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QMX+ with Macbook Air (Sonoma OS)

 

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Anyone using this setup to interact via a USB to serial port converter with logbook or contest logging such as N1MM+ to control frequency, mode etc of the QMX.? If so, are you using Macports or something different to recognize the serial connection.?

TIA, and Merry Christmas!


Joe K8FC
 

No USB-Serial port converter should be required.?? Just use a USB-C to whatever USB connector your? Macbook has.? The QMX+ supports USB data connection, and should present a virtual serial port and two QMX audio devices to your computer (one for input, one for output).? I use N1MM+ directly with my QMX via USB cable to my windows pc.
Stan
 

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Stan, I am aware of how the QMX+ works with Windows.? Unfortunately it does not work that way on a Mac? I wish it did. It is really too bad as this machine's form factor is great for portable work.

MAC is essentially a Linux driven OS and does not have the concept of native com ports.? It is my understanding that it takes a USB to serial adapter with drivers.

What I said above may be heresy as I am a new Mac owner testing the waters.? Finally, all I am really looking for is a Mac friendly ham comm program that I can control freq, mode etc.? N1MM won't work as it only runs on Windows.? It can be made to run on a Mac but not without a windows emulator like WINE. That is way too much work.

After looking around I see there are a number of programs that will run on a Mac for hams I was just testing the water here as to specific users of MACS and ham radio software to control the QMX+.? Not looking to operate digital at this time, just CAT and CW with a logging program.

Thanks,

Joe K8FC
 

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I would be careful here... I think you may have gotten some poor advice. (AND I may be wrong, too!)

Mac does have com ports, but they are part of the regular unix file system structure. Naming of said com ports may be complex too. My first expectation would be for it to be under /dev/tty* someplace... (/dev/tty's are all com ports!)

I don't know enough to share anything useful with you, except I know I've had my nanoVNA connected to my Mac, and run it without any problems...

73, Paul -- AI7JR

On 12/22/24 13:40, dxradio33 via groups.io wrote:

Stan, I am aware of how the QMX+ works with Windows.? Unfortunately it does not work that way on a Mac? I wish it did. It is really too bad as this machine's form factor is great for portable work.

MAC is essentially a Linux driven OS and does not have the concept of native com ports.? It is my understanding that it takes a USB to serial adapter with drivers.

What I said above may be heresy as I am a new Mac owner testing the waters.? Finally, all I am really looking for is a Mac friendly ham comm program that I can control freq, mode etc.? N1MM won't work as it only runs on Windows.? It can be made to run on a Mac but not without a windows emulator like WINE. That is way too much work.

After looking around I see there are a number of programs that will run on a Mac for hams I was just testing the water here as to specific users of MACS and ham radio software to control the QMX+.? Not looking to operate digital at this time, just CAT and CW with a logging program.

Thanks,

Joe K8FC

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR
 

Joe, I wish I had a Mac to try and help you. I used to be a Mac guy, but run Linux most of the time now. I did read somewhere that to find your serial ports you can open a terminal and run ls /dev/cu.*
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
 

I suggest you execute the following at the terminal console:
? ? ls -lt /dev | head
This lists ("ls") the last few devices ("head") in the device directory ("/dev"), printed in long format ("-l"),? most recent device first ("t").
?
Then plug in your QMX+ USB cable and try it again.
If there's a new device at the top of the list, that is probably your QMX+.
?
Paul said:
"Mac?does?have com ports, but they are part of the regular unix file system structure."
True enough.
?
Also true enough to say a Mac does not have "com ports", as that is what MicroSoft calls them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_(hardware_interface)
Unix like systems (and thus macOS and Linux) usually call them tty ports, serial ports, or UART ports.
?
Jerry, KE7ER
?
?
On Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at 05:20 PM, Daniel Conklin wrote:

Joe, I wish I had a Mac to try and help you. I used to be a Mac guy, but run Linux most of the time now. I did read somewhere that to find your serial ports you can open a terminal and run ls /dev/cu.*
 

