Client
The ShackConnect Client is a device installed at your operating position. It connects to your computer with a USB cable and it provides virtual serial ports and virtual audio devices you can use to connect external applications (loggers, digital mode apps, radio controllers, etc.) to devices in your shack. It also allows you to bridge arbitrary network resources between the remote and local networks.
A Pro variant of the Client device is also available, which provides more resources for external apps than the Basic variant, as well as a footswitch input, a PTT button, and paddle and key inputs for CW mode operation.
You can setup your station with only the Server device and control it entirely from the browser using our dashboard controllers. Come back to setup a Client device later when your workflows require external applications.
See the supported devices page to learn which devices have DASHBOARD support level and can thus be controlled from the browser.
To get your Client, you either:
- Buy a pre-configured Client device from our online shop — it arrives ready to use, you only need to attach it to your account by entering its S/N.
- Build your own (DIY) — download a device image and flash it onto your own Raspberry Pi. See DIY devices (Basic version only).
You do not need any license / subscriptions to use the Client device, as you get one free Client slot with your account.
A license subscription is still needed to get your own station connected with a Server device, and your friends need an extra seat subscription to invite you to use their servers.
An extra Client subscription will become available in a future update to allow you to connect multiple Client devices to a single PC to unlock even more resources. However, we recommend you upgrade to the Client Pro variant before reaching for this option, as it provides more resources by default as well as other features.
You can buy a bundle that includes Server and Client hardware together with a license at a discounted price!
Bundles come in both Basic and Pro variants.
Variants
ShackConnect Client comes in two variants: Basic and Pro. Both can be ordered through our shop.
The Basic version is cheaper, and you can also build it yourself - see DIY devices. It provides the following features:
- 2 serial ports to connect up to 2 external applications to your radios or other server-side devices.
- 1 sound card to allow RX / TX from an external digital mode application.
- Bridge arbitrary network resources between the remote and local network (Wi-Fi connection must be configured on the Client).
The Pro version can do everything the Basic version can and more. It connects more external apps via additional serial port / sound card resources, as well as providing additional features not present in the Basic version:
- 8 serial ports to connect even more external applications to your radios / other devices.
- 2 sound cards to connect external digital mode apps / other audio apps.
- Direct network bridge to computer can be configured to allow optimal sharing of arbitrary network resources without using Wi-Fi.
- Footswitch input and PTT button for convenient TX control.
- Paddle / Key inputs for CW mode operation.
- Morse Keyer - allows you to send either preconfigured or live messages in CW mode from the browser or an external app. Can be combined with a Server Pro device to enable reliable CW data transfer to better handle jittery networks (send whole characters instead of ON/OFF edges).