Icom IC7300 A to Z #23 USB connection to your computer

NOTICE: In July 2021 the channel name changed from HamCuredSmoke
To Ham Radio A2Z. All of the earlier videos (like this one) are still available.
This time we'll look at connecting the 7300 to your computer via the USB port. We'll learn about the importance of using a quality USB cable and see the interference created by a bad cable. We also look at how to make sure your computer can see the radio in Windows 10.
Here's a link to a USB cable I've had good luck with:
amzn.to/2E9fNui
Full Disclosure- This is an Amazon Associate link. So if you buy it I get a small percentage. Your price doesn't change.

[@kevinb3048]

Hi Tom, I wanted to say thanks for all the time and effort you've put into this series. I just ordered an IC-7300 as my first HF radio. I'm binge watching every video while waiting for the UPS truck!

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks Kevin. Glad you're enjoying them. I'm pretty sure you're going to love the rig! 73, Tom

[@MarkGreen-pp3qy]

​@@HamRadioA2Zoh man I have a icom USB but will it work on the ham it up converter

[@theoldgronker]

Great a/b comparison with the different cables. That will likely save people a lot of grief.

[@shawnp6653]

Good stuff. Hope to get a 7300 by the end of the month - then I'll go watch all your stuff Tom!

[@Kd4stt.]

Thank you very much Tom for your videos, especially your Icom 7300 A to Z series. You're are my #1 Elmer for my newly purchased Icom 7300.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thank you for your kind words and for reaching out. I’m glad they are helpful.

[@KX4UL]

Very well done! Clear, to the point and easy to follow. Thanks for posting...73!

[@samproctor9052]

Tom, Great videos! In process of setting up a 7300. Just ordered the USB cable you recommended. Not sure about a CI-V cable. Looks like that may addressed a little later in the list. Looking forward to diving into all of the videos. -Sam, KO4BCO

[@richardmorris4430]

No doubt the cable is a significant issue. The Tripp cable helped me. RFI proved an issue except with shielded cables with ferrites. Tnx for your videos.

[@Paddy_Roche]

Thank you Tom. “Birdies” is a new term for me.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Paddy. I don’t know where the term comes from. I first heard it a long time ago. It used to refer to an internally generated signal from a radio that was always present. So someone might say “This radio has a birdy on XX frequency”. It meant that you’d hear a week tone on that frequency even with nothing at all connected to the radio.

[@bobbartola9496]

THANK YOU TOM!!! Your fix works perfectly. It was just a matter of assigning the audio in my windows computer. Nor I get the full affect of using both IC-7300 receiver and RSPduo for diversity reception. I can't thank you enough.....I was pulling my hair out...lol 73's

[@ephraimmusa770]

i dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb forgot my password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me!

[@hezekiahabdiel6868]

@Ephraim Musa instablaster :)

[@ephraimmusa770]

@Hezekiah Abdiel i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and im in the hacking process now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@ephraimmusa770]

@Hezekiah Abdiel It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@hezekiahabdiel6868]

@Ephraim Musa No problem :)

[@barndweller4573]

Thank you for the video's I have been a ham over 40 years. I just purchased a 7300 so I could have it close to my monitors. My shack a long time ago became a office so the work has to take priority over the amateur radio stuff. My Flex 6400 is just more than I want there in the way, Pr-40 and a switch to key the rig. FOr what I got the 7300 is a bargain I think.

[@bobbartola9496]

Thank You Tom. I just purchased my IC-7300 and had some birdies but quickly fixed it with ferrites. My BIG problem is that when I plug my USB cable in my IC-7300 my computer audio cuts out. I downloaded the ICOM 7300 driver correctly. My goal was to use the PTRX-7300 RF HI-Z tap and feed my SDR Play RSPduo using Omnirig to control the SDR play SDRuno software (use tuning dial on the 7300 AND use the audio from the computer for diversity reception (use both SDR channels). The Omnirig control works great!. All is well BUT I have NO audio on my computer which I require for the SDR Play RSPduo(Audio good on the 7300) when the USB cable is plugged into the 7300. I tried various computers and cables....still the audio cuts out on my computer. It even cuts out with the IC-7300 OFF AND the linear IC- 7300 power supply for the 7300 ON. Audio on the computer comes back with the power supply turned off. That tells me that even though the IC-7300 is off the circuit that is giving me grief is still on with the radio off and the power supply on. How can I get the computer audio to work while the USB cable is plugged in the IC-7300? Thank You very much Tom! Bob N3SWL