Joe - I use a Mac mini with my rigs. I have a QMX mid-band and recently sold a QMX+. Both worked fine on the Mac mini - no special Serial to USB device needed. Simply the port on your QMX via USB over to the Mac. Software-wise, I use WSJT-X for FT8 and my logger is MacLoggerDX. Both of those programs have no problem seeing (and controlling) the QMX rigs, although not at the same time. If you look at the devices shown in the /dev directory, you should see stuff like /dev/cu.usbmodem.......
?
My QMX connects as device: /dev/cu.usbmodem1437601
Other devices (like my Winkeyer USB, my TS-890, my KX3, etc. are very similar. You just need to find the one that is specifically the QMX. And by unplugging it, running the list, plugging it back in, and re-running the list, you will find it. Once you have that particular "device" number it will stay, unless you plug the QMX into a different USB port on the Mac. Then start over... :-(
?
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID

SKCC 10447T
BUG 301
 

Joe,

Stan had it right: the QMX, when connected, presents a "virtual" serial port that works cross-platform. Most modern devices, whether running OSX/Windows/Linux or even iOS/Android, come with only USB ports (of whatever variety). "S" is for serial.

<PEDANTIC 3/4 truths follow:>Mac's run OS X which is based on Mach Unix, not Linux. I believe most of the userspace software that makes a Mac go is from the BSD world, rather than the GNU software generally used by the Linux kernel. But these are all systems that conform broadly to the IEEE POSIX standard which generally reflects the design of Unix, a trademarked creation of Bell Labs. So your Mac is definitely a descendant of "the Unix standard." (And so is your iPhone!) And serial connections (tty's!) are some of the most fundamental I/O concepts that standard contains.</PEDANTIC>

When I plug the QMX into my ancient (ANCIENT) Mac, it shows up in the terminal via `sudo dmesg | grep QMX` and is also visible as both an input and output sound device when I clock on the speaker icon for sound controls. Go to System Preferences -> Sound to see it easily. Then you'll know you have a working USB cable and that the Mac is seeing the QMX.

To figure out which Serial port it is offering, you can try decoding the "dmesg" output. Or, as Dan suggested, you can use the terminal to try doing an `ls /dev` before you plug it in and an `ls /dev` afterward. What new devices are present? On my box, there are two:

```
/dev/cu.usbmodem4201
/dev/tty.usbmodem14201
```

My guess is these are the handles my Mac is providing to access the QMX today.

I'm presently trying to install putty on my ancient Mac in the hopes of testing it out. It's taking forever (over an hour so far) and throwing warnings that my OS is too old. I'll report back if I get it going. For what it's worth, my default way to install putty is to use homebrew (). After installing homebrew (instructions on homepage), you should be able to get putty just using the shell command "brew install putty".

(On my Linux device it shows up as /dev/ttyACM0 and I can putty right in. Thank you for giving me the excuse to finally power up the QMX at home and install the latest firmware!)

To speak to your real question, though, I haven't tried any Mac software for controlling the QMX. I've toyed with a few applications under Linux, but not been crazy about any of them.
 

Hello Joe,
?
?in a terminal, with?

?

ls /dev/cu.*

you should find one like /dev/cu.usbmodemXXXXX

?

Last time i connect my qmx, i find this one "/dev/cu.usbmodem21101" .

And in order to be sure that's the right one, you could launch:

screen /dev/cu.usbmodem21101 9600

and press "Enter", you will go in the shell interface of your Qmx+
You could use this device name into your favorite application.

If you don't have?"screen" installed on your system, you can do it with "brew install screen".
brew is a tool to manage other tool () and close the gap between linux world and MacOs world.


--

Jerome

?
 

Hi and merry xmas all.
?
I've been running Maclogger for years now it's simple to set using the Kenwood TS480 settings.?
?
I use it with all my QMX's and QCX's using USB-C, no adaptors required.
It's a "pay for" app but I think it's well worth it.
?
Chris
M0AWN?
 

