Installing and first connection

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 or 2+ on your network, a Windows 10 (1809+) or 11 PC (64‑bit, a GPU with OpenGL 3.3+), and the two connected to the same LAN (a direct NIC‑to‑radio cable works great).

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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. After that, launches are fast. (If you ever change CPU/RAM or want to rebuild it, Settings → Radio → FFT optimization → Clear & rebuild.)

3. Find and open your radio

1. Press ▶ Start in the header.
2. Open Settings → Hardware → Radio. Lyra discovers HL2s on your network and lists them (board / gateware / RX count).
3. Double‑click a radio (or select it and click Open). The connected radio shows green and bold.
4. Close the current radio before opening a different one.

Radio not showing up?

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.
3. Set AF Gain / Volume on the Audio panel.

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).
• 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.