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Bob. Yes, the USB connection to the 7300 is active whenever the radio has 12V power. The reason is that one of the C-IV commands you can send to the radio is to Power On. I suspect that what is happening is that when you connect the rig USB cable, your computer is setting the Default audio output to the radio instead of the computer speakers. So, SDR Play is probably playing audio to the radio. With the rig USB connected, right click on the speaker icon on the lower right of the screen (this assumes you’re using Windows). Then select the audio control panel and see if your default playback device got changed to USB CODEC or something like that. If so, change it back to whatever your computers speakers are called. That might fix the problem. I think if you change the default back this way while the rig is connected, it will stick and you shouldn’t have to do it again the next time you connect the radio. Let me know how you make out. 73, Tom WA2IVD

[@bahathir_]

I did get the radio interference (RFI) when I connected the USB cable to laptop. In my case, I used to connect to balanced antenna system, such as loop antenna, directly to the feedline. Once I installed common choke 1:1 balun, all the noise is gone. Next, I may get a vettter USB cable for lower RFI isolation. Thanks for the tip and the demonstration. :) Thank you. Bahathir 9W2GNU, 73.

[@andrewstewart5396]

Very timely, almost like you read my mind. I was going to start looking into hooking my computer up this weekend. BTW where did you buy your USB cable?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Andrew. I’m glad the timing worked for you. The cables I used in the video are from a box of USB cables that I’ve gathered over the years. I’m afraid neither the good nor the bad one have any manufacturer markings. I did have a feeling that I might get that question so I ordered a new cable from Amazon after I shot the video. The one I tried is: Tripp Lite USB 2.0 Hi-Speed A/B Cable with Ferrite Chokes (M/M) 6-ft. (U023-006) www.amazon.com/dp/B003MQ29B2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_6sxHDbF6PKK44 It is shielded with gold plated connectors and ferrite filters. I tried it and everything on the receiver stayed completely clean. I don’t have any affiliate relationship with Amazon or the cable supplier. It’s just one that I thought I’d try. Another source that I have had very good luck with for all kinds of computer cables is monoprice.com Hope this helps. 73,Tom WA2IVD

[@andrewstewart5396]

HamCuredSmoke Thanks the cable from Amazon is the one I was looking at. Just ordered it. Keep up the great videos.

[@Paddy_Roche]

I ordered from Amazon Andrew, funnily enough only last week. Luckily I had seen info regarding the need for a decent cable.

[@jameskeough4620]

Good job, thanks! Not a lot of choices for cables with chokes out there.

[@rt83021]

I ordered one from Amazon 6 foot with ferrites on both ends. AXXON brand

[@robdf9024]

Thanks here in Zambia is quite difficult to get some info. Especially the tip on the cable. The rest is also welcome but got it right. Cheers 73

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Glad it helped. Thank you for watching

[@stevie3011]

I had the exact same interference every 40 kHz. I returned that cheap USB A->B cable, and got a FTDI CI-V cable. That one though does not enable the USB codec drivers for sound, so my mistake ? Attempt 3 to get a proper / better USB cable.

[@daveduffy2292]

Hay tom without your video's id still be trying to turn on the radio. Cheers

[@verystupidhandle]

Hi Tom. Did you do a video for the Icom 7300 CIV cable? It's a 3.5mm Male jack. Thanks

[@zsradioham]

Thanks Tom for your nice videos. Wonder if one can run RTTY via this cable. I have run FT8 but have not tried any software for RTTY. Suppose the setup shouldn't be difficult

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Emil. Absolutely! I have used FLDigi and MMTTY software with my 7300. There is also MultiPsk, HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) and I'm sure many others. Any digital mode software that is expecting to interface with a sound card should work fine.

