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DVK Panel

Status

Status: Supported · Applies to: FlexRadio

The DVK (Digital Voice Keyer) panel enables recording and playback of up to 12 voice messages stored on the radio, commonly used for contesting and repetitive voice operations. DVK is a FlexRadio feature and requires the radio's SmartSDR+ subscription.

Requirements​

  • Radio: a FlexRadio Aurora, FLEX-8000 series or FLEX-6000 series radio. The DVK indicator is hidden on radios that have no radio-side voice keyer, such as the Hermes-Lite 2 and Networked Icom radios, and the panel closes with it.
  • SmartSDR+ subscription: DVK requires an active SmartSDR+ subscription on the radio. See SmartSDR+ licence.
  • Mode: DVK plays on the transmit slice, so it is available when the TX slice is in a voice mode (USB, LSB, AM, SAM, FM, NFM, DFM). The indicator is greyed out in digital and CW modes, and switching to a non-voice mode closes the panel.

Using the DVK panel​

Opening DVK​

Click the DVK indicator in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. The panel opens beside the panadapter.

The DVK panel and the CWX Panel share the same space — opening one closes the other.

Recording​

  1. Click a slot to select it (blue highlight).
  2. Click ● REC to start recording (button turns red, progress bar pulses red).
  3. Click ■ STOP to end recording.
  4. The radio stores the recording and updates the duration.

Playback (on-air)​

  • Click ▶ PLAY or press the F-key button to transmit the recording.
  • The radio keys TX automatically during playback.
  • The progress bar fills green in proportion to elapsed/total time.
  • Status shows: Status: Playback 1 / 3.2s

Preview (local)​

  • Click ◀ PREV to hear the recording locally without transmitting.
  • The progress bar fills blue.
  • Status shows: Status: Preview 1 / 2.1s

Managing slots​

Right-click any slot row to access:

  • Rename… — inline text editor (also available via double-click on name)
  • Clear — erase the recording (greyed out for empty slots)
  • Delete — remove the recording
  • Import WAV… — upload a WAV file to this slot (see WAV file requirements)
  • Export WAV… — download the recording as a WAV file (greyed out for empty slots)

If an import or export fails, the destination is left intact — a failed export never leaves a half-written file over an existing one.

Reference​

Recording slots​

The panel shows 12 recording slots (F1–F12), each with:

  • F-key button — click to toggle playback on-air
  • Recording name — displayed next to the button
  • Duration — shown on the right (or "Empty" if no recording)
  • Progress bar — 3 px coloured bar during active operations

Empty slots appear dimmed. Slots with recordings show bright text.

Keyboard shortcuts​

KeyAction
F1–F12Play that slot on-air; press again to stop. Works while the TX slice is in a voice mode, even with the panel closed.
EscapeStop any active recording, playback, or preview (or cancel a rename)

F1–F12 follow the transmit slice's mode: in voice modes they play DVK recordings, in CW they send CWX macros (see CWX Panel), and only one of the two responds.

WAV file requirements​

For importing WAV files, the radio requires:

  • Format: 32-bit IEEE float
  • Channels: 2 (stereo)
  • Sample rate: 48,000 Hz
  • Max size: 5 MB (~13 seconds)

Files that don't meet these requirements are rejected with a specific error message.

Status bar indicator​

The DVK label in the status bar has three visual states:

  • Bright cyan — panel is open
  • Dim white — available (voice mode), click to open
  • Dark grey — unavailable (not in a voice mode, or not licensed)

SmartSDR+ licence​

When the radio reports that the feature is not licensed, the DVK indicator itself is disabled — greyed out with an arrow cursor and the tooltip "Digital Voice Keyer — requires an active SmartSDR+ subscription". The F1–F12 shortcuts and any open panel are gated the same way, and the panel status reads Disabled (SmartSDR+ required).

AetherSDR only applies this once the radio positively reports the licence as disabled; if the radio never reports it, DVK stays available.

Known issues​

  • Cancelling a WAV import or export and starting another straight away can corrupt the new transfer (#5665).

Troubleshooting​

The DVK indicator is greyed out​

The transmit slice is not in a voice mode, or the radio reports no SmartSDR+ licence.

  1. Switch the TX slice to a voice mode (USB, LSB, AM, SAM, FM, NFM or DFM).
  2. Hover the indicator. If the tooltip says it requires an active SmartSDR+ subscription, renew SmartSDR+ on the radio.

The DVK indicator is missing​

The radio has no radio-side voice keyer, as on the Hermes-Lite 2 and Networked Icom radios. DVK is not available there.

A WAV import is rejected​

The file doesn't match the format the radio requires.

  1. Convert the file to 2-channel, 32-bit IEEE float, 48 kHz.
  2. Keep it under 5 MB (about 13 seconds).
  3. Import it again with Import WAV….

See also​