KAINOΣ SDR
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Get Kainos

Free and open source. One installer for Windows 10 and 11. A newer version installs over an older one and keeps your settings.

Latest release
Kainos 1.0.10

Released October 2026 · based on Thetis 2.10.3.15

Download installer .msi · x64 All releases

Downloads are served from GitHub Releases. New to Kainos? Follow the getting-started guide.

OS
Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
Radio
Hermes Lite 2 on your network
Audio
PC speakers / headphones and a microphone (the HL2 has no speaker output of its own)
Installs to
Program Files\OpenHPSDR\Kainos-HL2
License
GPL-3.0-or-later
Install

On the air in four steps

The short version. The getting-started guide has the details and a tour of the layout.

  1. Download and run the installer

    Run Kainos-<version>-x64.msi. It won't change or remove an existing Thetis install.

  2. Choose how to start

    If Thetis is on the same PC, pick Set up for my Hermes Lite 2 (fresh settings), Import my Thetis settings (close Thetis first), or Skip.

  3. Run the setup wizard

    Station (callsign, grid, licence), hardware (N2ADR filter board, I/O board, PA), audio (with a test tone) and look. Nothing changes until you press Apply.

  4. Press POWER

    At the top of the left-hand column. If Kainos doesn't find your HL2, use Setup > General > H/W Select (Discover).

Side by side

Kainos and Thetis on one PC

Everything is kept separate. Run only one of them at a time with the radio.

ThetisKainos
ProgramThetis.exeKainos.exe
Settings%APPDATA%\OpenHPSDR\Thetis-x64%APPDATA%\OpenHPSDR\Kainos-x64
RegistryHKCU\…\Thetis-x64HKCU\Software\OpenHPSDR\Kainos-x64
Recordings—Music\Kainos
CAT / TCIThetisIdentifies as Thetis, so your logger keeps working

Updating

Kainos checks once a day and shows what's new, with Download, Later and Skip this version. Or use Setup > Check for updates.

Uninstalling

Use Settings > Apps in Windows. Your settings folder is left in place; delete it too for a completely fresh start.

Release notes

What's new

Highlights from recent versions. Full notes for every release are on GitHub.

1.0.10Oct 2026
  • Audio Scope colours: Standard, Kainos glow, Phosphor, Heat and Spectrum.
  • Fixed a once-a-second UI freeze in the Kainos layout.
  • Smoother Audio Scope: a steady 30 fps on its own thread, and a steadier AF spectrum.
1.0.9Oct 2026
  • Compact view: side columns tuck into the window's edges.
  • VST3 plugins in Kainos Audio's transmit chain (experimental).
  • A tidier menu bar with Audio, Modes and Tools menus.
  • Xiegu GPA100 band switching over Bluetooth.
1.0.8Oct 2026
  • Hear VFO B in split with LISTEN on the flag.
  • New AUDIO SCOPE tab.
  • Pin VFO flags anywhere, or turn them off.
  • Choose what the mouse wheel does over the right-hand column.
1.0.7
  • SWR sweep with saved sweeps and CSV export.
  • KiwiSDR panadapter and waterfall; the Kiwi as your radio with the HL2 off.
  • Arrange the right-hand column your way; one-line VFO flags.
  • Licence-aware band plan, safety nets and light mode.
1.0.0First release
  • The Kainos layout: slice flags, right-hand column of tabs, left-hand button column and the bar under the panadapter.
  • Built-in FreeDV RADE, RTTY, CW, spots and Kainos Audio.
For developers

Build from source

Kainos builds with Visual Studio 2026 and CMake.

  1. Build the RADE libraries (once)

    Run Project Files/lib/build_rade_libs.bat (add Debug for a debug build). It builds opus, RADE, RNNoise, libebur128 and the WebRTC AGC.

  2. Build Kainos

    Open Project Files/Source/Thetis_VS2026.sln, choose Release | x64 and build. Output: Project Files/bin/x64/Release/Kainos.exe.

Source on GitHub