WiNRADiO receiver software with Apple Mac OS

WiNRADiO has been already supporting Mac users, with our popular WR-1550e receiver, but the later Intel processor range of Macs opened a whole new world of possibilities. However, the later Apple M processors are not compatible.

A Mac OS application is available for the WR-1550e receivers, but the free to use Boot Camp running (x86 based) Windows can be used with most other third generation (G3) WiNRADiO receivers. This applies to Apple Core 2 Duo Intel processor computers such as:

iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

Once Boot Camp is installed, simply hold down the option key at startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. After starting up, your Mac runs Windows completely natively. Running Boot Camp on an Intel-based Mac gives you the best of both worlds - the wide range of accessories and applications from the PC world combined with reliability and the cool environment provided by the Mac hardware. Simply restart your Mac to change back to OS X at any time.

When using the Windows boot option, one can then use the Mac as though it was a Windows PC and install one of the G3 WiNRADiO receivers.

https://winradio.com/home/receivers.htm

Installation of the WiNRADiO receiver is simple: Just install the application and drivers and then connect the receiver via USB. After the usual Windows Add New Hardware Wizard has finished adding drivers for the new hardware, the installation is completed.

Run the WiNRADiO G3 application and see your Mac transformed into a most remarkable radio receiver.

For suitable antennas to fit your particular application, please see also our wide range of antennas and accessories:

https://winradio.com/home/antennas.htm

https://winradio.com/home/antenna-accessories.htm

MAC processor history

There have been several types of processor used in Mac computers, this affects how their operating system (OS) work and their compatibility. Here is a timeline with comments…

PowerPC (AIM alliance 1994 - 2006) 601, 603, 604, G3, G4, G5 series
These older processors require specific Mac software and cannot easily be used with Windows PC software. WiNRADiO still has a MAC application to support the WR-1550e receiver (which has been discontinued). See below for details and a download.
Intel processors (2006 - 2020)
The adoption of Intel processors lead to "Boot Camp" where the Mac could load Windows PC software and run Windows applications. It is also possible to load Windows under virtualization software such as Parallels and VMFusion.

Most WiNRADiO receiver software will run under Boot Camp when loaded with Windows Vista through to Windows 10 (possibly W11).

Virtualization success is more hit-and-miss because there can be so many variables (with numerous OS X, Windows and virtualization versions). Generally the G305, G315 and G33WSM will work under virtualization. However the G3xDDC and G6xDDC receivers will not, although the software and drivers load, the receiver does not initialize and does not work. Therefore Boot Camp is highly recommended as it is more successful.

G33WSM running under Boot Camp (Windows 10) with a MacBook Air 2018 (Intel)

G33WSM running under VMFusion, showing the USB settings menu
(Windows 10) with a MacBook Air 2018 (Intel)

G315e running under Boot Camp (Windows 10) with a MacBook Air 2018 (Intel)
Apple custom silicon with the M series chips, M1, M2, M3, M4 (2020 - onwards)
The current Mac series employs the "M" processor. This does not support Boot Camp, so a standard Windows operating system cannot be used to boot-up the Mac.

However, the third party UTM virtualization software enables any Mac with an "M" processor to run a wide range of other operating systems such as various flavours of Linux and from Windows XP to Windows 11, which are not ARM-specific-software. User feedback reports success in running the WR-1550e receiver on an "M" equipped Mac via emulation on UTM. At the time of writing UTM is available as a free download. It must be noted that UTM will work both on Intel and "M" series computers from Apple.

Mac OS software for the WiNRADiO WR-1550e

The WR-1550e receiver was discontinued several years ago and we can no-longer formally support its MAC software, so it is presented here "as-is".

WR-1550e software download for the Mac OS

This WiNRADiO software download supports Mac computer with the WR-1550e receiver, which is required to operate this software. Without this receiver, the software will work in a demo (no sound) mode.

This software is provided here for evaluation purposes or as an upgrade for existing users. Certain innovative aspects of this software may be protected by pending US and international patent applications. Reverse engineering or copying WiNRADiO software features for commercial purposes is prohibited by relevant US and international legislation.

This software has extensive on-line help. The help files are written in HTML and are accessed via the Web browser installed on the Mac. Depending on the system configuration, the Mac may display a request for the application name (in this case, the browser) when the on-line help is used for the first time. If such a request appears, with wording "Could not find the application that created the document..." or similar, you will need to select your preferred browser from the list of applications that is presented in the dialog box. This dialog box will not appear again after this first selection. Alternatively, with some versions of MacOS 9, you may need to launch the File Exchange control panel, select the PC Exchange tab, scroll down to the 'htm' file type, then change the associated application to your preferred browser.

If running under Mac OS X when downloading this software, the downloaded '.hqx' file will be decoded automatically by the Mac to produce the installer program, 'WiNRADiO Installer'. In most cases this will also happen automatically under Mac OS 9. If it does not, you may have to 'drag-drop' it onto the Stuffit Expander application, or onto its alias. (Stuffit Expander is a standard Mac application, and should be inside a subfolder of the Internet folder on your hard disk). Double-clicking on 'WiNRADiO Installer' begins the installation process. Note that 'WiNRADiO Installer' will be seen as a 'Classic Application' when running under Mac OS X, so the installation process will begin by automatically launching the 'Classic Environment' first, as described on our MacRadio page. If you get a message 'The document ... could not be opened, because the application program that created it could not be found' or similar, please use the 'drag-drop' method described above.

Note:

Some time ago a Keyspan Serial-USB was popular because its OS 8/9 driver could run in the Mac Classic Environment. User feedback reports success in using alternatives to the Keyspan/Tripp Lite adapter. The best replacements appear to be those which include the FTDI chipset and use an FTDI-specific driver. Such adapters appear stable and are readily recognised by the operating system, even in emulation/virtualization mode.

Current version

This version improves reliability when running in 'Classic' mode on an OS X Mac. A symptom observed in the previous version was that the program could experience a port timeout and quit running. The timeout configuration for the USB to serial connection had not made sufficient allowance for OS X allocating time to other processes.

Version	File Size	Download
1.80	729604

Previous version

Version	File Size	Download
1.70	729249

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WiNRADiO receiver software with Apple Mac OS