Hi Joe,
?
I use my MacBook Pro with Sonoma to connect to my QRPLabs Radios.
The radios just connect with a USB cable and there is no need for Macports or any other software.
See below for my macOS use of the Terminal program for making sure you can see / connect to the radio.
?
The N1MM+ equivalent for macOS is SkookumLogger (). It connects to the QMX and gets the frequency and mode but doesn't control it. It's an amazing program that has templates for all the contests and can also connect to antenna rotors, keyers, etc.
?
I also have other logging software: SKCC Logger and NAQCC Logger.
?
My main logging software is MacLoggerDX. Also connects to the radio and antenna rotor (if I had one!).
?
For RTTY I use flrig and fldigi. Logging goes to MacLoggerDX.
?
For WSJT-X I use WSJT-X for macOS along with JT-Bridge and GridTracker. This all work together nicely with autologging to MacLoggerDX.
?
These are my notes on using the Terminal program:
?
Select from Shell menu:
New Window/Pro
To enable Control-S and Control-Q?
(you need Control-Q to exit menus):
stty -ixon -ixoff
To show connected ports:
ls /dev/cu.* OR
ls /dev/cu.usb*
To connect:
screen /dev/cu.usbmodem1101
Then press enter to get Diagnostics menu.
And away you go. Works great.
?
Happy to help if you have any issues...
?
Cheers!
?
Pierre
VE3HQZ
?
 

Merry Christmas Joe!
N1MM+ works quite well on the newer M processor Macs by using Parallels and installing Windows 11 Pro ARM in a virtual machine.? USB drivers are different for Windows ARM vs Intel based so if the built-in drivers don't work, an ARM version must be installed.? They are readily available.? The downside to this is cost of annual subscription to Parallels ($99) and purchasing a license key for Windows.? The latter can be obtained generally for less than $30.? If you decide to go this route, there are complete details posted on the N1MMLOGGERPLUS groups.io.??
?
As Pierre, VE3HZQ said, SkookumLogger is a close N1MM+ Mac equivalent that works quite well.? I personally like what to me is a cleaner, easier on the eyes screen.? SL has one of the best, if not the best, CW contest practice emulators around.
?
Question to you, Pierre as you said it is not able to control the QMX+.? I looked in my SL and see the Kenwood TS-480 can be selected as the radio which is supposed to work.? Is that what you are selecting?
?
Merry Christmas to all!
Ron, WU4G
 

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Thanks to all who have chimed in on this thread.? A special thanks to Pierre, VE3HQZ for the detailed description of his process.? I am now armed with the knowledge I need to proceed with the QMX+/Mac integration.? My hat is off to this amazing group of helpful hams.

Merry Christmas! For those who celebrate, may your holiday be filled with the joy and peace that Christmas brings.? And to all, may this season be a time of warmth and togetherness.

Joe K8FC
 

Yes Ron that is what I select - TS480
I looked a little further and you can control the QMX from SkookumLogger. It's a bit tricky as there are sooo many shortcuts and having a MacBook Pro keyboard also adds to the fun (no Page Up / Down keys). I did manage to be able to shift either VFO A or B up and down in frequency and turn RIT on/off/up/down but still need to figure a few things out. Not sure the QMX has all the commands that are being sent to it or there are shortcut conflicts with macOS. It's a project!
?
Pierre
VE3HQZ
 

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Ron et el .......

I am up and running on my Macbook air thanks to Pierre.? This is going to be such a great help on my POTA excursions and other portable operating with the ability to control the radio and the logging.?

Ron, I don't think I am going to go through all the steps just to be able to run N1MM as there is sufficient IOS software to meet? my needs.? Thank you very much for your? suggestion and detail.


73's

Joe K8FC
 

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Folks, I cannot tell you how fantastic it is to see so much help offered here with this group.

I am fully up and running now and everything seems to be just fine.

Anecdotally, I have a UNIX working relationship from my engineering days at work (long time ago) I could get around the BSD flavor rather well in those days.? Alas, it has been many years since I was near to anything running Unix and the closest I have been was a Raspberry Pi a distant relative.? I have been using Windows like everyone else it seems forever.?


I tried to load putty on my Mac with similar experiences of failure.? I had to install mac-ports and home-brew but it never worked so I gave up and asked the question in this forum.? After learning how seamless it was and waking up old UNIX directory and input/output nomenclature in my cobwebbed mind,? it was so easy I am embarrassed that I could not figure this out.

My apologies to Stan Dye who was spot on as far as how the QMX serial environment appeared to the Mac-book. He had it right and I had it wrong!

Lastly, I am getting MacLogger and some other stuff to play with.


A huge thanks to all!


Joe

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