Multi-Slice Operation
AetherSDR supports multiple simultaneous receivers (slices), on one panadapter or spread across several.
Requirements
The number of slices and panadapters comes from the connected radio, not from a built-in table, so AetherSDR offers exactly what your radio can do. Other radio families have their own limits: the Hermes-Lite 2 has up to four receivers (A–D), the RTL-SDR and ANAN-G2 one, and the IC-9700 one panadapter. See Supported Radios.
Using multiple slices
Adding a slice
- Click +RX in the panadapter's overlay menu
- Or right-click an empty part of the panadapter → Add Slice at X MHz
- Clicking an empty panadapter also creates a new slice there instead of moving the active one
- A new slice appears with its own coloured VFO marker (see Slice Colors)
To add another panadapter, use Tools → Add Panadapter...
Switching the active slice
- Click the slice badge on the spectrum to switch focus
- Click the VFO marker line to switch
- The VFO widget and the RX applet follow the active slice
TX assignment
- TX stays on its assigned slice until you move it
- Red TX badge — active TX slice
- Grey TX badge (in the VFO widget) — click to move TX to this slice
- Switching the active slice does not move TX
- The Cycle TX Slice keyboard and controller action steps TX through your slices
Split
Click SPLIT on a slice to listen there and transmit on a second slice beside it. See Split Operation for SWAP, Split Up, Monitor TX and remembered audio.
Slice Link
Two slices, even on different panadapters, can be tuned together. Right-click a panadapter → Link Slice: the submenu lists Current Links (choose one to unlink) and Available Links (choose a pair to link).
- Tuning either slice retunes the other, including KiwiSDR-sourced slices.
- Linked slices show a ⇄ marker.
- The link is suspended while either slice is tune-locked; the panadapter says "Slice Link A to B suspended".
Center Lock
Right-click a panadapter → Center Lock Slice A (or the Center Lock submenu when there are several slices) keeps that panadapter centred on the chosen slice as it tunes. Each panadapter locks independently, and the lock survives band changes. See Panadapter Controls.
Closing a slice
- Click the ✕ button floating beside the VFO widget
- Or right-click the slice on the spectrum → Close Slice X
- You cannot close the last remaining slice
Off-screen slices
When a slice is off the visible span, an arrow on the spectrum edge shows its letter, direction and frequency. Single-click the arrow to bring the slice back into view; right-click it for the slice menu.
Hermes-Lite 2
On the Hermes-Lite 2 the sample rate is shared by the whole board, so every panadapter shows the same span. Only the pane holding the TX slice (or the first docked pane) keeps live span buttons; the others are dimmed with the reason. See Hermes-Lite 2.
Known issues
- Adding a panadapter or a slice can make a loud pop in the speakers for about a second (#4973).
- Clicking an off-screen slice's arrow brings the slice to the edge of the panadapter rather than the centre (#2371).
- On the Hermes-Lite 2, receivers B, C and D don't come back after AetherSDR restarts; only one receiver appears (#5777).
Troubleshooting
A slice won't close
It is the last slice; AetherSDR always keeps one. The status bar says "Cannot close the last slice".
- Add another slice first if you want to replace this one, then close the old one.
Transmit stayed on the old slice
Switching the active slice does not move TX.
- Click the grey TX badge on the slice you want to transmit on.
Linked slices stopped tuning together
One of the slices is tune-locked, so the link is suspended ("Slice Link A to B suspended").
- Click 🔒 beside that slice's VFO flag to unlock it. The link resumes.
A click added a new slice instead of moving the one I have
Clicking an empty panadapter (one with no slice on it) creates a slice there.
- To retune an existing slice, use the panadapter that slice is on, or close the new slice with ✕.