Tomorrow, I expect to release V0.5.0 of Expert Controller Plus as testing against simulated Expert 1k-fa and Expert 1.3k-fa amplifiers has gone well. It’s also seen hours of continuous, live, testing on my 2020 iMac, macOS 26.4.1 and with my Expert 1.3k-fa in the last couple of days as I’ve finally got myself back on the HF bands and am making SSB contacts around the world.
This version has refinements to the ‘Button panel’ window. I’ve now added information just above each button to identify its current state and a ‘Transmit’ / ‘Receive’ message that reflects the Tx/Rx state of a connected amplifier.
These updates make ‘Button panel’ windows much more informative and usable as an LCD or LED window is not also needed to monitor amplifier state. The ‘Button panel’ window occupies less screen space than other view windows and is ideal for those with more constrained screen real-estate.
The new ‘Button panel’ window is shown below:
Expert Controller Plus – Buttons only window
The LCD panel only window has also been updated so that it can be resized from very small to very large! Drag to your preferred size!
Expert Controller Plus – LCD window
And the last change in this release is a cosmetic one to the LCD and Buttons window. It now has a small grey rectangle surrounding the buttons to match the styling of changes made to the Buttons only window.
These last few days I’ve been hunting a bug in the communications code that caused the App to become sluggish when used on TCP/IP networks with levels of jitter higher than anticipated. I believe, it finally got squashed today, fingers-crossed!
It was pretty hard to find and impacted all amplifiers with the exception of the Expert 1k-fa. Over the last few days I’ve improved the code in this area and made a couple of releases (V0.4.1 and V0.4.2). This bug is squashed in version 0.4.3 Build 682 and can be download from the Downloads page or the App should detect this later version and offer it’s download and installation.
Expert Controller Plus v0.4.1 has been made available today. It contains improvements to the code that polls amplifiers for their status, resulting in greater robustness on networks with higher jitter and latency than with earlier versions.
Overall, Alpha testing hasn’t been as extensive as I’d like with little to no feedback from those with an Expert 1k-fa amplifier. But as feedback from those with other amplifier models has been positive, but limited, I’ve moved from an Alpha to a Beta test phase.
If you have downloaded Expert Controller Plus and are using it, it would be great to have some feedback as its the only way I know how well its working. If you would like to try it, then please go ahead, download it from here and let me have some feedback. There is no user documentation available yet, but please drop me a message if you have questions or issues.
In the latest Alpha test release of Expert Controller Plus (v0.4.0-620) there is now a window for each amplifier Connection that presents the forward RF Power, PA Volts, PA Amps and temperatures as reported by an Expert amplifier. The window is available from the ‘New’, top-level menu.
Expert Controller Plus – Gauges (Expert 2k-fa)
The new Gauges window is also available for the Expert 1k-fa amplifier. As it reports only a single temperature, only one temperature gauge is shown.
Expert Controller Plus – Gauges (Expert 1k-fa)
Another small change, but one that saves a little screen/display real-estate, is the removal of the text ‘Connection:’, a divider and a little white-space from all windows that allow selection of a Connection. The new design for these windows is reflected in the Gauges windows above.
This update is available through the ‘Check for updates…’ capability added in the previous release or as a new download from the downloads page.
I’m seeking testers, with any Expert amplifier but especially an Expert 1k-fa so, If you would like to get involved with testing and provide feedback please drop me a message using the Contact page on this website.
Further information about Expert Controller Plus including how to download the software can be found in the Software and Support sections of this website.
Expert Controller Plus v0.3.0-612 includes the ability to check for updates using the new ‘Check for Updates…’ menu-bar option. On its selection, the App checks to see if a newer version is available and if identified, downloads the update and starts the installation process. Installation requires user authorisation which must be granted for it to complete.
Check for Updates…
Additionally, the new update function also supports automatic checks for a later version and the ability to automatically download and install updates. The image below presents an example of a window notifying that an update is available.
Check for Updates – A new version is available
Also included in this update are improvements to Apple Voiceover descriptions for Stepper aka Spinner controls. These are predominately used in Connection settings but are also in the Application settings.
The previous version introduced keyboard shortcuts for the top-level menu, View | Announcements, Activation | Groups and Activation | Connections options. These keyboard shortcuts have been changed in this version to the following: Shift+Command+A, Shift+Command+G, Shift+Command+C.
