Here at Icom, we have a long standing reputation as a communications pioneer. That of course includes radios but it also includes software innovations. Our RS-BA1 Internet Protocol (IP) Remote Control Software is another innovation that can enhance your experience using an Icom rig.
What Does it Do?
The RS-BA1 allows you to access your ham shack rig at a distance, whether that distance is another room in your home or another country. As long as you have internet access, you can get on the air from your ham shack.
The remote control computer display above has nearly every single function from your ham shack transceiver. It also has several separate windows for CW keyer settings, voice memory, SSB passband settings for both transmit and receive, and filter settings.
The RC-28 USB Remote Encoder can provide a tuning dial and function keys so users are not only controlling your transceiver using the computer keyboard and mouse but you also have a knob and buttons! Now we’re cooking.
What’s Connected?
The table below outlines the level of connection between your ham shack transceiver and your remote control, which varies from radio to radio. At the top end, the IC-7851 and IC-7700 can be used as the server (via an ethernet connection) with some radios even providing a spectrum waterfall display.
How Does It Work?
We’d like to say that it’s simple, but then again we’re engineers. It does take some effort to get everything set up correctly at your home station and on the computer you’ll be using for remote control. Having said that, however, please note that we’ve provided plenty of information to guide your efforts for successful installation and operation. More on this later.
Users can use a USB connection to your ham shack computer, which serves as a server for the link to your remote computer. This type of connection is typical for most of our transceivers. Users can also add a separate audio link to the server.
The IC-7851 and the IC-7700 transceivers have an ethernet interface so users can connect directly to an IP router, rather than using a computer as a server.
The software operates in any Windows environment on a CPU with a 1 GHz processor or better with 1 GB memory for a 32-bit operating system or 2 GB for 64-bit. Network data speed should be 500 kbps or faster.
Where Can I Learn More?
You can start at the RS-BA1 product page. Check out the Quick Reference Guide and RS-BA1 Instruction Manual.
Julian Frost, N3JF, has provided a comprehensive video on installation and configuration below.
Get On The Air From Anywhere
There you have it. The RS-BA1 IP Remote Control Software is just the ticket to getting on the air from your ham shack anywhere you happen to be.
Check it out , then make it happen.
