SpectralBands Support & Issue Tracking

Welcome to the public support hub for SpectralBands, a high-performance SDR client for iOS.

This repository is dedicated to issue tracking, feature requests, and community discussions. Please note that the source code for SpectralBands is currently private.

📡 Quick Links

• Official Website: bytes-and-bolts.info/spectral-bands
• Privacy Policy: Privacy Statement
• Terms of Service: Terms

🐛 Bug Reports & Feature Requests

We use GitHub Issues to track bugs and plan new features. Before opening a new issue, please:

1. Search existing issues to see if your concern has already been addressed.
2. Use the provided templates for Bug Reports or Feature Requests.
3. Include details about your hardware (e.g., RTL-SDR v3/v4, WebSDR server version) and your iOS device/version.

Open an Issue

❓ Common Questions (FAQ)

Q: I don't hear any audio, even when the 'Online' status is active.

• Check the In-App Volume: Tap the speaker icon at the bottom of the screen to ensure it's not muted.
• Check the Silent Switch: Ensure your iPhone's physical silent switch (or Action Button) is not set to Silent. Even though SpectralBands is configured for "Playback" mode, some system settings can still affect output.
• Check Output Device: Ensure your audio isn't accidentally routing to a Bluetooth speaker or CarPlay.

Q: Can I connect to my SDR hardware directly via USB?

• No. Due to iOS sandboxing and driver limitations, SpectralBands requires a network-based server (WebSDR or rtl_tcp). You can run these servers on a Raspberry Pi, Mac, or PC connected to your SDR dongle.

Q: Why is the waterfall moving so slowly?

• Check your Low Power Mode settings. SpectralBands automatically throttles the waterfall frame rate to save battery when Low Power Mode is enabled.

Q: Is my SDR hardware supported?

• If your hardware works with rtl_tcp (standard for RTL-SDR v3/v4, AirSpy, etc.), it will work with SpectralBands. For the best experience, we recommend using a WebSDR compatible server.

📖 Server Setup & Configuration

SpectralBands supports two primary protocols for connecting to SDR hardware over the network.

1. WebSDR (Recommended)

Our high-performance WebSocket protocol. It abstracts hardware control and provides pre-decimated audio, making it more bandwidth-efficient and secure for public access.

• Port: Default 8080 (TCP).
• Setup: Use a compatible WebSDR server (like rtlsdr-next).
• Command example: ./websdr --port 8080

2. rtl_tcp

The industry-standard protocol for raw IQ streaming. Note that this protocol provides direct hardware access and is best suited for local networks.

• Port: Default 1234 (TCP).
• Setup: Install rtl-sdr tools.
• Command example: rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0 -p 1234

🛠 Troubleshooting

• Connection Refused: Ensure your server is running and your router/firewall is allowing traffic on the specified port.
• Laggy Waterfall: Ensure you have a stable network connection. For rtl_tcp, a 5GHz Wi-Fi or wired connection is recommended due to high IQ data rates.
• No Audio: Ensure your iOS device is not on "Silent" mode and the in-app Audio icon is toggled to ON.

⚖️ License

Content in this repository (documentation, issue templates, and assets) is licensed under the MIT License. SpectralBands (the application) is a separate, proprietary product.