Icom 7610 RS-BA1 Installation and Settings
I am using this on my private home network (LAN) and have not used it outside my home yet. Accessing it on the private network is a good start.
Icom 7610 RS-BA1 Network Radio Settings
First, connect the Icom 7610 to your network with the ethernet port on the rear of the radio. More information can be found here: Icom 7610 Clock, Timers and Network.
In the video below you'll see how I have my radio setup. There may be one or two things different from your radio configuration. Try to determine if it is necessary to change yours.
One thing to consider is DATA OFF MOD. I'll bet a lot of Hams are using MIC, ACC and I use MIC,USB. That's not a big deal and doesn't need to be changed if you don't want to.
When powering off the radio, put it in Standby (For remote control).
See Icom 7610 Screen Captures and "Things to watch out for".
Icom 7610 RS-BA1 Utility and Remote Software
You'll need to buy a CD-ROM with RS-BA1 software if you don't already have it. I got mine from HRO in Denver.
Two software applications are installed off the CD-ROM. The Remote Utility software and the Remote Control software.
After installing those from the CD-ROM, go to the Icom website and install the latest update. You can find it HERE. Scroll down on that page to find the RS-BA1 section.
Open the Utility and click on the "Add" button to setup and connect to the sever. The Icom 7610 has an internal server. The COM port you select is a virtual port, so the # is not important. I have tried a few and they all worked.
Just verify that you use the same virtual COM port # in the Remote Control as you have set in the Utility software. This is in the video below.
After you are connected to the radio with the Icom Remote Utility program open the Icom Remote Control program. Configure the Connect Set.
When setting up the Connect Set in RS-BA1, you can use LAN (thanks Jeff, W6FCC ) for the Connection instead of USB. See the picture below.
Have a look at the Remote Setting and the MOD Select. MOD Select is LAN. Look at Remote Setting too. See pictures and video below.
Click the Power On or Connect button in the RS-BA1 Remote Control.. With the "REMOTE" enabled you can control the radio.
I have a tip in the video for setting the F1 key on the keyboard for TX/RX. It works better than the mouse.
Laptop with RS-BA1 and Screen Captures
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- Server List
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- Server Properties
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- Radio List
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- Radio Settings
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- Connect Com Port
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- AF Settings
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- MOD Settings
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- RS-BA1 Connect Set
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- RS-BA1 Set Mode
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- RS-BA1 Remote Set
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- RS-BA1 MOD Set
Icom 7610 RS-BA1 Fine Tuning
Once I am more familiar with RS-BA1 I'll do another video and show how I fined tuned my software to transmit SSB, and CW. For now it's working and I get "good" audio reports on SSB.
Things to Consider
- When we use RS-BA1 to connect to the radio we need CI-V Transceive ON in the radio. It will switch ON automatically if it is OFF.
- To use the Scope in RS-BA1 we need Unlink from [REMOTE] setup properly in the radio.
- DATA OFF MOD will automatically change in the radio to LAN when we connect. It should then go back to your normal setting MIC,USB or MIC,ACC. Sometimes it doesn't. It just depends on how you shutdown the software. You'll have to experiment with it.
- Sometimes when I connect with the utility I get audio from the radio right away. That's just because the radio is already powered ON. (See below)
- Same with the Remote Power On. Sometimes when I open it I don't have to connect (power on) because the radio is already ON. (See below)
- Having MONITOR enabled on the Icom 7610 will create an echo when transmitting using remote software.
"Try this when you start to exit your remote session exit the RS-BA1 Remote Control window first by clicking the X in the top right of the window or the exit button on the top menu.
Then click the disconnect button at the bottom of the Icom Remote Utility window you should get a dialog box that asks if you want to disconnect the radio, click on YES and finally the X at the top right of that window. You should then see a small window that indicates it is closing the remote utility.
This procedure always puts the rig back in the state it was before the remote session at my QTH." - Julio, W4HY (Groups.io)
Icom 7610 RS-BA1 Installation and Settings Video
Conclusion
With my laptop I can use my radio from any room in the house. What a treat!
As I said, I haven't been using it for very long and I am still learning. This should at least help Hams get connected. In the future I hope to show a good and safe way to connect to the radio from outside of the private (home) network.