I’m seeking testers, with any Expert amplifier but especially an Expert 1k-fa so, If you would like to get involved with testing and provide feedback please drop me a message using the Contact page on this website.
Further information about Expert Controller Plus including how to download the software can be found in the Software and Support sections of this website.
Today it’s the end of January 2026 and I’m making available Expert Controller Plus, Version 0.2.3, Build 566 for Alpha testing. It contains the following changes.
Keyboard shortcuts have been added to top-level menu options: Announcements, Activate | Groups and Activate | Connections
The Apple Voiceover labels and hints for buttons have been reviewed and updated.
Apple Voiceover now identifies keyboard shortcuts were they exist on buttons.
Four Keyboard shortcuts have been added to buttons in the Activate | Groups and Activate | Connections windows:
Start – Command-S
Stop – Command-T
Wake – Command-W
Sleep – Command-P
I’m looking for testers, especially for the Expert 1k-fa so, If you would like to get involved with testing and provide feedback please drop me a message using the Contact page on this website.
Further information about Expert Controller Plus including how to download the software can be found in the Software and Support sections of this website.
Version 1.3.0 of Expert Controller will be available in the Apple App Store in early January 2026. If your Mac is configured to download and install updates, no further actions will be necessary. For others, please visit the Updates section of the App Store, select the App and download to install. The update does not change any existing Settings so all will be retained, unchanged.
System requirements for Version 1.3.0 remain unchanged from earlier versions. So, an Apple Mac running either macOS 14, 15 or 26 and an SPE Expert 1.3k-FA or later amplifier.
Version 1.3.0 contains cosmetic changes so that its windows look great on macOS 26 and earlier versions along with some minor improvements to Accessibility and some bug fixes. It has a new icon which conforms to macOS 26 sizing requirements and whose design is common between Expert Controller and Expert Controller Plus.
What’s the difference between Expert Controller and Expert Controller Plus?
The list below summarises the changes in Expert Controller 1.3.0:
Iconography updated for macOS 26 and to align with that used by Expert Controller Plus.
The font used in the LCD window has been updated to resolve an issue with all bar-graphs not displaying their final character correctly.
The Backlight button has been replaced with two buttons that use a bulb icon. These icon buttons have been relocated to the lower-right side of the Controller window.
The Float button has been replaced with a new button using a Pin icon and relocated to the Title-bar of the Controller window.
The visual appearance of the Controller window has been updated to improve alignment with macOS 26 and earlier versions.
Buttons on the Controller window have been re-grouped to improve usability and align with the layout used by Expert Controller Plus.
The light and dark mode graphics of a stylised amplifier shown in the LCD panel when disconnected have been updated.
The application has been renamed ‘Expert Controller’ to align more clearly with the naming scheme used by the plus version – ‘Expert Controller Plus’.
To improve Accessibility, some buttons have either been relabelled or new Accessibility labels applied.
The ordering of items in the Announce / spoken-report has been adjusted.
The embedded User Guide and Release Note documents have been removed and replaced with links to https://g0rvm.uk from where the documents may be downloaded.
Below is a image presenting the updated Controller window on macOS 26.
Today I’m making available Expert Controller Plus, Version 0.2.2, Build 539 available for Alpha testing. It contains the following minor fixes.
A Connection cannot now be Disabled using the Settings | Connection window if it is in use.
The Amplifier selection may not be changed whilst its associated Connection is in use.
The references to web pages ‘News’ and ‘Support’ under the Help menu have been updated.
The Welcome window link to Support information at g0rvm.uk updated.
I’m looking for more testers, especially for the Expert 1k-fa so, If you would like to get involved with testing and provide feedback please drop me a message using the Contact page on this website.
Further information about Expert Controller Plus including how to download the software can be found in the Software and Support sections of this website.
Today I’m happy to announce that I’m making the first, Alpha test, version of Expert Controller Plus available for download.
If you would like to get involved with testing and provide feedback please drop me a message using the Contact page on this website.
Further information about Expert Controller Plus including how to download the software can be found in the Software and Support sections of this website.
Being able to control a relay using a TCP/IP network connection can be very useful and has many purposes including signalling, power control and monitoring. Today TCP/IP networking is the defacto networking technology used by almost all network capable technology. TCP/IP networks, with one in particular – the Internet – span the globe and are reachable from most locations by cable or radio (including satellite).
