fm-dx-console

A multi-platform console client for controlling the fm-dx-webserver and streaming audio directly from the command line. This client enables users to interact with the fm-dx-webserver remotely, providing convenience and flexibility.

To utilize this client, you'll need to provide the URL of the fm-dx-webserver. It's important to note that the fm-dx-webserver version must be v1.2.6 or higher for seamless audio streaming functionality.

The TUI is built with Ink (React for the terminal). The previous blessed-based renderer was retired in 1.60.

Screenshot

Requirements

Npm modules

Install with npm.

npm install

ffmpeg

ffplay needs to be installed, and accessible in your path.

Starting

Browse the public server list

Run without --url and the console fetches the curated server directory at servers.fmdx.org and presents an interactive picker. Type to filter by station name, city or country (e.g. haaglanden).

npm start
# or
npx tsx src/cli.jsx

Picker keys: Enter connects, ↑/↓ (or mouse) navigate, Backspace edits the filter, ^U clears it, Tab toggles offline servers, Esc cancels.

Connect directly

npm start -- --url http://fm-dx-server:[port]/ [--auto-play]

or

npx tsx src/cli.jsx --url https://fm-dx-server/ [--auto-play]

Add --auto-play to begin audio playback immediately after connecting.

Note — the -- after npm start is required. Without it, npm consumes --url=… as one of its own flags and the script never sees it, so the app falls back to the picker. Use npx tsx src/cli.jsx --url … if you want to skip the separator.

While running, press m to swap to a different server without leaving the TUI — the picker opens as a modal overlay and the WebSockets reconnect to the new URL on selection.

Run npm start -- --help to show all available options.

FMDX App

The FMDX App is an Electron-based interface styled like a small audio player. It uses a dark theme inspired by the look of XDR-GTK so it blends in with modern GTK desktops. It displays the tuned frequency to three decimals. The value can be edited and will only update from the tuner when the input field is not focused. Material icons are used for the tuning controls. Buttons let you tune in 1 MHz, 0.1 MHz and 0.01 MHz steps, toggle iMS/EQ, cycle antennas and control audio playback. Tuner updates are received over a WebSocket so the fields refresh automatically. Pressing Enter in the frequency field tunes to the value and shows the rounded frequency again. The interface now places the Tuner and RDS panels side by side, as well as the Station and Status panels, while the spectrum display is slightly smaller. Keyboard shortcuts from the console client are also supported. The window starts larger so all details fit comfortably and the Station section always lists its field names (Name, Location, etc.) even if data is missing. Server details show the tuner name followed by the description on separate lines. RDS information lists the PS and PI codes along with flags and the Programme Type shown as number/name (displaying 0/None when no PTY is available). If Decoder Information bits are present, the panel also shows whether Dynamic PTY, Artificial Head or Compression are enabled and if the broadcast is stereo. Characters in the PS and RadioText turn grey when errors are reported. A drop-down next to the signal meter lets you display strength in dBf, dBµV or dBm. The frequency field accepts only numeric input and the shortcut t focuses it without inserting the letter. Launch it with:

The status section shows the current user count, ping time and whether audio is playing on separate lines. The Spectrum Scan button sweeps the band from 83 to 108 MHz in 0.05 MHz steps and updates the spectrum display in real time. Frequencies not yet scanned start at 0 dBf so the graph covers the full range while the sweep runs. Audio playback is paused during the scan and resumes when finished. Once the sweep completes the tuner returns to the original frequency. Clicking a point on the graph tunes directly to that frequency.

npm run electron -- --url http://fm-dx-server:[port]/

Run npm run electron -- --help to show command line options.

Electron is launched with --no-sandbox so it also works when run as root.

The server URL can also be changed at runtime using the field above the controls. Changing the address automatically restarts the audio connection so it uses the new backend.

Help (console version)

The following keys can be used when running the command line interface. The FMDX App understands these shortcuts as well:

Frequency Adjustment

'←' decrease 0.1 MHz
'↓' decrease 0.01 MHz
'z' decrease 1 MHz
'→' increase 0.1 MHz
'↑' increase 0.01 MHz
'x' increase 1 MHz

General Controls

'r' refresh
'p' play audio
't' set frequency
'C' send command
'Esc' quit
'h' toggle help
's' toggle server info
'm' switch server (browse public directory)
'b' bandwidth selector
'g' AGC selector (Si47xx tuners)

Toggles

'[' toggle iMS
']' toggle EQ
'f' toggle forced stereo
'y' cycle antenna

Bandwidth selector

Press b to pick an IF bandwidth from the menu. The available steps match the tuner reported by the server (TEF668x, XDR F1HD/S10HDiP, RTL-SDR/AirSpy or Si47xx); the menu falls back to the TEF list if the tuner type is unknown. Selecting Auto lets the firmware choose. The same F<legacy> + W<value> command pair used by the web client is sent.