Check the Radio's Live DC Supply Voltage¶
The Meters applet shows the supply voltage reported live by the radio. Use it to confirm your DC power source is within a healthy range during operation.
Before you start¶
- AetherSDR must be connected to the radio. The Meters applet requires an active radio connection.
- The applet panel must be visible. If it is hidden, enable it via
View > Applet Panel.
Steps¶
- Click the MTR tray button on the right sidebar to open the Meters applet.
- Read the +13.8V gauge. The label in the center of the bar updates live to show the current voltage — for example,
+13.82V.
What each control does¶
| Gauge | Valid range | Red above | Behavior | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +13.8V | 10.0–16.0 V | 15 V | Displays the supply voltage reported by the radio. The gauge label updates dynamically to reflect the live value (e.g. +13.82V). |
Accessible name: "Supply voltage" |
| PA Temp | 0–120 °C | 70 °C | Displays PATEMP meter reading from the radio. The temperature unit (°C or °F) is toggled by the button next to the "Radio Hardware" header. | Accessible name: "PA temperature" |
| Main Fan | 0–3000 rpm | 2500 rpm | Displays MAINFAN meter value from the radio. | Accessible name: "Main fan speed" |
Header row controls¶
The Radio Hardware header row includes a temperature unit toggle button.
| Control | Label | Behavior | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature unit toggle button | °C or °F |
Click to toggle the PA temperature display between Celsius and Fahrenheit. The setting is persisted and restored on next launch. | Accessible description: "Toggles PA temperature display between Celsius and Fahrenheit" |
Persisted settings¶
The temperature unit preference is stored under the MtrApplet settings key:
- tempFahrenheit — stored as "True" or "False" to indicate Fahrenheit or Celsius display.
Accessibility notes¶
Each gauge has an accessible name set for screen reader compatibility: - PA Temp gauge: "PA temperature" - Supply voltage gauge: "Supply voltage" - Main Fan gauge: "Main fan speed" - Temperature unit toggle button: Accessible description describes its function.
These names are announced when the gauge receives focus or is navigated to with assistive technology.
Tips¶
- The gauge label changes on every telemetry update from the radio, so the value shown in the bar center is always current — it is not a static placeholder.
- The bar fills cyan in the normal range and turns red above 15 V. A red bar indicates a supply voltage that is above the expected operating range.
- The PA temperature gauge turns red above 70 °C. If this occurs, reduce transmit power or duty cycle.
- Click the temperature unit toggle button (next to "Radio Hardware") to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit. The setting is remembered across sessions.
- The Main Fan gauge turns red above 2500 rpm. This is normal during high-power operation and indicates the cooling fan is working as expected.
Troubleshooting¶
- Gauge shows no movement or a fixed label — The radio is not connected, or the telemetry stream has not started. Confirm the connection status and reconnect via
Settings > Connect to Radio....