FlexControl knob

The FlexControl is a USB tuning knob with three programmable buttons and a push-button knob. In the console it tunes every brand of radio on the network, not only Flex, and it connects directly to the browser. LocalMate is not needed.

Browsers

The knob uses the browser's serial port support. Use Chrome, Edge or another Chromium browser, or Firefox 141 or newer. Safari cannot connect to it, and the settings tab says so: Web Serial is not supported in this browser.

Pair the knob

1. Plug the FlexControl in.
2. Open Tools → Integrations and choose FlexControl.
3. Check Enable FlexControl.
4. Under Serial Port, click Pair Device. The browser lists serial devices; choose the FlexControl and confirm.

Connection shows Connected when the knob is talking to the console. The browser remembers the pairing, so from now on the knob connects as soon as you open the console. Re-pair Device picks a different device, and Unpair forgets it.

If Connection shows Error, another program may have the knob open. Close it and click Retry.

What the knob does

Each control has an action. The defaults:

Turning faster tunes in bigger steps.

Change the actions

Under Knob and Buttons, pick an action for each control. A short press and a long press of the same button can do different things. The actions available to buttons are PTT, Toggle PTT, Toggle NR, Toggle NB, Toggle Vox, CW Mode, SSB Mode, FT8 Mode, FT4 Mode, DIGU Mode, DIGL Mode, AM Mode, FM Mode, Band Up, Band Down and Disconnect from Station. The knob can be the VFO, with a step of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 Hz, or a level: Slice Volume, NR Level, NB Level, Vox Level or CW WPM.

Reset to Defaults restores the table above.

Event Log

The Event Log at the bottom of the tab lists every turn and press the console receives from the knob, with a time stamp. If a button seems dead, press it and watch the log: an entry means the knob works and the action is the problem; no entry means the connection is.