Hamlib stability enhancements and SDR transceiver support
The collective expands Hamlib to support SDR amateur radio transceiver technologies and implements a testing framework to significantly improve the quality of Hamlib software releases
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Project plan and milestones available on Hamlib project page
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Published on November 1, 2025 by Mikael Nousiainen
About
This Open Collective Fund website provide high-level information on the project. Please follow the Hamlib project page on GitHub for detailed technical details about the project and its progress.
Project description
Hamlib is the "bridge" between popular amateur radio software and radio transceivers. A prime example of such software is WSJT-X, known specifically for its FT8 and FT4 digital modes. Hamlib has become the de facto standard for open-source computer control of amateur radio equipment - there are no open-source alternatives with similar adoption and feature set. Without Hamlib, amateur radio software could not easily support controlling a wide variety of amateur radio transceivers. However, Hamlib is facing challenges with the ever-growing number of radio transceivers: Hamlib is missing critical support for new radio transceiver technologies, including network-controlled devices and software-defined radios. At the same time, ensuring the quality and stability of Hamlib software releases has become increasingly difficult. This collective provides solutions that will both expand Hamlib to support these modern radio transceiver technologies and significantly improve the quality of Hamlib software releases.
The project work is managed and implemented by Finnish amateur radio club Hämeenlinnan Radioamatöörit ry (web pages in Finnish only), call sign OH3AA. There are two software developers - both members of club OH3AA - working on the project: Mikael Nousiainen, call sign OH3BHX, and Jouni OH3CUF. They both have 20+ years of professional software development expertise, including amateur radio applications, signal processing and software testing. The developers coordinate the project work with Hamlib release manager Nate Bargmann, call sign N0NB, and consult the Hamlib developer/user community for additional feedback on the project.
Project deliverables
1. To develop an automated testing framework, allowing developers to define specific command-response scenarios for any supported device (radio/rotator/amplifier), ensuring changes do not regress existing functionality and that any new features added to Hamlib work as expected.
2. To add support in Hamlib for network-controlled radios from at least two major manufacturers:
Icom (non-SDR) and FlexRadio (SDR).
Project milestones
The following is an approximate plan for the project milestone. The goal is to make any contributions available as early as possible, so that the Hamlib developer and user community may test the new features and give feedback.
- Milestone 1: Setup of project infrastructure, initial design of the testing framework.
- Deliverables: Testing framework design and proof-of-concept source code
- Milestone 2: Testing framework implementation and documentation
- Deliverables: Release testing framework, including the first complete test suites
- Milestone 3: Implementation of network audio and I/Q data streaming support
- Design and initial requirements will be based on actual CAT protocols, such as the Icom and FlexRadio protocols
- Deliverables: audio and I/Q data streaming features, but with no real hardware
support, only simulation
- Milestone 4: Icom network CAT protocol implementation
- Deliverables: Icom network CAT protocol support
- Milestone 5: FlexRadio network protocol implementation
- Deliverables: FlexRadio CAT protocol support
- Milestone 6: TBD network CAT protocol implementation (uncertain)
- Deliverables: The goal of this milestone is to add support for a third major amateur radio transceiver network CAT protocol (the other 2 being Icom and FlexRadio), but the manufacturer is still not defined due to uncertainty of hardware availability and remaining budget. One of the candidates is Elecraft K4. The project asks for input for potential alternatives.
- Milestone 7: Final testing, bug fixes, and public release
- Approach community for a final round of feedback and possible bug reports
- Deliverables: A new Hamlib release, prepared with the release manager
Funding
This project is funded by ARDC.
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Budget
Transparent and open finances.
Hamlib stability enhancements and SDR transceiver support - Hämeenlinnan Radioamatöörit ry
from Hämeenlinnan Radioamatöörit ry to Hamlib stability enhancements and SDR transceiver support •
-€73,800.00 EUR
Paid
Credit from ARDC to Hamlib stability enhancements and SDR transceiver support •
+€82,000.00EUR
Completed
Added funds #895884
€
Today’s balance--.-- EUR
Total raised
€73,800.00 EUR
Total disbursed
€73,800.00 EUR