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Configure CAT rig control

Radio Bench uses Hamlib to control supported transceivers. CAT can synchronize frequency and mode, report meters, control PTT, and send CW text.

Check the transceiver

Radio Bench uses the available Hamlib backends. A listed backend is not evidence that every function has been tested with Radio Bench. Check the Hamlib supported radios list for your model before you buy a cable.

The available operations depend on the radio and its backend. A backend can support frequency and mode but not PTT, CW text, or meters.

An Icom IC-7300 is the reference transceiver for the Radio Bench documentation and screenshots.

Prepare the transceiver

Connect the radio control cable and install any driver that the cable requires. Close other programs that use the same serial port.

Set the radio CAT baud rate and address when the model requires them. Record those values before you configure Radio Bench.

Connection settings

  • Radio model — the Hamlib rig model.
  • Port — the serial port that the control cable provides.
  • Baud rate — 1200 to 115200. The default is 115200.
  • Data bits, Stop bits, Parity, and Handshake — match the radio CAT menu. Open Serial options to show them.
  • Connect at launch — connects the rig during startup.

Connect

The Rig Control page of the Radio Bench Settings window, showing the Connection card with Radio model, Port, Baud rate and Connect at launch, above the Mode control card.
CAT settings are on the Rig Control page of the Settings window.
  1. Open Settings > Rig Control.
  2. Under Radio model, select the Hamlib rig model.
  3. Select the Port and Baud rate. Open Serial options if the radio needs other communication settings.
  4. Select Connect.

The rig readout updates after a successful connection. Radio Bench makes only one automatic connection attempt during startup.

Meters

The rig readout in the top bar has two receive bars and two transmit bars. Choose them in Settings > Rig Control > METERS. By default, receive shows the S-meter, and transmit shows output power and ALC.

Meter Bar label Available for
S-meter S Receive
Output power PWR Transmit
SWR SWR Transmit
ALC ALC Transmit
Voltage VOLT Receive and transmit
Current AMP Receive and transmit
Temperature TEMP Receive and transmit

With a radio connected, the menu marks a meter that the radio does not report as (not supported). A bar for an unreported meter stays blank. Transmit bars update only while the radio transmits.

Low-voltage alert warns when the radio supply falls below Threshold. The alert is on by default, with an 11.5 V threshold. You can set the threshold from 8 V to 16 V.

Respond to a failure

A connection warning provides an Open Rig Control action. Expand the technical details when support needs the original Hamlib message.

A frequency, mode, or PTT command failure disconnects CAT. A failed CW text command reports an error without disconnecting the rig.

Avoid tuning loops

The rig readout in the top bar has a Track and Fixed toggle. In ordinary reception, Track synchronizes tuning in both directions. Turning the rig dial updates Radio Bench, and tuning Radio Bench sends the new frequency to the rig.

Fixed leaves the Radio Bench VFO independent. It does not disable the CAT connection or its available PTT and meter operations.

If a tracked frequency cannot be accepted, tracking can fall back to Fixed with an explanation. Read that message before restoring Track.

Choose the behavior that matches your station. Confirm which device controls tuning before you operate transmit features.

For a worked USB station setup, see the IC-7300 transmit example.

Set the rig mode preference

The MODE CONTROL card of Settings > Rig Control has a Radio Bench may set choice. It controls which mode Radio Bench requests when CAT synchronizes the rig.

Preference What Radio Bench sends Consequence
Nothing Frequency only. It does not send a mode when it tunes. The radio keeps its current mode.
Sideband The plain mode that matches the receiver, such as USB, LSB, CW, AM, or FM. This is the default. With Track selected, choosing it applies immediately and moves a radio out of data mode.
Data The data variant of USB or LSB. CW, AM, and FM keep their own modes. The radio takes transmit audio from its data input. Configure that input first, or the radio transmits silence. A radio without data mode reports a command failure and CAT disconnects.

Sending CW text is an exception to all three settings. Radio Bench always switches the radio to CW before it sends the text.

For RADE V1, Radio Bench uses the lower sideband below 10 MHz and the upper sideband at 10 MHz and above.

Each manufacturer gives the data mode and the data input a different name. See the radio manual for the exact menu names.

Radio Bench sends the mode preference only while the rig readout toggle shows Track. With Fixed selected, Radio Bench does not change the radio frequency or mode. Radio Bench also disables the Radio Bench may set choice.

When you change the preference with a rig connected and Track selected, Radio Bench applies it immediately.

A tracked retune keeps a data mode that you set on the radio yourself, if the request stays on the same sideband. A retune to the other sideband, or to another mode, replaces it. The rig readout reports a data mode as its own mode, not as the plain sideband.

FT8/FT4 tracking

The FSK workspace has its own protocol and band profiles. With Track enabled, the selected FSK profile controls the rig dial. A different frequency reported by the rig can be corrected back after transmission stops.

Selecting a protocol or band requests its preset. Wait for the profile change to finish. Confirm the rig dial, upper-sideband data mode, and data audio input before transmitting. Band selection is disabled during transmission.