Have a look at the video and let me know what you think. Does it work for you? Any tips?
Thank you again for coming by and I appreciate all of the comments. If you have a suggestion or question please comment below. I will do my best to answer it and your experience will undoubtedly help others as well.
Sources:
Icom Firmware Updates / Software Downloads - Important RS-BA1 Update
Generally, will the same instructions apply to the 7300?
Hi Gary,
Nice to hear from you and I have not used my 7300 for remote yet. I believe so. It is not as hard as it first appeared.
With the 7300 you would need to install the RS-BA1 software on a computer next to the 7300 to act as the server. This would require configuring that software. There are excellent groups in Groups.io for RS-BA1 and Icom 7300.
Icom 7300
RS-BA1
I would install the software at the PC next to the 7300 first and then install the same software on the laptop.
I hear rumors of RS-BA2 coming out later this year. It might make things easier.
Thanks for the question.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Yeah
RS-BA2 we,r waiting for.
Ba1 from da last century. :-))
Agreed!
Hello Dick
I recently picked up that tp link nano EC00 I had one hell of a time getting it set as a client in my home network .
I wanted wifi to insulate the 7610 from the LAN connection ( I lost a computer router wifi and everything that was connected hard to the cable ) Charter cable system took a hit miles from my house I never heard thunder saw lightning …just a loud snap in the house .
Question can this EC00 be set up from the radio ic7610 ???
What I ended up doing was to use a laptop to set the nano chip inside for my On Hub wifi I was able to see it in the On Hub app on my smart phone when it was finished, I spent hours trying to figure it all out there call center help was no help hard to understand the accent of the agent and she was not short with me asking questions.
So can this be set from the radio from out of the box or did it do it the only way using my computer to talk to the EC00 ?
Regards
Art
ka9zap
Hi Art,
Nice to hear from you. That’s a bad lightning strike.
Off hand I would say, yes the only way to configure it is through a computer. I always use a laptop with an ethernet cable connected to the router and configure it that way.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich,
I use Xfinity wifi and router and can’t get access from outside my in-house network. Any tips DMZ or Port forwarding etc.
Dave
KC9K
Hi David,
Nice to hear from you and I have not tried it yet.
I think DMZ would be fine. There are only three ports open on the radio.
For reference, there is a RS-BA1 Facebook group and a Groups.io forum (links above).
When I get to it I’ll post some more information.
Thanks for commenting and the question.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich, thanks for your contributions to getting new IC=7610 owners up to speed on remote operation.
I don’t have access to my LAN in the shack, except via WiFi. Can I insert a device on the IC-7610 LAN port to allow WiFi connection? If so, what do I need?
73, David G3WGN M6O
Hi David,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting. Great question.
I’ve heard of others using a bridge/access point. TP-Link makes one and it was recommended by another Ham in the Groups.io forum. TP-Link N300.
Anything like that will work and I like TP-Link products.
Let me know how it goes.
Thanks again and I hope to hear you on the air.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hello
Thanks for the video. I’ve not yet used the remote and your video will hopefully help an OT get to use some of the features on the 7610 and 7300.
Happy new year,
Dave
G4OER
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting. I have been using it in my home and I will try from the coffee shop some day. Just haven’t had the opportunity.
It does work good, even on my cheap little HP Stream notebook. I got good audio reports the few times I used it and I can receive good.
Enjoy some time with it and I am sure you’ll get the hang of it.
Thank you again, Happy New Years!
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Rich!
I have IC-7300 (FW v. 1.30), connected locally to the PC by USB. And I’ve got a problem:
if I set “USB SEND = RTS” (it’s used for HRD) – any activity in “RS-BA1 Remote Control” leads to switching 7300 to TX mode, so only that I can do – turn off it by “POWER” button. “USB SEND = OFF” helps.
Do You know any solution?
Thanks for help!
73! Alex, UB1AKI
Hi Alex,
Nice to hear from you and thanks for the comment.
It will fine with USB SEND OFF in the radio while using HRD and RS-BA1. I don’t believe it will affect your RS-BA1, HRD or DM780.
My USB SEND was set to RTS for an old software program and I think many Hams just have it OFF in the radio. It should not affect anything.
I hope this helps. Thanks again and just maybe when conditions get better I’ll hear you on the air.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Rich!
