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Install on Windows

Tested on Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11.

1. Install Rust​

Grab rustup from https://rustup.rs/ and run the installer (accept the defaults; it pulls the MSVC toolchain — if prompted, let it install the Visual Studio C++ Build Tools).

Verify:

cargo --version
# cargo 1.7x.x

2. Install Git + Git LFS​

https://git-scm.com/download/win and https://git-lfs.github.com/.

3. Install VB-Cable (virtual audio cable)​

  1. Download VB-Cable from https://vb-audio.com/Cable/.
  2. Run as administrator. Reboot after install (required).
  3. You will now see CABLE Input / Output devices in the Sound panel.

For multi-application routing, VB-Audio Voicemeeter is recommended but optional.

4. (Optional) GNU Radio​

The official GNU Radio Windows installer (3.10.x) is the simplest route (only needed for v0.2+ SDR flowgraph work).

5. RFWhisper itself​

git clone https://github.com/jakenherman/rfwhisper.git
cd rfwhisper
cargo build --release
.\target\release\rfwhisper.exe models fetch
.\target\release\rfwhisper.exe doctor

Copy target\release\rfwhisper.exe anywhere on your PATH — it's a single self-contained binary.

When the ONNX (DFN3) backend is enabled, RFWhisper prefers DirectML on Windows automatically and falls back through CUDA → CPU:

rfwhisper info providers
# DmlExecutionProvider    (preferred)
# CPUExecutionProvider    (fallback)

7. Routing audio​

FromToHow
Rig USB CODEC (IC-7300, etc.)RFWhisper inputChoose USB Audio CODEC in rfwhisper audio list
RFWhisper outputWSJT-X / fldigi inputChoose CABLE Input as RFWhisper output, CABLE Output as WSJT-X input
Also hear it yourselfSpeakersIn Sound Settings, enable Listen to this device on CABLE Output, forward to Speakers

8. Realtime / MMCSS​

RFWhisper automatically requests the "Pro Audio" MMCSS characteristic on the audio thread on Windows. No action needed.

Troubleshooting​

  • error: linker 'link.exe' not found — install Visual Studio Build Tools with the "Desktop development with C++" workload (rustup offers this during install).
  • VB-Cable audio crackling — set VB-Cable's internal rate to 48000 Hz in its control panel.
  • No audio devices listed — check that the app has microphone permission (Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone).