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Version: 26.10.1

ShackSwitch

ShackSwitch is an open-source antenna / accessory switch built by Nigel Fenton. It speaks the 4O3A Antenna Genius protocol on port 9007, so AetherSDR sets it up in Peripherals and gives it a dedicated SS applet for one-click antenna switching.

Setup​

  1. Open Settings → Radio Setup... → Peripherals.
  2. Click Add → ShackSwitch and enter the device's IP address. Control always uses port 9007.
  3. Click Connect. The SS applet appears in the applet panel (Antennas & Switching category).

Connect automatically is on by default, so AetherSDR reconnects the ShackSwitch at startup and after a drop. Turn it off to connect only when you click Connect. The ⚙ Web UI button on the Peripherals page opens the device's own web interface.

ShackSwitch shares the Antenna Genius connection and its credential slot, so one of the two is connected at a time. See Peripherals for access codes and removal.

Using the ShackSwitch applet​

AreaWhat it shows
Status lineConnection state ("Not connected" until connected)
INPUT ABand and antenna currently on input A
INPUT BBand and antenna on input B (two-input devices only)
ANTENNA rowsOne row per antenna, named from the device's own configuration (set in its web UI), with an A button and, on two-input devices, a B button
Dummy Load:Which antenna port is your dummy load (None by default)
Settings ⚙Opens the device's web interface

Click A or B on a row to put that input on that antenna. The selected button is lit in that input's colour (cyan for A, orange for B).

Two-input (SO2R) mode​

On a two-input device the applet shows both input cards and both button columns. A single-input device hides input B.

If both inputs land on the same antenna:

  • With a Dummy Load set, AetherSDR moves input B to the dummy load and blinks the B button on the antenna B wanted, until you move B yourself.
  • Without one, the B button blinks amber on the shared antenna as a warning.

Reference​

KeyDescription
SS_ManualIpShackSwitch address
SS_ControlPortControl port (9007)
SS_DummyLoadAntAntenna chosen as the dummy load (−1 = none)
Peripherals.shackswitch.AutoConnectConnect automatically toggle

These live in AetherSDR.db; see Settings and Backups.

Troubleshooting​

The applet doesn't appear​

The ShackSwitch is not connected.

  1. Check the ShackSwitch row in Settings → Radio Setup... → Peripherals. ● OFFLINE with Connect automatically off means it waits for Connect.
  2. Confirm the address in the device's web UI, and that this PC can reach port 9007 on it.

Buttons are greyed out​

The applet enables its buttons only after a successful connection.

  1. Check the status word on the Peripherals page.
  2. Click Connect if it reads ● OFFLINE.

See also​