Thanks a lot for help! HRD really works fine )))
I very hope I’ll hear You on the air.
73! Alex, UB1AKI
Hi Rich
Can you tell me do you require a static IP address for complete remote setup, at the moment my ISP uses a dynamic IP address and this could cause issues each time the IP address changes. The ISP charges me an extra $10 a month for a static address, or do you know of any kind of work around?
Hi Jordon,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the great question. Yes I have a dynamic IP but my ISP has set me up with k0pir.midcoip.net. It’s a free service of theirs, so I don’t get charged for an IP address. Maybe your ISP has similar service. If not there are some free services, but I am not sure how well they will work.
Best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
Hi, I’m N7CQQ working on setting up the RS-BA1 software. I am hung up on the setup for a Local PC. I selected USB/not Manual. Clicked on the drop down menu, no entries.. Tried the Manual, clicked on the drop down menu, found the radio, 7610. Next…the CI-V/Com prot settings.
address 98
Baud Rate 19200
Com port number >>> drop down menu is blank…. Im Stuck here.
Thanks, John N7CQQ
Hi John,
Nice to hear from you. Tell me about your station and setup. I do not run RS-BA1 on a local PC attached directly to the IC-7610.
Did you mean remote?
Rich, K0PIR
Is the RS-BA2 supposed to be newer than the BA-1 version 2?
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for posting your question here.
Actually the newer version is named RS-BA1 ver 2. I have not purchased it yet. I would like to get my money out of the first one. I wished they had an upgrade plan, but I still don’t see one as of today. Maybe they will have a sale!
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
I’m using a Mac, icom 7610, FLDGI. I have FLDGI running but I can’t get it to key the radio. I’m missing a setting on the Icom or FLDGI..
Hi Tom,
Good to hear from you and thanks for commenting here.
Use RigCAT in Fldigi and use my modified 7600 file for the file needed in Fldigi for RigCAT. You can download that modified file here. It is a zip file, so unzip it and put the .xml file on your computer under Fldigi and Rigs.
That’s what I use most of the time.
73!
I’m still stumped that didn’t work. Might help if I downloaded you logging program and programmed it from there. Maybe I’m missing something in the settings on the 7610. You don’t have to use an external modem, do you?
Hi,
Good to hear from you and thanks for commenting here.
I have a new laptop and just loaded RS-BA1 on it. I am following my post on this and it’s working. It is not the friendliest program, but I get good reports with it. This Facebook group is very good. Jeff, W6FCC is very helpful. GL, Good DX and best 73! Rich, K0PIR
Gary, I am using the tp-link_980A because my router is on the 2nd floor and the shack is in the finished basement. I set up everything as per your instructions. I do not have the RC-BA1 yet, its on order. But I thought to get ahead of the game so to speak. I am sending you a screen shot, of my windows power shell showing my wireless Lan that is connected the Realtek router. Look at the DNS servers as it only shows 192.168.1.1 which is the same as the DHCP server. Your screenshot shows NETWORK Primary 24.220. 1.100 and 24.220. 1.101. Is there something wrong with my WIN 10 computer? It works with everything I throw at it with no problems. I am using Win4Icom suite but I do see it being an issue? I tried the setup and went into timer and tried to connect to NTP Time SYNC and I get time sync failed. Yes the NTP function is on. So do I need the RC-BA1 to get this part of the process up and running and talking to my router. Sorry for the long email.
Hi John,
I’m Rich, K0PIR.
I don’t know about Win4Icom. It’s unusual to have 192.168.0.1 for DNS. That’s odd.
you’ll need to be able to time sync with the radio. Try DHCP in the radio and let it pull the IP and DNS from your router.
Rich, K0PIR
Rich, I agree with you in regard to 192.168.0.1. I thought it would be somewhat similar to what you had in your CMD. DHCP is on and it won’t pull up the IP and DNS from the router. Very frustrating. Sorry I called you Gary, it must have been late.
Tnx, John
ND1X
PS – I really enjoy watching your videos and they have helped in many ways. Great job.
No worries John.
I would call my ISP and see what they say. They can explain the DNS and you can enter it manually. You’ll want to eventually setup the radios IP as static by entering the information manually. I have had my share of issues with my ISP. 73!