Setup

The basis for these instructions is this guide, but updated to reflect that the IC9700 is now directly supported by wsjtx and js8call.

Step one: connect a normal USB-A-B cable between the computer and the radio.

IC-9700 settings

  • Menu
    • Set
      • Connectors
        • MOD Input
          • USB Mod Level: 30% (default 50%)
          • DATA MOD: USB (default: ACC)
          • DATA OFF MOD: Leave as default (MIC, ACC)
        • CI-V
          • CI-V Baud Rate = 19200 (default: Auto)
          • CI-V address = keep default A2h
          • CI-V USB Baud Rate = Auto
  • When running, choose FIL1 (next to the mode in the top left)

wsjtx/js8call settings

  • Radio
    • Rig: Icom IC-9700
    • Baud rate: 115200
    • Data bits: 8
    • Stop bits: 1
    • Handshake: None
    • PTT method: CAT
    • Mode: Data/Pkt (USB also works, but will use DATA OFF MOD as audio, so that needs to be USB)
    • Serial port: /dev/ttyUSB0 (on my Linux machine at least)
  • Audio
    • Input: also_input.usb-Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC-0.analog-stereo
    • Output: also_output.usb-Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC-0.analog-stereo
  • Frequencies
    • Right click on the “Working frequencies” table and insert 144.174 and 432.065 for FT8. I’m not sure about the 70cm frequency, as I’ve not made contacts on it, and find conflicting information about the right frequency..

Glitches

I had the comms glitch for a bit, where wsjtx said frequency change commands were rejected. Unplugging/replugging and even restarting the radio didn’t help, but changing mode out of USB-D did. I don’t know if this was a one-off.

Performance

With a VX30 antenna on a first floor balcony I’m reaching surprisingly far:

Reach on 2m

Other tests have seen spots all over south of England and Wales in various tests with power levels between 5w and 40W.

Sure, it’s nothing like on HF bands on 10w from the same, but that’s the nature of the bands:

Reach on 20m