Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Icom RS-BA1

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
W4AFJ Rating: 2018-11-26
Working Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this software with the Icom-7300. I also purchased a Sennheiser PC-3 Headset w/mic. The combo works great together. A major learning curve is involved to get it all working and operating correctly. After it's working it will start to become intuitive to using the software. I recommend all the you-tube videos to help one get started. It is a "BUY" to me. I like it more and more every time I use it.
WD9GNG Rating: 2018-11-03
Works But Was a Hassle! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was eventually able to get the ICOM RS-BA1 working with my PC, laptop, and IC-7300. The instructions were not as helpful as the many videos available. Several forums were helpful especially in getting the laptop to be fully functional as a remote station.

I am using a nice Sennheiser headset that make portable operation enjoyable. I thought about adding the optional RC-28 external tuning dial but that would be another $200. The RS-BA1 version 1 was $100 and the version 2 which give dual waterfalls etc for the 7610 is $150.

The more people that can get this software running will allow more people to Elmer others that have struggled getting the RS-BA1 up and going.

I have operated from around the house and out in my gazebo. I am looking forward to better weather to enjoy sitting outside with a cool drink while ragchewing or DXing.


I doubt that I will do much portable operations with the RS-BA1 since you have to have the ability to set port forwarding for UDP ports 50001, 50002, and 50003. This is true not only for the router connected to your radio and PC but also for any router that you try to connect through while portable with your laptop. It would difficult to port forward ports on routers that you encounter while at Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops,restaurants, and hotels etc.


My cellphone doesn't support tethering or use as a Wi-Fi hotspot. But for those with a phone that does this I imagine you could get the RS-BA1 software to work using it to get to the internet with your laptop in areas without internet access.
W5GNB Rating: 2018-07-18
Works GREAT !!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Easy to install, setup, and operate. Nearly ALL features are available from remote to the IC-7300. Great audio reports from the internet IP connection and I have it installed on various computers from desktop to laptops. I use a USB headset/mic and could not be more pleased with the performance ~~~~
I have not tried it on other rigs but on the IC-7300, it works flawlessly ~~~
KK6YO Rating: 2018-07-10
Why the low marks? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hello all,
I have been reading the reviews and wonder why all the negativity? From what I can see is that the hams of today are us-to "plug and play" on everything. jeez. I can't believe the negativity from those who appear to be very intelligent. I had a hard time installing the software. Mainly is that I did not understand port forwarding. After that was done the rest came easier. Anyway don't beat me up but realize that we are becoming more versatile in our day to day operations and by using the vast amount of web sdr's communication has become easier. We just have to try new things and don't expect to just plug it in and having it all work great out of the box. 73 - Jerry KK6YO PS - I mean no disrespect to anyone on this list as my intentions are MHOP only

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KK6YO on 2018-07-10

I have had the program for about 2 years now. I first bought it for my IC-7300 but never got around to installing it. Fast forward to December 2017 for Christmas my wife Linda (AB6KQ) purchased a Icom IC-7610. Installing the software was a challenge but that is for another time. Bottom Line !! Whoever hears me via the remote can not tell the difference between Live in front of the transceiver using my Heil PR-781G (Gold sounds better) HA. I am using a 19.95 cheap head piece with microphone attached to my USB port of the computer. Any Yes, you can record and playback over the air using the BS-BA1 software. You can move you bandwidth wide and tight at what ever you like to listen to. NOW Here it comes walking down the street (Monkeys) The RS-BA1-2 announced yesterday to the world. DUO waterfalls - can monitor and see 2 bands and of course record and playback on the fly. I can't wait to buy the upgrade and for those who are lucky enough to own a 7300 or 7610, you really need to consider this purchase. I don't work for ICOM and I have been a long time Yaesu owner. This combination is a winner. Follow the link for a cool surprise.

New release of IP remote control software RS-BA1 Version 2
http://qrznow.com/new-release-of-ip-remote-control-software-rs-ba1-version-2/

KG6KGP Rating: 2018-03-16
No issues at all Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It worked fine right out of the box with my 7610. I didn't even read the manual. I just clicked on the first executable I found, basically took the defaults except for the network address and userid, hit connect and off it went. The resolution could be better but other than that, the code works.

Come on guys, we're amateurs! We live to screw around with things like this! Dont give up, just think a little about what the code is trying to accomplish and spend more time working with it than writing negative reviews.

