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Reviews For: Icom RS-BA1

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : Icom RS-BA1
Reviews: 82MSRP: 100
Description:
remote control software for newer Icom radios.
Product is in production
More Info: http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/rsba1/default.aspx
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
23.5822.8
KJ7LYB Rating: 2022-12-30
It could be better, but it works. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hi,

So I purchased this software to use with my IC 7300 so I could have my radio with me while away on holiday, etc.

Citing the reviews....the app does work, but there is a bit of technical know-how required to get it running. You have to know how to find your external IP address, as well as how to configure port forwarding on your router. This is so your router knows to allow the incoming internet traffic to be sent to the server computer.

SO, find out your router information, and configure port forwarding on your router to the computer running the server software. Look up on the internet how to do this on your router. Then, you connect the client software to your home IP address. The sever computer has to be connected to the radio by USB.

For deeper detail, there are youtube videos showing how to do all of this, such as this one here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmN1RR9cDcY

It's important to understand this software is not very "plug and play", there is some network setup required as documented above.

I do feel Icom could have better documented this.

Once that is done, the software works. Noticeably it gets disconnected if RFI occurs, so a good idea to put ferrite beads on the USB cable. Also I might put TeamViewer on the server computer to be able to always access it.

It has a gui that allows you to control the IC 7300 for shortwave listening and transmit. When transmitting it uses your computers microphone and you click the transmit button as the PTT button.

The app does have a few limitations:

You can only operate barefoot, it has no way of interfacing with linear amplifier, also it can only use the 7300s built in auto tuner. So, 100 watts only.

It is a Windows only software. So Mac OS or Linux people will have to install Windows in a Virtual Machine to run this.

No external peripherals.

So yes, this app is not as good is physically being in front of your radio. But when knowing how to set it up, it does the job ok.
G4SGX Rating: 2022-10-23
Tricky Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got mine to work OK, but needed you-tube videos to properly set the rig config, the manuals are not the best.
Can't find any latency info as with wfview..
K6SDW Rating: 2022-08-21
Waste of money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got it working with my IC7300 on my Windows 11 laptop, but wasn't impressed at all....no waterfall

Thankfully I only paid eBAY price for software.

73
5B4AIY Rating: 2022-06-14
A Work In Progress? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
There seem to be two distinct camps with regard to Icom's RS-BA1 remote control software - the first camp seems to have installed and overcome any configuration issues and are pleased and happy with the performance. The second camp seems to be completely the opposite, having experienced considerable difficulties, resulting in non-operation.

I find myself in a middle category where some of it works, and some of it does not. I had hoped that this package would be similar to the experience I had with Smart-SDR from Flex Radio for my Flex 6400M. This software installed without a hitch on my Windows-7 laptop, and when the radio was connected, everything worked flawlessly. I should perhaps add that I had not, nor do I have any intention of operating my station remotely via the Internet as I consider this to be far too risky for a number of reasons. I only wished to operate my Icom IC-7610 from across the room via a USB cable, the simplest of all possible configurations.

Even though RS-BA1 V2 does not specifically support Windows-7, I tried installing it anyway. The installation seemed OK, no obvious glitches, but no matter what I tried I was completely unable to connect to the radio. Presumably the drivers were incompatible, even though I am able to communicate using other software. OK, it would have been a bonus if it had worked. The next step was to install it on my Windows-10 laptop, and that went without any obvious problems. However, even though I selected the USB local cable configuration, I still could not connect to the radio from the laptop, and it took a bit of head scratching to resolve. Finally I was able to communicate, and it seemed to work, using the RC-28 remote encoder I could tune the radio, change bands, antennas, and modes. What I could not do was re-route the audio to the laptops's headset or speakers. I have spent hours trying all sorts of different settings but to no avail, the audio output and input remains stubbornly stuck at the radio.

As a further comment, despite my laptop being only 2 years old, with plenty of RAM, a SSD, and a reasonably fast processor, the panadaptor and waterfall updates are slow and subject to occasional momentary freezes - not at all the nice smooth display as seen on both the transceiver and the external monitor. Since all the screen information is being conveyed via the USB pseudo RS-232 ports this presumably accounts for the poor screen updates.

In summary:

1. The software should be sufficiently defensive to warn if installation is attempted on an incompatible system;

2. The software should also be able to automatically establish a working default configuration without requiring significant amounts of user interaction;

3. Considering that the Smart-SDR software and operating feature set is significantly more complex than that of the RS-BA1, why is it so difficult to get it to work?

4. It is a shame that Icom makes you pay for a new version rather than offering an upgrade discount from your earlier version.

So, since I cannot get it to work on my laptop, and I am not prepared to spend any more time on it, I have now removed it and use the RC-28 remote encoder on the radio itself. Sorry, Icom, but I can only give this expensive package 2 stars, definitely needs work.
Adrian, 5B4AIY
WM4RB Rating: 2021-11-08
It's for remote connections. IT'S NOT CLONING S/W Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this remote connecting software for a long time. It works great. You do have to read the directions to properly set it up.
G0UOO Rating: 2021-11-08
Not very good. Not worth the time/effort Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Not worth the effort. Just doesn't work properly. All kinds of problems connecting to different ports, etc. Far too complicated. Managed to achieve some limited rig control, but never did get any audio through the thing. There's only so much time I'm prepared to spend on things that should just work. It's 2021 for Pete's sake!

** 8 Nov 2021**

Tried again on a new laptop. Simply doesn't work properly. Avoid!
2E0EUG Rating: 2021-09-11
Bad bad bad ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
They may make good radios but their software is just bad, they should stick to what they know and sub contract this to someone else, its connection issues are a disgrace, 3 grand for a radio on which functions cant be used is a disgrace, even Yaesu can do better, the best place for this software is in the bin, if your using in the bedroom on the same wifi network it just about works, anything else forget it.
WD8BP Rating: 2021-02-25
Works well, no laggy response Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the V2 version installed on several pc's, tablet,and laptop. The rig(s) in use:
IC-9700,IC-7410,IC-7300. While the software lacks some of the features found on the radio itself, the software does what it was designed to do...allow remote access to the majority functions of the radio. I use 5Ghz wifi thru the house,and the response is spot on.
I have connected a FiFine usb desk mic on the one pc, and get awesome transmit reproduction. While it did at first take some time to figure out the wifi settings, router configuration etc..since I am not an IT guy;but with the assistance of Greg from Icom, he walked me thru the settings, explained what was what and was very knowledgeable in setups and configuration. All software has limitations, due to coding, but this software works much better then other software I have tried. Things to make this software better: add more functionality to emulate the rig itself.
AC9Y Rating: 2021-02-24
Works With Some Config Time Invested Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I installed the RS-BA1 remote software in order to control an IC-7100 on the second floor of our building. The coax run would have been far too long to install it in our EOC. A PC interfaces the IC-7100 since it does not contain a server for that purpose. My client for the RS-BA1 is a laptop on WiFi. With the RC-28 connected by USB, it all works very well. No audio drop outs in receive or transmit. The PC is a Dell XPS-15, i7.

Almost like being in front of the IC-7100.

However, the RS-BA1 manual could be better.

Roger - AC9Y
3A2NG Rating: 2021-02-21
NUL Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
IC-705 / Rs-BA 1 last version / windows 10 Pro
Guaranteed sleepless nights
A shame, as long as ICOM sells this kind of software Ele..Yae..Ken..and even the CNs ... will have their future assured. Produce radios but forget about software.
ROGER / 3A2NG