[@jimfischer4703]

Thank you

[@kevinokeefe7796]

Do you have a video showing it with a pan adapter

[@ronaldlevans]

Question, Tom: I bought a used hamfest 7300. Any recommendations for checking or updating the ICOM USB driver software, etc? For a used IC-7100, seems like I remember a caution to download a driver first? (And thanks for pointing out the need for a good shield ferrite filtered cable!)

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Congratulations on the new radio. The Windows USB drivers for ICOM are the same regardless of the rig vintage. You should check the firmware in the radio and update that, if necessary. The latest version is 1.41. This is the Icom Japan webpage with links for the 7300 firmware and latest USB drivers: www.icomjapan.com/support/firmware_driver/?keyword=7300&open=tab2&type=5#download_result

[@jameskeough4620]

Good job with the vid. It would be helpful to have a link for the "good" cord from a supplier(s).

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi James. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for catching this. More recently, I've been including links for items or accessories that I talk about in the videos. I haven't updated the descriptions in all of the older videos yet. In the mean time, one of the cables that I have used can be found here: amzn.to/2PlSkvq Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link. 73, Tom

[@jameskeough4620]

@@HamRadioA2Z Thanks, again. Need about 10'. Have a 20 footer hooked up and seems to work O.K. Not many cables out there with chokes on them.

[@Denveradoo]

thank you

[@SunilAruldas]

Actually Tom, if you had ticked "hidden" under the view tab before plugging in the cable, you would have seen the Silicon Labs driver GREYED IN

[@MarkGreen-pp3qy]

Can a icom cable be used for a ham it up converter

[@bpjr1899]

Question! Can you use the Icom 7300 to just connect your Rig to your PC just to get the display of the 7300 on a bigger monitor and or PC? Not connecting via Internet just running USB straight to PC? I have vision problems and it would be good to see it on a bigger screen. Thanks for your instructive videos!

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Icom makes a piece of software called RS-BA1 that allows you to operate your 7300 remotely from a PC. It pretty closely duplicates the display, knobs, and buttons of the radio on your PC monitor. There is also a piece of open source software called WFView that provides similar remote operation.

[@bpjr1899]

@@HamRadioA2Z Thanks! I like the ICOM 7300 versus the Yaesu 710. I find Icom radios more user friendly and I like the configuration and menus better on this radio. Yaesu has a monitor connection though! So using the remote software I can use it to get a big screen on my PC to help with my eyesight. THANKS!

[@deanbailey1465]

Tom, I wanted to echo the sentiment of the others and say thanks for the series! Got my 7300 day before yesterday and been following along. Got to this one and my 7300 shows up under "Audio": 2- USB Audio Codec, and "Other Devices": CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller, but no active Com Port is generated. Any ideas? Thanks, Dean KG5BZP

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Are you running windows 10? I haven’t had to load the Icom drivers. My audio and serial ports have configured automatically with no issues. If you’re running an older version of windows or maybe have a different computer configuration, you might need to install the Icom drivers.

[@deanbailey1465]

@@HamRadioA2Z Thanks for the quick reply. I am running Windows 10, did a fresh update, but no luck until I downloaded the driver from Icom. All good now! Now sure what the issue was... 73 Dean

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Glad that fixed it.

[@dr.sandyshoemaker2888]

Tom. What is causing all the Vertical White Lines on my scope?? I have a Very Simple setup > 13.8V Power Supply to Radio connected to a Comet CHA 250B Multiband Vertical 45ft in the air > That's It!!

[@vampolascott36]

I'm communicating with the 7300 just fine, but when I transmit in a digital mode, the USB connection often drops. This happens in HRD, WSJT-X and Fldigi. I'm fairly sure it's an RF issue. I'm using shielded cable, but no ferrites on each end. I'm going to buy a new USB cable. I'm hoping somebody out there knows what's going and can give me some help. Thanks! KB0KYV

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi- You might look at Mohammad's comment below. A good USB cable helps, but if you're getting a lot of RF in your shack, that can mess things up no matter what kind of cable you're using. What is your antenna system setup? If using any type of wire antenna with a coax feed line, do you have a BALUN of some sort on your feed line before it enters the shack? That can make a world of difference.

