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Desktop PhantomSDR+ Application

Started by Emmanuel SV1BTL, Aug 27, 2026, 07:59 AM

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Emmanuel SV1BTL

Hi all,

I would like to introduce Desktop PhantomSDR+, a desktop application for Linux and Windows designed to provide direct access to PhantomSDR+ servers, other WebSDR/SDR receivers, and virtually any web-based interface** without requiring a conventional web browser.

What does Desktop PhantomSDR+ do?

Instead of opening a browser every time you want to access a PhantomSDR+ server or another SDR receiver, you can store the server URLs directly in the application and launch them from a single station list.

Although it was primarily designed for **PhantomSDR+**, it is not limited to PhantomSDR+ servers. You can add practically any SDR receiver that provides a web interface, or even any standard webpage.

Main advantages

* Direct and convenient access to all SDR receivers and web interfaces you regularly use.
* Multiple SDR servers can be stored and managed from a single application.
* Significantly lower CPU and memory overhead compared with running multiple tabs in a full web browser.
* Stations can be renamed, reordered, or removed at any time.
* Fast keyboard access to frequently used receivers.
* Full-screen operation, page reload, and zoom controls.
* No browser configuration or bookmarks are required.

---

Installation

Because of GitHub's file-size limitations, the binary installers are currently hosted here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kjwj96zg3kj7dgq4fjef9/APnA3c9hhv4hk3YMGIGjH7s?rlkey=jfiwklly63kv73poalx631pk3&st=esqowtg6&dl=0
You DON"T NEED a Dropbox account to download the files!

Download the appropriate package for your operating system.

Linux

Available packages:

* `PhantomSDR-Plus-1.0.1.AppImage`
* `phantomsdr-plus-desktop_1.0.1_amd64.deb`

AppImage Download:
`PhantomSDR-Plus-1.0.1.AppImage`

Make the file executable if necessary:
chmod +x PhantomSDR-Plus-1.0.1.AppImage
Then launch it either by double-clicking/right-clicking it from your file manager or from a terminal:
./PhantomSDR-Plus-1.0.1.AppImage
If nothing happens when the AppImage is launched, FUSE may not be installed. Recent Ubuntu releases no longer install the required FUSE compatibility package by default, and launching an AppImage from a graphical file manager may fail without displaying an obvious error.

Install the appropriate package once:
sudo apt install libfuse2t64     # Ubuntu 24.04 and later
sudo apt install libfuse2        # older Ubuntu/Debian releases

Alternatively, you can run the AppImage without installing FUSE:
./PhantomSDR-Plus-1.0.1.AppImage --appimage-extract-and-runThis method works without FUSE, although application startup may be slightly slower.

Debian/Ubuntu `.deb` package

Download:
`phantomsdr-plus-desktop_1.0.1_amd64.deb`

Install it with:
sudo dpkg -i phantomsdr-plus-desktop_1.0.1_amd64.deb
If `dpkg` reports missing dependencies, run:
sudo apt-get -f install```

After installation, PhantomSDR-Plus will appear in your desktop environment's application menu.

To uninstall it:
sudo apt remove phantomsdr-plus-desktop
---

Windows


Download and run:
`PhantomSDR-Plus Setup 1.0.1.exe`

Windows may display the blue: Windows protected your PC

SmartScreen warning. This occurs because the installer is currently **not digitally code-signed**. Commercial code-signing certificates involve a significant recurring cost, which is not currently justified for this project.

To continue:

1. Click **More info**.
2. Click **Run anyway**.

Desktop PhantomSDR+ is installed **per user**, so administrator privileges are not normally required.

The application can later be removed through: **Settings → Apps → Installed apps** like any other Windows application.

---

## macOS
There is currently **no macOS build available**.

---

Using Desktop PhantomSDR+

Adding a receiver is very simple.
1. Address: Enter the receiver's complete URL in the **Address** field, exactly as you would enter it in a web browser. For example:
https://sdr.example.com:9002

or:
http://192.168.1.50:8900

Both HTTP and HTTPS addresses are supported. A hostname can also be entered where appropriate.

2. Name. The **Name** field is optional. You can assign any descriptive name to the receiver, for example:
SV1BTL PhantomSDR+ or: 40m Receiver. If the field is left empty, the application automatically uses the hostname as the station name.

3. Add the station. Click **Add**. The receiver will now appear in your station list.

---

Reordering stations
After creating your station list, receivers can be arranged in any order you prefer.
There are two methods.
u]Drag and drop[/u] Press and hold the **left mouse button** anywhere on a station row, except directly on one of its control buttons.
- Drag the station upward or downward. A blue insertion line indicates the new position. Release the mouse button and the station will be moved to that location.

Arrow controls
Each station row also contains a small pair of arrows:
**▲** moves the station one position upward.
**▼** moves the station one position downward.
An arrow is automatically disabled when further movement in that direction is not possible. Therefore, the first station cannot be moved further upward and the last station cannot be moved further downward.

Stations can, of course, also be **renamed or deleted** at any time.

---

Keyboard shortcuts

| Shortcut            | Function                                                            |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Ctrl+L`            | Bring the station list window to the foreground                    |
| `Ctrl+N`            | Open the station list and focus the Address field                  |
| `Ctrl+1` ... `Ctrl+9` | Open stations 1–9 according to their current list order            |
| `Ctrl+V`            | Paste text into an input field; right-click paste is also supported |
| `Ctrl+W`            | Close the current window                                            |
| `F11`              | Toggle full-screen mode                                            |
| `Ctrl+R`            | Reload the current station/web page                                |
| `Ctrl++`            | Zoom in                                                            |
| `Ctrl+-`            | Zoom out                                                            |
| `Ctrl+0`            | Reset zoom to the default level                                    |

---

Desktop PhantomSDR+ is intentionally a small and lightweight application. Its primary purpose is to provide **PhantomSDR+ end users with a faster and more convenient way to organize and access their preferred SDR receivers without keeping multiple browser tabs open.

It can also be used as a general-purpose launcher/viewer for other web-based SDR systems and web interfaces.

I hope you find it useful.

Have fun!

73 de SV1BTL (Emmanuel)

----

UPDATED!!!

A minor bug (Ctrl + + for zoom in didn't work) is fixed
Please use the link given :

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kjwj96zg3kj7dgq4fjef9/APnA3c9hhv4hk3YMGIGjH7s?rlkey=jfiwklly63kv73poalx631pk3&st=esqowtg6&dl=0

You DON"T NEED a Dropbox account to download the files!
to download and install v.2.0.0

It would be better to first uninstall the previous version in both Linux & Windows and install the newer one.
All your already saved links, will be there.

Emmanuel SV1BTL

UPDATED!!!

A minor bug (Ctrl + + for zoom in didn't work) is fixed
Please use the link given :

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kjwj96zg3kj7dgq4fjef9/APnA3c9hhv4hk3YMGIGjH7s?rlkey=jfiwklly63kv73poalx631pk3&st=esqowtg6&dl=0

You DON"T NEED a Dropbox account to download the files!
to download and install v.2.0.0

It would be better to first uninstall the previous version in both Linux & Windows and install the newer one.
All your already saved links, will be there.

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