| K4RNA |
Rating:      |
2021-02-11 | |
| This software is awesome. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have read several reviews here and I have none of the experiences that I read. To get it to work, do it in sections for instance. Fist just get the software to work on your desktop or laptop. Once you are familiar with the the operation, then try to connect remotely. I made ton of contacts. All great audio reports. I use a logitech headset and it works great. I did not use the manual to get it to work. I just watched a few youtube videos. The sound card setting are by far the trickiest. But for remote operation just select the ICOM virtual USB audio drivers. then on your remote computer I select the USB headset and microphone. The only thing I wish you could do was digital mode. but you just have to connect remotely with the server with TEAMVIEWER . Then you can do digital as well. I Friggin love it. If anyone needs help configuring it, You can email me and we can set up a meeting. I have Version 2 software. |
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| K9SO |
Rating:   |
2021-01-17 | |
| Poor compatibility with the IC-9700 |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I bought v2 for use with the IC-9700 and I'm very disappointed. The main issue is that the software does not support cross band satellite operation. This makes it useless for my application.
But other stuff:
It is possible to "brick" the radio with the software. For example, if you change microphone settings from the software, there is no way to change them back from the radio. The radio is bricked until you re-connect to the software and change the settings.
The software memory is separate from the radio's memory channels. This make operation very awkward since the software does not change the radio's actual memory channels but rather "fakes" a memory bank in the software itself. So the two memories are always different.
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| G0JSV |
Rating:    |
2021-01-07 | |
| User Interface |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I like the summary from KA1YBS and also the comments from ON7WP.
The cost of the software should include at least 3 major software upgrades in my opinion. In some respects it is good. (Stability) In other respects it is seriously lacking.
The set-up here involves a 7300. A host computer is tied up with the USB connectivity to that radio if remote access is required. Think about that. A PC needs to be running next to the radio if you want remote access. I also have a 9700 which has a built in server and therefore does not need the host.
On the host PC connected to the 7300, the Icom Remote Utility is running 24/7 with the Radio List populated with the 7300.
The IC9700 does not require the Icom Remote Utility software.
The Client PC needs the Icom Remote Utility SW setup and configured. Two servers are defined. One pointing to the host PC connected to the 7300, the other pointing to the server embedded within the 9700.
All this before we even fire up the RS-BA1 Remote Control SW.
My next task is to try and get digital modes working. WSJT-X erc. Am I on a hiding to nothing I wonder.
Tom
G0JSV
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| PA3HGT |
Rating:   |
2020-07-24 | |
| Needs improvement |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have the software for a couple of weeks for my IC9700 (fw 1.24) .
After a few days work , it was set up because i had some isseus to let work the tx-audio.
It took a long time to adress the microphone because i did not expected it must be set on "LAN".
When tx-audio worked , had distorted audio (too much input) so i had to use a line in input.
I use a laptop and mine has not a "line in" so i used chinese external soundcard with a line in.
After that sounds good.
Now i wanted to use my Icom IC7851 to use remote, so 2 transceivers on the same laptop.
My Icom IC7851 uses old firmware (1.20) because Icom has no hurry to solve the more then 2 year old bug that i discovered in 1.30 and still in 1.31 !(their own created bug,acknowledged by Icom technician).
Set up was not easy because you can't adress two internal ip's on same ports.
The Icom 9700 can be set in the menu on other ports then 50001 to 50003,the Icom 7851 can't (fixed ports due old firmware).
When you start the connect utility and the connection is succesfull , then the remote section must be started by the user.
I had to choose to between the 9700 or the 7851 and i can't understand why those settings are not already saved in the connect utility.
In the serverlist and radiolist, the "tags" are switched ! Lucky me i know the virtual ports to recognize the right radio to connect!
Another strange fault : when i am at home and i connect my 7851 on the serverlist via wifi or 4G : no problem.
When i connect the 7851 in the radiolist : via wifi a virtual error and via 4G no problem.
The connection with the 9700 gives no problem.
Also in the manual are a few examples of 2 radio's on the same router but not in my situation: two radio with their own internal server.
So the software (and manual) can use "some" improvement for easier operation.
73,Hans,PA3HGT
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| KG7LEA |
Rating:    |
2020-07-14 | |
| All about the computer settings |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I spent several months moving back and forth between the base and remote stations (two hours apart) trying to get the settings right especially opening all three port forwardings on 1) the router, 2) the base station modem, and 3) my remote station modem. Since every router and ISP is different, it is difficult to predict the settings. Add to that the way that Windows 10 changes the interface (I'm a Mac guy). The manual is really pretty good, but does not capture the steps I needed.