[@paulcottingham241]

Hi Tom, just a note that this vid is not included in the 7300 A2Z playlist.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks Paul! I’ll get that fixed.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks Paul! I’ll get that fixed.

[@jlocana1]

thanks

[@Ruben-8689]

Hi, always get something new. The ultimate notebooks have only USB-C connectors I'm making the connection to the IC7300 with a USB A mele and a HUB to USB-C but that's not ok I'm working with the LOG4OM program and nothing happens. Can you help me. Thanks in advance. Ruben, LU8DEH,73

[@HenstingAlpacas]

Hi do you have the model number for the cable please or a link to purchase it thank you

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi- The cables I used in the video are ones that I've had for quite some time. I have looked at this cable on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Hi-Speed-Ferrite-U023-006/dp/B003MQ29B2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=usb+cable+shielded&qid=1582428572&sr=8-3 It looks like it should be good, but I haven't tried it myself.

[@teddvidler6830]

I did change to a better USB cable with clear sheath and the ferrite ends but found a problem. When I TX my monitor blanks out. Disconnect and it doesn't happen. Hard to use logging software. Any ideas? Thanks.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Tedd. RF in the shack problems can be a bugger to find sometimes. Do you have your rig, power supply, antenna and all of your other equipment in the shack bonded to a common ground with good solid connections? That would be the first place I would start. A couple simple tests you can try: Cut your power in half and see if the problem goes away. Or, if you have a dummy load, try connecting the rig to a dummy load and transmit. If either of those make the problem go away, then it is likely RF getting into your monitor or computer. If cutting power in half doesn't fix it, try cutting it to 1/4. I'm not suggesting that you leave your power lowered. This is just to confirm that the problem is RF related. Once we know that for sure, then the next step is to find the source and fix it.

[@Volgasmetdietroep]

Do you have to use a usb isolator? And what mbit speed does is have to be?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. If you mean an optically isolated interface, the answer is no, you don’t have to. You can use an isolated adapter. That should provide even more RFI immunity. I have had good luck with USB cables that have the ferrite chokes at one or both ends. As far as speed, you don’t need a USB 3.0 interface. USB 2.0 is plenty fast enough for both audio and the serial CIV interface.

[@Volgasmetdietroep]

@@HamRadioA2Z thanks for the tip!! 😊👌🏻

[@jamesleem.d.7442]

Those birdies are all acrossed the band ??

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Yes. With a cheapo cable, they were everywhere. When USB activity went to idle, they got much better. However, as soon as I ran any digital rig control software they came back. The noise is regularly spaced. I suspect it is some multiple of the serial data clock frequency. As long as you use a shielded cable with ferrite chokes at each end you shouldn’t have any problem.

[@onemorething100]

Have you any experience with using MAC computers with the 7300?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. I’m sorry, but my experience is limited to Windows and some Linux. I don’t have any MACs.

[@ManuelPinner]

It's have the Same USB like My SDR Play RSP DX!

[@jg5wheels592]

What software or program you use ?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I have mainly used FLDigi, FLRig and WSJT-X for digital modes. I have also tried MMTTY and MultiPSK. They each have their pros and cons.

[@Ruben-8689]

Hello, I'm LU8DEH from Argentine. What kind of software do you recommend to use with W10? Which is better? Could I buy the ICOM software or exist another better to remote control the ICOM 7300? What are the digimodes in use? Thank you...