Jerry
WD5FUN Rating: 2018-01-23
How can you give this a 5 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
While I did not find this too difficult to install and it does work, but is totally outdated with poor functionality. This is 2018 and Icom is selling last century software. I find it is unimaginable that you are unable to resize the screens and can not use the mouse wheel to adjust frequency. That clunky software VFO is very poorly designed. $100 for this software is outrages.
W9PMZ Rating: 2017-12-12
poor to great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this software a few years ago with an ICOM 9100. The instructions were not that good but it was not that difficult to setup. Of course the instructions were very repetitive and sometimes cryptic; but if you followed the instructions the software did work. There was a certain logic to what was being done.

The key I believe is to setup the UDP ports on the server that you use in your home. Port triggering will not work. The other issue is that you need to make sure that the host always comes up on the same IP. This is easily set in the TCP/IP setup. For the host I am now using a cheap < $150 mini PC that I bought from Amazon. This mini PC is running 24/7 without a keyboard or display. I use VNC of I need to make changes, etc.

Having now purchased an ICOM 7300 I updated the RSBA1 software from ICOMs website and the wizards with pictures is a vast improvement to setup the software.
W6EZY Rating: 2017-12-11
Hard to program Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I must post this about the Icom-RS-BA1. It took me awhile but I finally got it working. I used the you tube video at this address.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOpiSDzW3-g
This guy shows you every settings With visual aids. Worked great after I followed his example step by step.
Sorry about my prior review.

----------------------
Earlier 0-star review posted by W6EZY on 2017-11-11

This product leaves me scratching my head, I cannot believe that a company can sell software that most people can't get to work. I worked on getting this software installed and working, even called in another ham that is an IT guy. He finally gave up. You boast that the 7300 is a SDR radio but it is far from true. If you sell the radio and software and call it SDR but the software doesn't work it is not a SDR radio.
This is not good business practice, if they can't get it to work as advertised they should take it off the market of offer refunds to people that have bought it but cant get it to work. I wish I owned a company that could sell an item for $100.00 that doesn't work.
----------------------
Earlier 0-star review posted by W6EZY on 2017-02-16

This software does not work as advertised. It is overly complicated and almost impossible to install. I had a IT friend that is also a ham, we couldn't get it to work. A waste of money. They should offer a refund. Flex does it right, it seems that a Company as large as Icom could at least get their software right. I bought a 7300 because it is billed as SDR, far from it.
WW5F Rating: 2017-09-27
Works well! But not for those who don't know how TCP/IP works. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Was wanting to monitor the hurricane nets during harvey, irma and jose. Radio is out in the back yard in another building, spending most of my time in my office in the house.

I've already been using the USB port on my IC-7300 for local control and logging, so I bought this RS-BA1 hoping I could get my radio's audio into my computer in my office in the house.

The barriers for most folks is 1) not knowing how the internet works and 2) deciphering multipath instructions (with a lot of repeat information) that have been translated from another language.

This is not plug-n-play software. Can't just load it and expect it to work. There's a unique path to follow in the instruction manaul and a unique set of numbers specific to your radio and computer(s) that have to be entered in the screens as you progress through that path in the instructions.

I winged it at first and it didn't work. The order you go through setting up the "Remote Utility" and the "Remote Controller" software matters on both your "Base station" PC and your "Remote station" PC. Read the instructions, figure out your path first, and put a big red X on the pages/steps that don't apply.

Then Write down all the numbers. CI-V address/baud rate of your radio. IP address/host name of "Base Station" PC (the one next to the radio), IP address/host name of "Remote Station" (remote PC used to control your radio).

Be ready to come up with descriptive names when you create your "Server" and your "Radio" and add them. Be ready to create a user/strong password.

Also, don't forget to open some ports on your "Base Station" PC (inbound firewall rule: Allow UDP ports 50,001-50,003)

And if you want to control your radio from outside your LAN, be sure to open up those same ports on your router.


Works very well for what I was hoping it would do. I like it. I'm saying it's a "5" because I can tell the authors of the instructions *really* tried to make it easy. What they're trying to show in step-by-step instructions is not an easy thing to do--especially if you're trying to explain to someone who doesn't know the basics of how the internet works.
W6CAW Rating: 2017-06-07
A mess! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Gave mine away when I sold my IC-7600. Spent my entire life in the electronics industry and was a computer consultant from 1984 till i retired in 2007. I have never seen such a un-organized piece of junk from any manufacturer. I am sure I could have figured it out eventually but my new motto is, if I can't make a software package work in 30 minutes it's out of here. This is the plug and play era. There is no excuse for crummy software like this.