The biggest issue was the IP address needed to connect to the base station. The manual guided me to the address of the computer, easy to find if you follow the manual. But that was wrong for me. I have a local, family-owned Internet Service Provider with top-drawer customer support. She was the one to figure out that I needed the IP address of the modem, not the computer. Nowhere in any of the four computers I used does that address appear. It had to come from the provider.
Ironically, the Team View app provided control of the radio using the RS-BA1 software on the base station radio. I could have stopped there, but I wanted the whole package to work for $150.
My recommendation is to investigate other remote control solutions and be prepared to spend some time and money. The software is good. It's the computers in between that are tricky.
(My provider had a note on my account that this was for ham radio. The tech related how as a six-year old, her grandfather let her talk on ham radio to her uncle in the service in Japan.) |
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| KA1YBS |
Rating:    |
2020-04-24 | |
| Game Changer! Freedom and FUN once you survive the BUMPS |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This review is purely my opinion, your requirements and operating habits will be different.
This review focuses on "Life without a middleman-PC". If you don't have a 7610, 7700 or 7800, you will need a PC between the rig and your remote. There are other options besides RS-BA1 in that case. I didn't want to complicate things with another PC, and found that it only made things MORE complicated in the end. I am happy with the way it all works, however.
Let me start with the negatives, since there ARE some.
1. You have to pay for the software, and it's NOT cheap at $150. If you consider other possible accessories to make this all work, you will be out a good chunk of change.
2. Upgrades are NOT entirely free. You get incremental upgrades in the same version (there will be three of those). Ask anyone with RS-BA1 V1... they had to ditch that and re-purchase V2. When V3 comes out, guess what?
3. You get only ONE virtual serial port for control. If you don't have a middleman-pc and attempt to use a logging or digital mode application, forget it. If you think you can get by with a virtual port splitter, good luck with that, I've been there and tried to do that with Eltima and VSPE and even West Mountain... NOPE. I had to purchase a separate (here we go again...) device. A Silex DS-510 ($100) that gives me a control port for Logger/FT8/SSTV etc. and another port for my USB-enabled rotator!
4. This one is not as much as a ding on the app, well, kinda... You need "good" network bandwidth to pull this all off. DSL might be sufficient, but you will likely get choppy audio and lag time. Think computer gaming here. You should have a solid 500kbit or hopefully 1mbit stream. You can do this on 4G if you are near a tower and not sharing your connection. Bottom line: If Icom introduced better audio compression algorithms than u-Law or LPCM (is that even compressed?) then maybe some better performance could be achieved for those of you with slow data connections. This is not Icom's fault totally, I'm being critical, so you are aware of potential improvements or pitfalls.
5. If you want to finely control your remote rig like a real rig, there is a very expensive jog/shuttle dial for purchase. It's almost as expensive as a used 706 MkIIG hi hi! I have found a cheaper solution that I posted on QRZ, read on.
6. A lot of people have issues with actually getting this stuff to work properly. Honestly, half of it is in the manual, the other half is "are you an IT guru?". I don't blame Icom as much as most of you, they can't sneak into your router and open ports, for instance. Well... they kinda can, using uPNP, but they don't. You NEED to know how to access your firewall and router and this not only includes the box at your QTH, it includes your Windows computer(s). You will also want a dynamic DNS service if you hope to use this from afar without a static IP.
7. Icom should include "remote profile settings" for up to 3 different hardware devices connected. This way, you can switch between a headset or speakers and separate mic, all with AF/Mic gain presets, etc. Switching these audio devices can lead to painful results unless you write down the drive/mic gain settings for instance.
8. CW keying is relegated to using your keyboard. I don't know if this is ICOM's fault, but the latency will throw you off.
9. Bottom line, you really MUST read the manuals carefully, and re-read them. If you never assembled a Yagi, hex beam or SteppIR, would you just grab your wrench and screwdriver? No.
Conclusion Part 1: Icom should have written a TEST application that they distribute FOR FREE, prior to you purchasing RS-BA1. This would test firewalls and IP addresses and TELL YOU what you need before purchase. That would have saved a lot of paying customer's grief.
OK, with that out of the way, Why on Earth, did I give this software 3.5-4 out of 5 stars???
THE GOOD STUFF:
1. There is a nice little SETUP WIZARD to guide you along. As long as you realize that you have to have access to a router admin console, you will be OK. Please use this wizard!
2. The software just WORKS. This thing has a BEAUTIFUL, intrinsic layout. Nothing is hidden from view, and everything can be automated through a keyboard or USB jog wheel. The scope/waterfall is a joy, tuning is smooth and natural, and all of the display elements like colors, bandwidth, averaging are all there.
