Enable low-bandwidth mode for slow links¶
Low-bandwidth mode reduces the rate of audio and data streams sent from the radio. Use it when connecting over a slow or congested link — such as a cellular hotspot, a long-distance VPN, or a satellite connection — to reduce dropouts and improve stability.
Before you start¶
- AetherSDR must be open and not yet connected to a radio, or you must disconnect first before changing this setting.
- Know which connection mode you are using: Local, SmartLink, or Manual. The
LowBandwidthModecheckbox is present on the connection panel regardless of mode.
Steps¶
- Open the connection panel. It appears automatically before a radio is connected. If a radio is already connected, click
Settings > Connect to Radio...and disconnect first. - Locate the Use low bandwidth mode checkbox near the bottom of the connection panel.
- Check Use low bandwidth mode to enable reduced-rate streams.
- Proceed to connect using your preferred mode — Local, SmartLink, or Manual — as normal.
What each control does¶
| Control | Kind | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Use low bandwidth mode | Checkbox | (not set) |
| Connect to last radio on start up | Checkbox. When checked, AetherSDR auto-connects to the last used radio on startup and on broadcast-discovery / routed-radio probe. When unchecked, the connection dialog opens and the user must pick a radio manually each session. Stored as AutoConnectToLastRadio. |
True (checked). New in v0.9.7. Existing users keep previous behavior automatically. |
| Radio IP address | Editable combo box. Stores up to three recently used IP addresses. Select a previous address from the drop-down or type a new one. The field replaces the plain text entry used in earlier versions. Stored as ManualRadioIp; recent entries stored as RecentConnectByIpAddresses. |
(not set) |
Tips¶
- Enable Use low bandwidth mode before initiating the connection. The mode is negotiated at connect time.
- If audio still breaks up after enabling low-bandwidth mode, check your VPN or routing path using
Settings > Network.... - The Radio IP address field now remembers up to three recent addresses. If you previously saved an IP under the legacy
LastRoutedRadioIpsetting, AetherSDR migrates it automatically the first time you open the connection panel. - To prevent AetherSDR from connecting automatically at startup — for example, when you want to choose a different radio — uncheck Connect to last radio on start up.