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Ruben, There are many choices of digital mode software for W10. I have used FLDigi (Along with FLRig for control). I have also used MultiPSK and the older, shareware version of HamRadioDeluxe (HRD). I have not tried the new paid version of HRD, but the original version was quite good and I understand that they continue to improve on it. All of the programs I've mentioned are multi-mode. They support RTTY, various PSK formats, MFSK, Olivia, Contestia and numerous others. All of them seem to work fine for decoding and transmitting. You really need to try them out and decide which user interface you like best. WSJT-X from Joe Taylor K1JT supports special weak signal modes that Prof. Taylor developed. It does not support the other "standard" digital modes like RTTY, etc. For remote controlling your radio, the Icom software looks to be pretty good. I have not used it myself. For the 7300, you will need to have a dedicated PC at the radio. Another option for this is the MFJ-1234 Rig-PI recently introduced by MFJ. It seems to be getting very good reviews. It uses open source software and there are also IOS and Android apps to access your rig remotely from your phone. 73, Tom

[@michaelmcghie]

What does this mean on my Silab device driver. Device USB\VID_10C4&PID_EA60\IC-7300_02050360 requires further installation.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I have never seen a message like that. Is this on Windows?

[@michaelmcghie]

​@@HamRadioA2Z Yes and it happens everytime I turn on my radio. So... I had decided to wipe everything out "again" and see what happens. I am starting with CD-301501-003 which is ICOM driver ver 1.20.

[@michaelmcghie]

@@HamRadioA2Z I removed everything and started over. And it always comes up with that error message looking at the driver evends and says the same thing.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Which radio are you using? I just checked both the Icom America and Icom Japan websites. There is a newer driver for the IC-7100, 7300, and others. There is a MUCH newer driver for the IC-705, 905 and newer HTs. Here are some links: IC7100,7300 driver: www.icomjapan.com/support/firmware_driver/1974/ IC705,905 driver: www.icomjapan.com/support/firmware_driver/3871/

[@michaelmcghie]

@@HamRadioA2Z Tom I am using a IC-7300 and have changed out drivers so many times. I even backed up and did a new install to make sure nothing was stopping me. Installed the driver you mentioned above and still same thing. No one has heard of this before. It's very frustrating.

[@dacapitain]

Does this install for the 7300 work in Windows 11?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I haven’t tried it in Windows 11 yet, but it should.

[@dacapitain]

@@HamRadioA2Z It works just great. I've now got fldigi and wsjt-x working well...Since this is a faster laptop than my last one, I even got nanovna-saver to work...

[@CptCloseCall]

Guidance on linux?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I’ve done some playing with Linux. Although it isn’t my main computer. Good idea for a couple future videos.

[@G0USL]

The first thing to ensure is you are in the dialout group in linux. This is not set as default as it is a legacy security measure to prevent non administrators access to comms ports. The command to type into a terminal is:- sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER (Replace $USER with your username without the $) Without doing this no data will be sent.

[@commonsense4207]

If you have more then one Icom Do NOT use a USB Hub it will interfere with each other when Tx and Rx even if they have Different Addresses and Right in the Manual it Tells you too Never Use a USB Hub and it also Says too use Different Computers I have Fond you can use the Same PC I use a HP Z600 with 12 Cores 24 Threads over Two CPU's and I Hyperthreading it too 24 Cores and use 48 Gb of ECC Ram and I have No Problem Running Both the Ic-7300 and the Ic-9700 With over 5 Programs Per a Radio and Doing KZbin Live Doing Many Many Other Programs and Have No Problems at all but when I Ran these Radios into a USB Hub I had Problems When I have Cheap USB Cables I had Problems I use Double Shielding USB Cables Now and have No Problems

[@lassejakobsson]

Coolt 73 SA7ZWX

[@daveycrockett9447]

Why does everyone assume everyone uses Windows- a lot of us use macs and have no use for Windows.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. I don’t assume that everyone has Windows, but it’s what I have. So that’s what I can show. I am planning to do some upcoming videos on Linux software, but unfortunately, I don’t have access to a Mac and and very close to zero experience with them. If it helps, here’s a KZbin channel that seems to cater a little more toward Macs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGiknqqFiKd-gsU

[@daveycrockett9447]

@@HamRadioA2Z thanks- I am a subscriber and a fan.