3. For radios with a built-in IP Server (7610, 7700, 7800) forget the middleman PC altogether, if you dare...
4. I have been LIBERATED from the desk in my shack. I have used this from a hotel, 2,500 miles from my QTH and also use it from my home office computer on a daily basis. I use it on my laptop when i'm upstairs from the shack and relaxing on the couch. All of this without a middleman PC.
5. It works with every speaker, headphone, headset, mic I have thrown at it. I have discovered these amazing Sony WH1000XMX3 noise-cancelling headphones (expensive, yes) and I regularly make phone QSOS on them over Bluetooth. They sound soooo good.
6. Instead of Icom's expensive remote control dial (save up for the headset!) I used a cheap "Contour Designs Shuttle Xpress" for $60 that, after a bit of twiddling, works just as good in my opinion.
7. Did I mention this stuff is even "more awesome" when you have a touch screen monitor? My laptop does, and let me tell you, Icom thought of that already. They include a setting for sliders instead of knobs on the screen. Yes, even on a Microsoft Surface... with these Bluetooth cans on your ears. You have a rig that you can carry around your QTH or hotel or field day site.
8. The included Icom Virtual audio adapter appears to be share-able. I have made SSTV QSOS with it, even without my Silex USB server. I gather if you want to manually control the TX switch, you can do digital modes without adding a USB server, but what about your rotator? This is the only advantage of a middleman PC that I can think of, and at that point, use a cheaper alternative like the Win4Icom suite.
Conclusion Part 2:
I think this sits between a Flex Maestro (best) and a middleman PC with Win4Icom or the MFJ Linux box.
If you are tech-savvy, and budget accordingly, you will have a blast with this setup.
You should consider a budget of about $250 to do the remote stuff with the software and USB device server (If you don't use a middle-pc) and cheap wired headset.
Weigh your options for software like Win4Icom. You may be happier with that setup if you have to use a middle-PC.
If you already have a Flex... why are you reading this? HI HI!
I am sure I left a lot out. I spent some time writing this and I hope it has been helpful.
Yes, I would (begrudgingly) buy RS-BA1 V3 if I had to, only if it vastly improved things, like adding a second and third virtual serial port and included rotator control... we can dream...
73
Tim
KA1YBS |
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| ON7WP |
Rating:     |
2020-04-14 | |
| Very complex to configure, but once running, great |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I have the V2 software control my 7300 and 9700. Setting it up for full remote operation is COMPLICATED.
I am an IT professional, but ICOM uses some very weird logic in their system.
Basically You have two programs to install. First a remote utility that handles the remote com port and IP audio, and this one has two sections, a computer server part and a radio part, unless you have the 9700 that does both.
Once this is running, you have to connect to this remote utility, and then once more to the client software. Took me some time before I understood this... This one has to be reconfigured each time you switch to another radio on your server, if you have multiple.
The naming conventions are very confusing, it took me two weeks to get it running and fully understand their logic, if any.
Do not try this with the IC7000, it has a bug, it only works with this radio by selecting "general".
But when working, the audio quality and user experience is brilliant, but not for the faint hearted....
If it does not work, read the manual, again, again and again. It is not obvious, not at all, Japanese logic !
The Japanese support staff did a great job helping me out on this one, and even made a special test setup to show it was working on W10.
Changing audio devices on your laptop with running software makes it disconnect. you have to exit and restart the program to make the new audio connections work, also annoying. |
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| WR5DC |
Rating:  |
2020-03-28 | |
| Pitiful software. Don't waste your money. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I too wasted $130.. Might as well thrown it in the trash. The manual is pitiful, no U-tubes that help as the ICOM U-tube must be 5 years old and Windows 7. Don't waste your money !!!!!! |
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| N6NRO |
Rating:  |
2020-02-27 | |
| Don't waste your money or your time. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I may not be a software engineer but I'm no slouch either when it comes to installing software programs. The ICOM RS-BA1 V2 is junk. Like the other reviewer I have spent hours trying to get the remote function to work. Nothing, nada. Way too complicated and their instructions are worthless. The terminology alone is mind bending. I love my ICOM 7300 and recommend it to all my radio buddies but I have already started warning them about this software. Don't waste your money and definitely don't waste your time. N6NRO |
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| K6LIE |
Rating:  |
2020-02-15 | |
| Very dissatisfied with Icom |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I am very dissatisfied with Icom's RS- BA1 v 2 software. I don't know how many hours in the past couple of weeks I have tried to get this garbage software to work. Got it to work on the server desktop, but could not for the life of me, get it to work remotely from my laptop. It is not friendly or intuitive. It does not install well and and is extremely frustrating to get working. The manual is about 94 pages long. Incredibly long and tedious. I finally gave up and sent it back for a refund. I do not recommend this software. Maybe V3 will be easier to work with. |
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