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Version: 26.10.1

AetherSweep

AetherSweep is AetherSDR's in-panadapter SWR sweep. It steps a 1 W tune carrier across the current TX band, reads SWR at each step, and draws the curve directly on the panadapter, with the resonance point and the usable bandwidth marked.

Requirements​

  • A connected radio, with split off.
  • The slice on the band you want to sweep must be the TX slice, unlocked, with its panadapter visible.
  • A supported amateur band other than 60 m, which is channelized.
  • Any amplifier in standby. AetherSweep refuses to start while a Power Genius XL is in OPERATE.

Other amplifiers are not checked. AetherSweep only knows about the PGXL. If you have an ACOM, SPE, VK3AMP, KPA1500 or any other amplifier in line, put it in standby or bypass yourself before sweeping. See Amplifiers.

Using AetherSweep​

Running a sweep​

  1. Make the slice on the band you want to sweep the TX slice, with its panadapter visible.
  2. Open the panadapter overlay's ANT panel.
  3. Optionally tick Limit range and set From / To (see What gets swept).
  4. Click Start Sweep. The panadapter widens to show the whole band and the curve is drawn as the sweep runs. Press Esc to stop early.
  5. When it finishes, the slice frequency, tune power and panadapter range are put back as they were.
  6. Save CSV exports the result; Clear Sweep removes the overlay.

The sweep can also be started from Tools → Start SWR Scan…, which sweeps the whole band on the TX slice.

Licence confirmation​

Before a sweep transmits, a modal "Antenna SWR Sweep — License Confirmation" explains that it sends a 1 W tune carrier at several frequencies across the band, and that you are responsible for checking the band is clear and for complying with your licence. Tick Remember my answer to skip it next time from the ANT panel. Tools → Start SWR Scan… always shows it.

What gets swept​

  • The current band, narrowed to the active regional band plan, minus a 5 kHz guard at each edge.
  • Fixed 20 kHz steps, up to 260 points.
  • Limit range (off by default) confines the sweep to From / To. The fields start at the band edges, and the range can only narrow the sweep, never extend it past the band plan.

Reading the overlay​

VisualMeaning
Background shadingGreen for SWR 1.0–1.5, amber for 1.5–2.0, red above 2.0, with grid lines at 1.5, 2, 3, 5 and 10
Amber curve and dotsMeasured SWR at each step
Notches at each endSweep start and end
Dashed vertical lineThe frequency being measured right now
Green caret and circleResonance — the lowest SWR measured
Bracket spans along the bottomBandwidth where SWR ≤ 1.5 (green) and ≤ 2.0 (amber), drawn once the sweep is complete

The corner readout shows:

  • SWR 1.23:1 — the best SWR (with RUN while sweeping)
  • Res 14.185 MHz — the resonant frequency, followed by the meter source (TGXL BYPASS or RADIO) when a TGXL is present
  • BW 1.5 180 kHz 2.0 320 kHz — the bandwidth at SWR ≤ 1.5 and ≤ 2.0, after the sweep completes

Saving the result​

Save CSV in the ANT panel exports the most recent completed sweep with the header Frequency (Hz),SWR. The suggested file is swr_sweep_<band>_<YYYYMMDD>_<HHMMSS>.csv in your Documents folder. It is refused while a sweep is running, and when there is no sweep to save.

Sweeping with a TGXL​

If a 4O3A Tuner Genius XL is present and in OPERATE, AetherSweep puts it into BYPASS automatically before applying RF, waits for the relays to settle, and reads SWR from the radio — so you measure the antenna and feedline, not the tuner's match. The tuner is returned to its previous state after the sweep. If the tuner does not confirm bypass, the sweep stops before transmitting.

Reference​

Limitations​

  • The sweep power is fixed at 1 W.
  • Resolution is the 20 kHz step. Use Limit range to concentrate on part of the band.
  • One slice at a time: the sweep runs on the TX slice.

Settings​

KeyDescription
SwrSweepLicenseConfirmedSet when you accept the licence confirmation with Remember my answer

Troubleshooting​

A sweep refuses to start​

A message names the reason. Fix the one it gives:

  1. No radio connected, or split active: connect, or turn split off.
  2. Not the TX slice, TX slice locked, or no visible panadapter: make the slice the TX slice, unlock it, and show its panadapter.
  3. Already transmitting or tuning: stop transmit or tune first.
  4. Power Genius XL in OPERATE: put it in STANDBY.
  5. Outside a supported amateur band, or on 60 m: tune to another amateur band. 60 m is channelized and can't be swept.
  6. Band too wide for one panadapter, more than 260 points, or a limited range too narrow to measure: tick Limit range and set a From / To range that is narrower, or wider if it was too narrow.

The sweep stops before transmitting with a TGXL in line​

The Tuner Genius XL did not confirm BYPASS, so AetherSweep stopped rather than measure through the tuner.

  1. Check the TGXL is connected and responding (see TGXL Tuner Control).
  2. Start the sweep again.

Save CSV is refused​

A sweep is still running, or there is no completed sweep to save.

  1. Wait for the sweep to finish, or run one, then press Save CSV.

See also​