The Modbus protocol was first published in 1979 and has become the defacto standard for control and monitoring of industrial equipment. Sometime after its first publication a variant known as Modbus TCP was standardised for the exchange of Modbus messages over TCP networks. Modbus TCP and other variants are now available in small, inexpensive devices – such as those by Waveshare – to the mass market and thus hams.
In amateur radio there is a growing number of operators who choose to operate geographically remote from their radio equipment. Linking these two locations is inevitably a TCP/IP network. So, it should be no surprise that hams have a need to control equipment remotely and that Modbus and an abundance of inexpensive Modbus capable control devices can satisfy that need.
One such Modbus control device is the Waveshare Modbus POE ETH Relay (B) but there are many options available. It’s also quite possible to construct them oneself using a small computer such as a Raspberry Pi and software.
Waveshare Modbus POE ETH Relay (B)
Adding Modbus TCP support to Expert Controller Plus seemed like an obvious addition as it allows hams to wake/sleep their SPE Expert amplifiers from a remote location using a TCP/IP network.
The abundance of inexpensive Modbus capable controllers is the result of mass production with a focus on function with little attention to contributing and key components such as security. Connecting these to the Internet without protective measures is an awfully bad idea. I won’t labour that here as I’ve done so in previous posts and documentation. I’ll just say that however convenient doing so may seem and however tempted you feel – just don’t do it!
The remainder of this post focuses on the necessary configuration of the Waveshare Modbus POE ETH Relay (B) for use with macOS and Expert Controller Plus.
Waveshare Modbus POE ETH Relay (B)
The unit doesn’t come with a power supply so it’s either necessary to reuse an existing supply, make one yourself or power it from the Ethernet using POE. The latter is very convenient and makes a nice solution as should power fail, Ethernet and thus networking has probably also failed.
The unit has an embedded web server which permits its configuration. Great. However, not all parameters can be configured, particularly and disappointingly those necessary to enable Modbus TCP. Well, that’s what the Waveshare documentation leads me to believe but that documentation is a poor translation from Chinese to English so I’m not absolutely sure. From a macOS perspective that’s a problem as the Waveshare VCom software that enables access to all configuration is a Windows only application.
IPv4 address
The first item needing configuration was it’s IPv4 address. By default that is 192.168.1.200 and an IP address not reachable on my network. So it was connected using a short Ethernet cable directly to a laptop whose network port was manually allocated an 192.168.1.0/24 IPv4 address. That done, I could point a web browser at it’s default IPv4 address, log-in to its embedded web-server and change the IPv4 address allocation from Manual to DHCP. Allocating an address using DHCP is a personal choice as it has multiple advantages to a static, manual allocation but may not be appropriate for everyone.
With that and a restart, the unit was allocated an IPv4 address and became reachable on my network.
Waveshare Modbus POE ETH Relay (B) – Web configurator
Microsoft Windows
Here, I’m almost completely Apple and Linux with just one old macBook running Windows for just this type of scenario – where running a Windows application is the only option. After downloading and installing the Waveshare VCom software I was able to adjust and then save the two items of configuration needed – see images below – to enable Modbus TCP. Once saved, the unit remembered the change so Windows was no longer required.
What remains is to connect the Waveshare relay to your SPE Expert amplifier and to pass a suitable signal (Voltage). Here the SPE Expert User manual for your amplifier is really helpful as it describes how to utilise pins 8 & 4 (REMOTE_ON, GND) of a CAT connector to “turn on and turn off the amplifier”. Instead of using the RS-232 DTR signal, implement a similar Voltage source which is switched by the Waveshare relay. The SPE Expert 1.5k-Taurus User manual V3.2, for pin 8, states: “Applying a voltage from 9 to 15 VDC, turns the amplifier ON.”.
Expert Controller Plus
The last configuration required is to enable Modbus TCP support in Expert Controller Plus, enable Wake and/or Sleep and to specify the Waveshare unit’s IPv4 address – or fully qualified domain name (FQDN). The defaults for Unit, Function, Register and Command should be appropriate for relay Channel 1. If a different relay Channel was used, select the corresponding Register.
Expert Controller Plus – Modbus configuration
Now when a Connection is started or stopped in Expert Controller Plus the appropriate Wake or Sleep Modbus TCP message is sent.
