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SmartSDR 4: Noise Mitigation, DVK, CW Auto Tune & Panadapter Enhancement
SmartSDR Basic™ and SmartSDR+™ v4.0.1 is a software and firmware release for Aurora, FLEX-8000, and FLEX-6000 series software defined radios (SDRs), and the Maestro™. This version supersedes all previous versions of SmartSDR.
This post summarizes what’s new in v4.0.1 and where to find it in the UI: the new DSP Noise Mitigation suite, Enhanced Signal Clarity (ESC), Relative Noise Floor Scaling, Digital Voice Keyer (DVK), and CW Auto Tune—plus license tiers and availability by radio series.
SmartSDR v4.0.1 Now Available
FlexRadio has released SmartSDR v4.0.1. Please review the SmartSDR v4.0.1 Release Notes (PDF) before upgrading.
SmartSDR Basic is available free of charge and includes all bug fixes and select minor feature enhancements. SmartSDR+ is an optional one-year new feature license; SmartSDR+ Early Access provides the same features with earlier availability. When a SmartSDR+ feature license expires, you retain all features received during the active period.
Important: Beginning with SmartSDR v3.10.10, the SmartSDR hardware license must be revalidated by connecting to the SmartSDR License Server over the Internet. After validation, re-connection isn’t required unless you purchase a new SmartSDR+ feature license.
Licensing & Availability (from the v4.0.1 Release Notes)
SmartSDR Basic
Available free of charge; includes all bug fixes and select minor feature enhancements for all radio models.
Legacy noise mitigation available with Basic (UI locations per platform):
- NR — improved algorithm; reduces uncorrelated “white” noise.
- NB — same NB as before; useful for fast rise-time pulse noise.
- ANF — improved algorithm; attenuates persistent unwanted signals.
- WNB — same as before; now found in the Antenna menus.
SmartSDR+ and SmartSDR+ Early Access
SmartSDR+ is a one-year feature license. New SmartSDR v4 features activate automatically for SmartSDR+ ~30 days after a new version is released; SmartSDR+ Early Access activates new features immediately upon release. You retain features gained during your license period.
New DSP Noise Mitigation (v4.0.1)
Multiple Noise Mitigation functions can be used simultaneously. In SmartSDR for Windows, they are in the Slice’s DSP drop-down; on Maestro/M-Model, in the Slice menu.
Algorithms (SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access)
- NRF — Spectral Subtraction Filtering Algorithm: Computes speech/noise probability per frequency and applies gain to remove estimated noise; intended for stationary noise that does not change rapidly. Only available on 8000 Series radios.
- NRS — Spectral Subtraction with Voice Activity Detection: Voice-aware variant of spectral subtraction. Only available on 8000 Series radios.
- RNN — Recurrent Neural Network Noise Suppression: Removes noise from speech audio with an AI model. Only available on 8000 Series radios.
- NRL — NR using the leaky normalized LMS algorithm: Adapts to isolate correlated signals and eliminate uncorrelated audio (noise).
- ANFL — ANF using leaky normalized LMS: Adapts to isolate uncorrelated signals and eliminate correlated audio like loud hums/tones. Note: if no hum or loud tone is present, it can remove the desired signal.
- ANFT — ANF using FFT: Intended to remove tone noise (e.g., leaking power supplies/transformers/unbalanced grounding); removes up to five tones in the passband ≥ −110 dB.
Enhanced Signal Clarity (ESC)
ESC leverages diversity reception to combine signals from multiple antennas via dynamic beamforming/nullforming. Use it to accentuate desired signals or suppress unwanted ones. This affects audio and metering, not the displayed panadapter/waterfall.
Where to find it: Enable DIV first. On Maestro, ESC is in the Slice Menu when DIV is active. In SmartSDR for Windows, ESC is in the Slice DSP menu when DIV is enabled. Adjust Phase/Gain, and use 180° as needed.
Supported radios (from the notes): AU-520(M), FLEX-8600(M), FLEX-6700, FLEX-6600(M).
Feature Summary (v4.0.1)
This table groups v4.0.1 items by license tier, exactly as described in the release notes.
| Feature | Description | License |
|---|---|---|
| NR / NB / ANF / WNB (legacy) | NR & ANF improved; NB same; WNB same (moved to Antenna menus) | SmartSDR Basic |
| NRF / NRS / RNN / NRL / ANFL / ANFT | New DSP Noise Mitigation algorithms (see list above; NRF/NRS/RNN only on 8000 Series) | SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access |
| Enhanced Signal Clarity (ESC) | Diversity receive beamforming/nullforming; affects audio/metering | SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access |
| Relative Noise Floor Scaling | Locks displayed noise floor position for consistent visual reference | SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access |
| CW Auto Tune | One-Shot or Intermittent modes to lock onto CW signals within the passband | SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access |
| Digital Voice Keyer (DVK) | Record/play up to 12 voice messages stored on the radio (SmartSDR for Windows manages WAV files) | SmartSDR+ / SmartSDR+ Early Access |
Quick Start: Where to Enable Features
- Update to SmartSDR v4.0.1 (review the Release Notes first).
- Licensing: Use SmartSDR Basic for legacy NR/NB/ANF/WNB; use SmartSDR+ or SmartSDR+ Early Access for new features.
- Noise Mitigation: Windows — Slice DSP drop-down; Maestro/M-Model — Slice menu.
- ESC (dual-SCU): Enable DIV then toggle ESC and adjust Phase/Gain.
- Relative Noise Floor Scaling: Display menu → set Floor to On, then use the Floor slider.
- DVK: Windows — click DVK (lower-left); Maestro/M-Model — Menu → DVK. (Upload/download WAV files via Windows.)
- CW Auto Tune: Use AUTOTUNE (One-Shot or Intermittent mode).
FAQ (from the v4.0.1 Release Notes)
Which new noise mitigation features need SmartSDR+?
NRF, NRS, RNN, NRL, ANFL, and ANFT require SmartSDR+ or SmartSDR+ Early Access. Legacy NR/NB/ANF/WNB are included with SmartSDR Basic.
Are any algorithms limited by radio series?
NRF, NRS, and RNN are only available on 8000 Series radios.
Does ESC change the panadapter/waterfall?
No. ESC affects audio and metering; the displayed panadapter/waterfall is not changed.
