily and I really hope to find time to implement all of them.

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

I was watching Google developers backend and I realized that the Morse Machine app has just passed the 1000 mark!

More than 1000 people are using my Morse Machine app to learn and improve their CW.

WOW I’m pretty impressed by that.

Thanks a lot everyone for all the great feedback you keep on giving me. I really hope to be able to release an updated version soon.

As you know by know, I have highs and lows in my job and when I have lows I can dedicate time to code updates and new apps. (Un)Fortunately it’s a high period 🙂 So it’ll still take some time to see some update on my apps but surely they’ll be all updated before Android M(arshmallow) is released 😉

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

about 2 weeks ago we shipped the second lot of 817 (compatible with the Yaesu 857 and 897 as well) Panadapter Kits. Most of them has been delivered already and users are starting playing with them.

You can read about the kit here:  http://817companion.com/panadapter/

We published also an installation instruction page here: http://817companion.com/817-panadapter-installation/

and yesterday Julian OH8GEJ has recorded a video showing the steps to install the kit.

Here’s the video:

As you can see installation is very simple.

Julian is working on a new video showing how to use the Panadapter kit with the 817 Companion App so to have an absolutely unique portable (and not only!) experience with your Yaesu 817. Finding signals has never been easier and more fun.

We are taking orders for the third lot of kits that will be available later this month. The list is already long and if you are interested in it, please email me at 817companion@gmail.com

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

the first lot of panadapter kits for the Yaesu 817-857-897 are all gone.

We are accepting pre-orders for the next lot that should be available in a couple of weeks. If you are interested please email me (817companion@gmail.com) so that I can give you more information and put you in the waiting list.

In the meanwhile I’m working on an update of the 817 Companion app, as well as a version of the app dedicated to the Yaesu 857/897 owners.

I’m also coming back to a new version of the KX3 Companion that should fix some issues reported with Android 5 as well as integrating some features that has been developed for the 817 Companion apps.

Thanks a lot everyone for supporting the development of those apps and giving me great feedback and suggestions.

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

yesterday worked on integrating in the “817Companion” app one of the coolest features I wanted to add: a panadapter (24kHz bandwidth).

The panadapter features requires a small piece of hardware that has to be placed in the “filter” slot of the Yeasu 817 (it also works with the 857 and 897) that takes the 455kHz signal from the radio and takes it out so that you can easily use that signal to have a fully working panadapter from your small little radio.

The panadapter “filter” will be available soon, so stay tuned for it as well 😉

The panadapter can be used with anything accepting and audio source, so a PC/Mac/Linux computes are perfectly fine, and the bandwidth depends on the sampling rate of your audio card. So if you have a 96Khz sound card, it’ll display 48Khz and so on.

But that also means that every Android device with an audio in port (often “hidden” in the earphone plug) can use it. On our Android smartphones and tablets we usually reach 48kHz giving us a panadapter view of 24kHz that is more than good in portable use.

What I’ve done yesterday is make the “817Companion” app ready to manage this hardware and below is a short video showing a full bandwidth (24kHz) spectrum/waterfall for the panadapter with the touch QSY features (you touch your tablet display and decide where you want the 817 to move to).

There’s no audio in the video as I didn’t record it but I’m sure that it is enough to show you how cool and useful this feature is!

I hope you like and that you’re exited as me about that. It’s only two days that I’m playing with it and can’t get enough already 😀

Stay tuned!

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

Julian OH8GEJ is testing and reviewing the development I’m doing on the 817Companion App for Android.

The following video shows you part of the logging features:

The new way to enter data will probably also be ported to the KX3Companion app as well.

I’m actually very focused on finishing the development of the 817Companion app and I’ll probably be able to release it in one or two weeks from now.

I’ll keep you updated on the development and new features I’m developing. As said before part of the new features that I’m developing for the new 817Companion app will also be ported to the KX3Companion one.

Thanks again to Julian and the other beta testers that are helping me in to all the people contacting me interested and suggesting features for the app.

Stay tuned!

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi Everyone,

thanks to Trung W6TN I’m able to show you detailed information on how to control remotely your KX3 using a Raspberry Pi and an Android device with KX3 Companion in it.

Here are the instructions by Trung W6TN:

These steps are only about the audio part of KX3Companion Remote. (the remote control part is here: https://kx3companion.com/kx3remote/)

I used three devices: an Android phone (OnePlus One), a Raspberry Pi2, and a Macbook Pro. I bought a USB Audio card from plugable.com (via Amazon)

1. Go to this website to install both Mumble Server & Mumble Client on the Raspberry Pi2
   http://pimylifeup.com/raspberry-pi-mumble-server/
   There is a link to mumble.org where all Mumble Client for different OS are there.
   http://www.mumble.com/mumble-download.php.
   Note: There is a circular way to install Mumble Client for Raspberry Pi2, you can click on the “Download Linux Client Version 1.2.8”, which will lead to another link
   http://wiki.mumble.info/wiki/Installing_Mumble#Linux
   Essentially, the command is “apt-get install mumble” or “sudo apt-get install mumble”
2. Install a Mumble Client on Macbook (or Windows-based computer)
3. Install Plumble (a Mumble Client) on an Android phone (or tablet)
4. Force default sound module to be disabled and the new usb sound card is enabled by following instruction here:
   http://plugable.com/2014/11/06/how-to-switch-to-usb-audio-on-raspberry-pi
5. Adjust input and output level of the USB sound card by following instruction here:
   http://www.g7smy.co.uk/?p=283
   Use an iPod or sound source (like Pandora from a smartphone) to play continuously while recording a test as suggested on this link. Remember the card number of the USB sound card, more likely zero (not 1).
6. Run Mumble client from multiple devices: Pi2, Macbook, or Android phone. Try testing connection at least from the Macbook and the Android phone.
7. Run the recorded sound test from Pi2 and listen from either Macbook or Android phone. Adjust the volume as previously stated.
8. Finally, start from fresh then either run KX3Companion first, Mumble second or vice versa

Thanks a lot again to Trung W6TN for spending so much time testing the solution.

It works great and simply needs a Raspberry Pi2 (maybe it also works on with a Raspberry Pi but haven’t tried it yet) and a USB Audio card for it.

Enjoy it and please report  your success and problems so we can try to help you setup your complete KX3 remote solution 😉

72/73 Andrea IU4APC

Hi everyone,

Today I got a new toy for my portable CW: a CW Stick Keyer. This is an absolutely cool and perfectly working touch paddle.

Works like a charm! I’m used to a Palm Single paddle so it’s perfect as I’m used to mono paddle keying (no squeeze). I personally love it and find it the perfect solution for portable operation.

It also very inexpensive: 12Euro + VAT (+shipment)!

I did attach it to the Yaesu 817 so that I can also rotate it when it’s time to pack everything up.

Details and all info

Size: 100 x 19 x 2mm
Weight: 6 gr + cable
Cable: 60 cm
Connector: 3.5mm stereo jack

You can find it here: http://www.tspelettronica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63%3Acw-stick-keyer&catid=38%3Aham-radio&Itemid=65&lang=en

There you’ll also find 3 YouTube videos showing it working.

There’s also a PDF flyer here: http://www.tspelettronica.com/attachments/article/63/CwStick.pdf

72/73, Andrea IU4APC