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This page describes how to launch the SimTX Transmitter, connect to a server and make a first transmission.
{{Documentation navigation}}


== Requirements ==
This guide goes from installing the SimTX desktop app to a first transmission and listening to it. TX means transmit and RX means receive.
* Java runtime (the transmitter is a Java desktop application).
* Network access to a SimTX server. The default server port is '''5100'''.
* Optionally: audio files (wav, mp3, aiff, aif, au), a microphone, PipeWire (Linux system audio), Audio URL or GNU Radio for IQ input.


== Connecting to a server ==
== 1. Install the app ==
When the application starts, a server selector dialog is shown before the main window.
Download the app from the [https://manifest.simtx.net SimTX downloads page]:
* '''Windows''': the 64-bit <code>.exe</code> installer.
* '''macOS''': the <code>.dmg</code> for Apple Silicon. The first time, right-click the app and choose '''Open''' to get past the macOS security warning.
* '''Linux''': <code>.deb</code>, <code>.rpm</code>, Arch or Void packages, or an AppImage. The [https://manifest.simtx.net/install install page] explains how to add the package repository. Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13 or newer is needed.


# Select a server from the list, or press '''Add Server...''' and enter a name, host, port (1 to 65535, default 5100) and an optional description.
== 2. Sign in and connect ==
# Press '''Connect'''. The main window opens once the control connection is established.
[[File:SimTX Guide Getting Started server.png|thumb|center|482px|alt=Connect to a server dialog showing Signed in at auth.simtx.net, the Server menu set to SimTX Demo, and the Work offline and Connect buttons.|The Connect to a server dialog after sign-in, with a server chosen.]]
# Open the app. In '''Sign in to SimTX''', press '''Sign in'''.
# Press '''Open browser''', sign in to your SimTX account and approve the device. '''Copy link''' copies the address instead.
# In '''Connect to a server''', choose a '''Server''' and press '''Connect'''.


If the control connection drops later, the client shows a reconnecting notice and retries every 3 seconds. The '''Disconnect''' button returns to the server selector.
The top right of the window then shows the server and '''Connected'''. '''Work offline''' opens the app without connecting.


== First transmission ==
== 3. Create your first station ==
The default configuration is chosen to work immediately:
[[File:SimTX Guide Getting Started first station.png|thumb|center|640px|alt=Top of the Transmit tab with the Station section outlined, a guide tag reading Create the station you transmit from, and a Create a station button.|The getting started guide outlines the Station section and points to Create a station.]]
A '''station''' holds your callsign, location, antennas and radios. On first start, the in-app '''getting started guide''' points at each control in turn.
# In the '''Transmit''' tab, press '''Create a station'''.
# Under '''Basics''', enter a '''Name''' and your '''Callsign'''.
# Under '''Location''', press '''Pick on globe''', click where the station stands and press '''Done'''.
# Under '''Antennas''', open the dipole and set the length to <code>31</code> m and the '''Height''' to <code>10</code> m. This suits the frequency below.
# Press '''Create station'''.


* Frequency '''4625 kHz''', power '''100 W''', modulation preselected with a '''2700 Hz''' bandwidth.
The station now shows under '''Transmit from'''. See [[SimTX Guide/Stations|Stations]].
* Antenna: '''End-fed half-wave (EFHW) with 49:1 transformer''', 32.5 m wire at 10 m height. This antenna is close to resonance at 4625 kHz, which is why that frequency is the default. Changing the frequency far from resonance without changing the antenna produces a severe mismatch and very little radiated signal.


Steps:
== 4. Make a first transmission ==
[[File:SimTX Guide Getting Started transmit ready.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Transmit tab with Demo hilltop as the station, an EFHW antenna, a 100 W radio, an SWR graph, frequency 4625 kHz, power 100 W, AM Double Sideband Full Carrier, and an empty Radio deck.|The Transmit tab set up for a first transmission on 4625 kHz in AM.]]
In the '''Transmit''' tab:
# Set '''Frequency''' to <code>4625</code> with the unit '''kHz''', and '''Power (W)''' to <code>100</code>.
# Choose the '''Modulation''' '''AM Double Sideband Full Carrier''' and tick '''Auto''' beside '''Bandwidth (Hz)'''.
# Under '''Source''', choose '''Audio file''', press '''Choose…''' and pick a short audio file.
# Press '''Start TX'''.


# Set a callsign in the '''Station''' section (default PA3NL) and click the world map to place the station, or type latitude and longitude directly.
The session appears in the '''Sessions''' list as '''Running'''. '''Queued''' means every transmitter slot is taken; it starts by itself when one is free. Select the session to see the '''Radio deck''' meters. '''Listen to own TX''' plays your signal as transmitted. '''Stop''' ends it.
# In '''Transmission Source''', keep the source type '''Audio File''' and press '''Choose...''' to select a file, or drag an audio file onto the window. Supported formats: wav, mp3, aiff, aif, au.
# Press '''Start TX'''.
# Watch the '''Radio Deck''' on the right. Before the server reports data it shows a local estimate; once telemetry arrives the header changes to measured output. The session also appears in the '''Active Sessions''' list.


If the server is full the session is queued and the list shows the queue position, see [[Sessions and Queueing]].
[[SimTX Guide/Transmitting|Transmitting]] covers every control. If the session fails, its message says why; see [[SimTX Guide/Troubleshooting|Troubleshooting]].


