Installing and first connection - N8SDR1/Lyra-SDR-cpp GitHub Wiki

Installing & first connection

This page gets you from a downloaded installer to hearing your first signal. For the full reference, see the User Guide.

You need: a Hermes Lite 2 / 2+ or a BrickSDR2 / Brick3SDR on Protocol 2 on your network (P2 ANAN-10…200D also open — pick the marketed model in Settings). Windows 10 (1809+) or 11, 64‑bit, OpenGL 3.3+ GPU, wired LAN (a dedicated NIC‑to‑radio cable works great). A Brick or classic ANAN still on Protocol 1 can appear in Discover and will not Open — see Supported Radios.

1. Install

  1. Download the latest Lyra-Setup-X.Y.Z.exe.
  2. Run it and follow the prompts. The installer:
    • adds the Windows Firewall inbound rules Lyra needs (UDP for the radio link, TCP for the TCI server) — so Lyra connects without "Run as administrator";
    • offers an optional, unticked checkbox to disable Windows' multimedia network throttling (the classic NetworkThrottlingIndex tweak) for glitch‑free SDR audio. Tick it if you want it (it's left in place on uninstall, since other HPSDR apps may rely on it).
  3. A new version installs over the old one in place — your settings are kept.

2. First launch (one‑time)

The very first time Lyra runs it builds an FFT plan cache ("optimizing" splash). This is a one‑time, few‑minute step — let it finish and Lyra opens normally. Companion auto-start (SDRLogger+) waits until that finishes. After that, launches are fast. (If you ever change CPU/RAM or want to rebuild it, Settings → Backup & Restore → Rebuild FFT optimization on next start.)

3. Find and open your radio

  1. Press ▶ Start in the header.
  2. Open Settings → Hardware → Radio. Lyra discovers radios on your network and lists them (board / firmware / DDC count). A Brick that still reports as Hermes stays labelled Brick; firmware is v10.6-style, not “fw v0”.
  3. Double‑click a radio (or select it and click Open). The connected radio shows green and bold. Protocol 1 Hermes (not HermesLite) is refused — that is a Brick/ANAN still on P1, not an HL2. Flash P2 (Brick: Anton (linoobs) on Discord) and Open the Protocol 2 row.
  4. In Settings → Hardware, pick the marketed model if discovery still says Hermes / Brick — Brick3SDR, ANAN-10 / 10E, or ANAN-100 / 100D / 200D. Wrong pick = wrong TX / MAP / SUB pane.
  5. Close the current radio before opening a different one.

No "Any Subnet" checkbox needed. Lyra's discovery is always maximal: every scan probes on all network adapters — including direct‑connect link‑local addresses (169.254.x.x, the address Windows self‑assigns with no router/DHCP) — and sends both a limited broadcast (255.255.255.255, i.e. "any subnet") and a subnet‑directed broadcast, for both the P1 (HL2) and P2 (Brick/ANAN) protocols. So there's nothing to turn on — the scan other apps gate behind "Any Subnet" / "Via all NICs" checkboxes is simply how Lyra always scans.

Radio not showing up?

Since the scan above is already maximal, a radio that still doesn't appear is almost never a missing broadcast mode — the probe reached it; the reply couldn't get back (different subnets so the answer can't route home, no IP assigned yet, or a firewall). The fix is to make the reply routable. Use Add by IP — type the radio's address and Lyra sends a directed unicast probe straight to it. This is the answer for:

  • a fixed‑IP HL2,
  • a radio on a different subnet,
  • a network where broadcast is blocked.

If it answers, the entry fills in with the real board info; either way you can Open it. Lyra remembers the last radio and re‑probes its address on launch — if the radio has moved, it self‑heals by re‑scanning instead of hanging on the stale address.

4. Tune and listen

  1. Pick a band (Band panel) and a mode (Mode/Filter panel).
  2. Click or scroll on the panadapter to tune; drag the passband edges to set bandwidth. SUB is a second receiver (SPLIT is TX on VFO B — they are independent). Brick3SDR / ANAN-100D / 200D open a second panadapter when SUB is on.
  3. Set AF Gain / Volume on the Audio panel. Windows mixer volume for Lyra is remembered across Stop / Start (v0.25.17).

Where's the audio coming out?

Two paths — pick in the Audio panel:

  • HL2 audio jack (the radio's onboard codec) — single‑crystal, no PC audio device needed. Plug headphones/speakers into the radio.
  • PC sound device — choose your PC output (and host API: WASAPI shared / exclusive, etc.).

See User Guide → Setting up audio output for the full rundown, including routing RX audio to another program for digital modes.

5. Before you transmit

Lyra transmits SSB / AM / DSB / SAM / FM, CW, and digital — but set these up first:

  • Mic input (Settings → TX, or the Audio panel) — radio codec mic, a PC mic via VAC1, or TCI for digital.
  • TX power / drive, and enable the PA if your build needs it (Settings → TX → Advanced). Brick3 first RF: dummy load.
  • HL2 filter board (J4 pin 8): follow is always on. You do not need Enable N2ADR. Leave Band Volts on J3 off unless the amp is on the fan header. v0.25.20 writes the voltage after the band change finishes, including a return to a band already on the dial.
  • Running an amplifier? Read User Guide → Operating with an external amplifier first — Lyra has TR‑sequencing and hot‑switch protection you should configure before keying into an amp.

Next: the full User Guide, or FAQ & Troubleshooting if something's off.