FM – DAB+: my logblog!

With AbracaDABra 4.3.0 Petr Kopecký added Command Line Interface (CLI) support.
The CLI is incompatible with older versions.
I tested this on my Windows 11 computer, and despite a few misunderstandings, it worked quite well.
Verify that AbracaDABra isn’t running and that you’re using an RTL-SDR device.
To use the CLI, open the command line by pressing the Windows key and typing ‘cmd’ (n ‘ ‘).
You don’t have to run it with admin rights.

First navigate to the AbracaDABbra install folder/directory using cd\ commands.
On my computer AbracaDABra 4.3.0 is installed in this folder:
C:\Radio\AbracaDABra4. Make sure you use your correct AbracaDABra path!
So a ‘cd C:\Radio\AbracaDABra4’ command (no ‘ ‘) will quickly navigate to the correct folder in the CLI.
Beware of typos in your command!

Now entering the ‘AbracaDABra –cli’ command will open up a CLI user interface.

You can also run this in a browser on any machine, including Android smartphones, in your network.
Command on my machine:
‘C:\Radio\AbracaDABra4>AbracaDABra –cli -p 9091 –bind 10.0.0.10’ (no ‘ ‘).

The ‘-p 9091’ refers to the port you want to use. Make sure to choose an unused port.
How to check which ports are in use on your computer? Open a command prompt as administrator and run this command:
‘netstat -ab’ (no ‘ ‘).
What’s ‘–bind 10.0.0.10’? That’s the IP address of your network.
In this case the address of my local network mesh satellite.
How to find your IP?
Again open a command prompt and use this command: ‘ipconfig’.

Open on browser on any machine in your network and use the address found with the ipconfig command.
So the URL in my browser will be 10.0.0.10:9091 .

° Can you use your regular AbracaDABra GUI with a command?
Yes, you can. Use this command: ‘C:\Radio\AbracaDABra4>AbracaDABra’ (no ‘ ‘).
° Should the same port always be used? Not all. Some ports seem to be to improve the SNR in the CLI and Web UI a bit.
° What if this CLI stopped working after e.g. having it running in a .bat file?
Just turn the AbracaDABra folder back to yesterday (Settings – previous version).
AbracaDABra settings will be gone, so make sure you have a back-up of the AbracaDABra settings.
° What’s the use of this CLI feature?
AbracaDABra users with a more technical background may find this an attractive option.
Moreover it’s a bit of fun having AbracaDABra in the shack activated by a command line and then checking in another room or the garden if it’s still working well.