== Stopping ==
== 5. Receive ==
Select the session in '''Active Sessions''' and press '''Stop Selected''', or press '''Stop All'''. '''Clear Finished''' removes completed entries from the list.
You need an SDR program that supports rtl_tcp, such as SDR++.
# Open the '''Receive''' tab. Under '''Where you listen''', choose '''My station''', '''Public station''', or '''Ad-hoc''' for any location without an account.
# Set the '''Center frequency''' to <code>4625</code> kHz and the '''Sample rate (Hz)''' to <code>250000</code>.
# Press '''Start RX'''.
# In your SDR program, connect an rtl_tcp source to <code>127.0.0.1:1234</code> and tune to 4625 kHz in AM.


== Saving the setup ==
[[How to receive]] shows the settings in SDR++, and [[SimTX Guide/Receiving|Receiving]] covers every receive control. [[Propagation Basics]] explains how distance, band and time of day change what a receiver hears.
'''Save Preset...''' stores the complete station configuration (all fields, source, antenna, including an imported NEC deck) in a <code>.stxpreset</code> file that '''Load Preset...''' restores later. This is distinct from the built-in [[Radio Presets]], which only set the transmitter character.


== Next steps ==
== Continue from here ==
* Learn the full interface: [[Transmitter Interface]]
* [[SimTX Guide]]: all user guides.
* Choose a better antenna for the target band: [[Antenna System]]
* [[Transmission Sources]]: microphones, streams and other sources.
* Understand mismatch warnings: [[SWR and Transmitter Protection]]
* [[Modulation Modes]]: choosing a mode.
* [[Antenna System]]: changing frequency and choosing an antenna.
* [[Lua extensions]]: extensions and themes.


[[Category:SimTX]]
[[Category:SimTX]]
[[Category:SimTX Guide]]

Latest revision as of 20:48, 24 October 2026

Home · Start here · All guides · Solve a problem · Radio terms · Developer API

This guide goes from installing the SimTX desktop app to a first transmission and listening to it. TX means transmit and RX means receive.

1. Install the app[edit | edit source]

Download the app from the SimTX downloads page:

  • Windows: the 64-bit .exe installer.
  • macOS: the .dmg for Apple Silicon. The first time, right-click the app and choose Open to get past the macOS security warning.
  • Linux: .deb, .rpm, Arch or Void packages, or an AppImage. The install page explains how to add the package repository. Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13 or newer is needed.

2. Sign in and connect[edit | edit source]

Connect to a server dialog showing Signed in at auth.simtx.net, the Server menu set to SimTX Demo, and the Work offline and Connect buttons.
The Connect to a server dialog after sign-in, with a server chosen.
  1. Open the app. In Sign in to SimTX, press Sign in.
  2. Press Open browser, sign in to your SimTX account and approve the device. Copy link copies the address instead.
  3. In Connect to a server, choose a Server and press Connect.

The top right of the window then shows the server and Connected. Work offline opens the app without connecting.

3. Create your first station[edit | edit source]

Top of the Transmit tab with the Station section outlined, a guide tag reading Create the station you transmit from, and a Create a station button.
The getting started guide outlines the Station section and points to Create a station.

A station holds your callsign, location, antennas and radios. On first start, the in-app getting started guide points at each control in turn.

  1. In the Transmit tab, press Create a station.
  2. Under Basics, enter a Name and your Callsign.
  3. Under Location, press Pick on globe, click where the station stands and press Done.
  4. Under Antennas, open the dipole and set the length to 31 m and the Height to 10 m. This suits the frequency below.
  5. Press Create station.

The station now shows under Transmit from. See Stations.

4. Make a first transmission[edit | edit source]

Transmit tab with Demo hilltop as the station, an EFHW antenna, a 100 W radio, an SWR graph, frequency 4625 kHz, power 100 W, AM Double Sideband Full Carrier, and an empty Radio deck.
The Transmit tab set up for a first transmission on 4625 kHz in AM.

In the Transmit tab:

  1. Set Frequency to 4625 with the unit kHz, and Power (W) to 100.
  2. Choose the Modulation AM Double Sideband Full Carrier and tick Auto beside Bandwidth (Hz).
  3. Under Source, choose Audio file, press Choose… and pick a short audio file.
  4. Press Start TX.

The session appears in the Sessions list as Running. Queued means every transmitter slot is taken; it starts by itself when one is free. Select the session to see the Radio deck meters. Listen to own TX plays your signal as transmitted. Stop ends it.

Transmitting covers every control. If the session fails, its message says why; see Troubleshooting.

5. Receive[edit | edit source]

You need an SDR program that supports rtl_tcp, such as SDR++.

  1. Open the Receive tab. Under Where you listen, choose My station, Public station, or Ad-hoc for any location without an account.
  2. Set the Center frequency to 4625 kHz and the Sample rate (Hz) to 250000.
  3. Press Start RX.
  4. In your SDR program, connect an rtl_tcp source to 127.0.0.1:1234 and tune to 4625 kHz in AM.

How to receive shows the settings in SDR++, and Receiving covers every receive control. Propagation Basics explains how distance, band and time of day change what a receiver hears.

Continue from here[edit | edit source]

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