This morning Preview 2 was released to those who have requested to be part of the preview and test programme for SPE Expert Controller Plus. If you would like to join that programme, drop me a message using the Contact form on this website.

Preview 2 changes are primarily for the Expert 1k-fa. Functionality for other amplifiers remains pretty much unchanged. For the Expert 1k-fa support has been added for Standby, Operate, CAT Report and Firmware report modes. Other Expert 1k-fa functionality such as ‘Set’ configuration is yet to be implemented but is on the roadmap.

Implementation of functionality to support the Expert 1k-fa would ideally have used a real/physical amplifier however, as that is not available, a simulator was developed as described in earlier news postings. Against this simulator the actual Windows SPE Term application for the Expert 1k-fa was tried and found to work well. Thus I have confidence that my reading of the interface specification and implementation are good. However only by testing with a real/physical amplifier will that be known for sure so, feedback from those Expert 1k-fa testers is much appreciated!

Next on the list are some of the defects and issues that I know exist; I’m expecting subsequent previews will include changes that are noticeable to all models of Expert amplifiers. One of the changes I’m considering is removal of the Health and RF Information windows as I’m not convinced they add ‘value’ to the application as the information is pretty much available elsewhere. Let me know what you think about that.

Andy

Since the last update, my Expert Simulator software has advanced sufficiently to now simulate the core capabilities of the SPE Expert 1k-fa amplifier. Using simulation has enabled further work on SPE Expert Controller Plus and advancement of its Expert 1k-fa support.

Support for all other Expert amplifiers is well advanced although there are still capabilities to add plus, overall, there are a good number of defects that need resolving.

Preview 2 is getting close and I’d expect it to be ready by the end of next weekend. Fingers-crossed. 🙂 Assuming the Expert 1k-fa support actually works when connected to a real/physical Expert 1k-fa I expect to spend time fixing known defects and smoothing some of those rough-edges for Preview 3. Subsequent previews will add some of the missing Expert 1k-fa capabilities.

The images in this post are of the SPE Expert Controller Plus, LCD and Buttons window – I really need a better name – captured tonight to communicate how the Expert 1k-fa is looking.

If you would like to try a Preview of SPE Expert Controller Plus, drop me a message using the Contact form on this website.

Finally, thanks to those who are already running and providing feedback.

Andy

The first ‘Preview’ release of SPE Expert Controller Plus is now available to those who have expressed interest in my new macOS application. If you would like to give it a try, drop me a message using the Contact form.

This first ‘Preview’ was built on 18-Sep but has taken several days to transit the notoriously painful Apple App Store review process – anyone who has submitted Apps to the App Store will know what I mean – so, as I write this, there is already a later build that contains much improved support for the Expert 1k-fa which I will release in the coming days. For those trying the ‘Preview’, Test Flight should notify you when an update becomes available.

This next build should present the Expert 1k-fa LCD panel just as it looks on the amplifier and how it looks for other Expert amplifiers within the App already. For now capability is limited to sending all commands and just the main Standby and Operate displays but I expect to enrich this later. However, it’s difficult to test without access to an Expert 1k-fa.

As not having multiple physical Expert amplifiers including a 1k-fa is a challenge to development, I’m going to pause further work on the new App whilst I develop a simulator that will allow simulation of any Expert amplifier. It doesn’t need to be a fully capable simulator that reflects all functionality just sufficiently capable to test interfacing and, for the 1k-fa, the LCD display. It will be a Linux application using a TCP socket server design so that it can easily support multiple connections and thus simulate multiple amplifiers. Later, as the need arises I’ll add USB/serial support.

Once the simulator is done I’ll be in a much better position to test and further develop SPE Expert Controller Plus.

Andy

In the coming days I will be making a preview release of my upcoming ‘SPE Expert Controller Plus’ macOS App available to anyone who would like to give it a try. As a preview it is incomplete, has had no rigorous testing and undoubtedly contains defects but it has many of the key User Interface elements and functionality I expect in a later public release.

The current build appears to work with my 1.3k-fa using a serial or network interface and incorporates support for multiple simultaneous connections with amplifiers, partial Expert 1k-fa support (work in progress), Accessibility / Voiceover and much other core functionality.

I’m making it available using Apple Test Flight so you will need that free App from the App Store and I’ll need the email address you use with the App store so that I can make it available for your download. As work continues and subsequent preview releases are made, Test Flight should let you know a later version is available for download.

Some important caveats

• It requires macOS 14 or later – it hasn’t been tried on macOS 26 yet
• It should work alongside the original SPE Expert Controller App
• All settings, including the definition of Connections, Groups etc do not persist between App launches. I’ve done this to simplify the roll-out of future preview releases. Storage will become persistent once the App has matured somewhat.
• It sends request commands to an Expert 1k-fa but doesn’t yet have any processing of received responses.
• It hasn’t been tried with more than one simultaneous connection.
• There is no help documentation but drop a message and I’ll try to assist.

If you are curious and wish to give it a go drop me a message using the Contact form on this g0rvm.uk website. I’m certainly interested to hear how you get on and what you think but don’t be surprised if something doesn’t work as it’s still early-days.

Andy

The last couple of weeks has seen significant further work on a new version of SPE Expert Controller which I’m calling SPE Expert Controller Plus as it supports simultaneous management of multiple SPE Expert RF amplifiers, including the original 1k-FA on macOS.

SPE Expert Controller Plus is a complete redesign and rewrite of SPE Expert Controller. Its internal architecture is very different with a focus on efficiency to support multiple amplifier connections using different interface protocols and message standards. Its user interface is also different; with new windows for common features such as the amplifier LCD, the amplifier state LED’s and push-button controls.

The images below were captured when connected to my Expert 1.3k-fa and should give a ‘flavour’ of how SPE Expert Controller Plus should eventually look. There is still much to do such as completion of the serial interfacing subsystem – it’s currently using the network / TCP/IP subsystem, and inclusion of Expert 1k-fa message support, although the framework for this is already in place.

Once it’s progressed some more, my thinking is I’ll make an early release – a ‘preview’ – available to anyone by request. It won’t be a fully working app but it will allow the curious to give it a go and let me have some feedback. That ‘preview’ is still a few weeks away so don’t request it just yet! I’ll post another ‘News’ update when it is available.

I anticipate the app will continue to mature for some time during its ‘preview’ but that will be followed by a private Alpha then Beta test phase and finally a public Beta test phase before full public release on the Apple App Store. All ‘preview’ and test releases will be accomplished using Apple Test Flight which is available from the App Store free of charge. Once complete, it is SPE Expert Controller Plus that I plan to port to ipadOS.

There is no upper limit on the number of amplifiers that can be simultaneously managed within the app; As I’m seeing low CPU usage with just one connection I’m thinking the upper limit will be how many amplifiers a ham has! In order to test SPE Expert Controller Plus I’m going to need multiple simultaneous amplifier connections but, as I have just one amplifier, that poses some issues. So, I’ll be creating a 1k-fa simulator and an ‘others’ simulator. Work hasn’t started on these yet but I’m thinking they will be command-line, Linux apps which support a TCP/IP network stack and socket server initially, followed later by USB interfacing. The TCP/IP, socket-server approach will allow multiple instances of an amplifier to be easily simulated. Using simulators should get the app to a stage where it appears to work but that’s not a substitute for testing using real, physical amplifiers so I’m hoping one or two hams will help with such testing when the time comes.

Andy