Tag Archives: Expert Controller Plus

Expert Controller Plus – Update 2

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

Expert Controller Plus – Update 1

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.

SPE Expert Controller Plus - Operational windows
SPE Expert Controller Plus – Operational windows

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.

SPE Expert Controller Plus - Settings windows
SPE Expert Controller Plus – Settings windows

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

Expert Controller – The future

Quite often I receive an enquiry asking one of three questions:

  • Does SPE Expert Controller support multiple simultaneous amplifier connections?
  • Is an IOS / iPadOS version available?
  • Is the 1k-fa supported?

For the current version of SPE Expert Controller these are all answered in the FAQ, Support section of this website. However, I thought I’d give an update on recent developments.

I’ve started to develop what will, I hope, address the first bullet and ultimately result in an App that would have a similar look on both iPadOS and macOS. Right now, it’s very early in the development process and, if successful, will likely result in a new macOS version followed by an iPadOS App. This work will occur in parallel so the existing SPE Expert Controller App will continue to receive updates, the next one of which will be to add Liquid Glass support later this year after the official public release of macOS 26.

The new SPE Expert Controller will allow the creation of multiple ‘connections’ each of which could use a USB or TCP/IP interface. The vision is that these ‘connections’ will operate independently of each other and look similar to how SPE Expert Controller does today. So, a menu selection like File | Open | New connection would open a window permitting a new connection to be established. These windows would have the amplifier LCD panel display and the usual buttons to switch between Standby/Operate, Set mode etc.

Connections
Connections

Additionally, the App will include a ‘group’ concept that would allow ‘connections’ to be grouped and actions on a selected group to be performed. These groups could relate to any concept we wish so, ‘Local amplifiers’, ‘Remote amplifiers’ or ‘Serially interfaced amplifiers’ etc.

Groups
Groups

The sharp-eyed reader will also note that the ‘Interfacing’ section of the Connections window contains a new ‘Amplifier’ field. This provides a capability for a Connection to relate to a specific model of SPE amplifier; a useful ability should SPE implement different management interface protocols in future. And as I’m sure some readers are already thinking….what about the 1k-fa? Well it does provide a means to support that amplifier too. That’s not to say it will, but it certainly could…..

It’s not certain yet whether this new version of SPE Expert Controller will come to fruition as there is a lot of work outstanding and a number of technical difficulties to overcome. I’ll continue to provide updates here when there is something significant to report.

Andy