Enhancing Your Ham Radio Setup: Virtual Serial Port Driver (VSPD) for ICOM IC7300 Users

For amateur radio enthusiasts, having a versatile and reliable setup is essential for optimal performance. One of the challenges faced by many radio amateurs, particularly those using the ICOM IC7300 transceiver, is the limitation of having only one virtual serial COM port available. This limitation can restrict the simultaneous use of multiple software applications that require access to the same COM port. Let’s see the usage scenario of the Virtual Serial Port Driver from our client Dominique Comet.

The ICOM IC7300 is a popular choice among ham radio operators due to its robust features and ease of use. It offers a virtual serial COM port, specifically the Silicom Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge set as COM5. While this setup is functional for basic operations, it quickly becomes a bottleneck when multiple applications need to communicate with the transceiver via the same COM port.

For instance, users who wish to run ICOM's RS-BA1 v2 remote software for controlling the transceiver remotely, along with other software applications such as logbooks or digital decoders (e.g., WSJTX, JTDX for FT8 communication), face a significant challenge. All these applications require access to COM5, leading to conflicts and making it impossible to run them simultaneously.

To overcome this hurdle, many users have turned to virtual serial port solutions. Dominique tried to resolve this using various free and paid virtual COM port applications, including the null-modem emulator by com0com, Virtual Serial Port Tools by HHD, and the Serial Port Splitter.

While these tools can create virtual serial ports to mimic the physical port, they often fall short in a multi-application environment, leading to errors or inconsistent performance.

Dominique Comet, F4BWJ, shared his experience with these tools, noting that while they offered some functionality, they frequently resulted in errors or failed to work correctly with all ham radio applications, particularly during transmit (TX) operations. A recurring issue was the inability of the system to switch back to receive (RX) mode after transmitting, necessitating manual disconnection and reconnection of the RS-BA1 software to regain control.

Faced with these persistent challenges, Dominique turned to Virtual Serial Port Driver (VSPD) as a potential solution. VSPD stands out because it offers a "Share" bundle feature, enabling multiple applications to share a single physical COM port virtually. This is particularly useful for ham radio operators who need to run several programs simultaneously without encountering port conflicts.

“And I've finally tried Electronic Team's Virtual Serial Port Driver and the Share bundle in particular. With this software, I'm now able to connect RS-BA1 and my various applications, including Omnirig, at the same time. For example, I can use RS-BA1 on a distant remote PC, Log4OM, and JTDX via Omnirig at the same time without problem on the radio station PC.”

Dominique Comet

In testing, VSPD has proven to be a reliable choice for those using the ICOM IC7300. The software allows seamless operation across multiple applications, significantly reducing the errors and conflicts experienced with other virtual port solutions. The "Share" bundle feature effectively enables simultaneous control of the transceiver with various software programs, providing a smooth and error-free experience.

For ham radio operators looking to expand their setup's capabilities, especially those using the ICOM IC7300, the Virtual Serial Port Driver (VSPD) offers a compelling solution. Its ability to create shared virtual serial ports allows multiple applications to run concurrently without the conflicts typically associated with limited COM ports. While some minor issues and compatibility considerations exist, VSPD's overall performance makes it a strong contender for those looking to enhance their ham radio experience.

If you're facing similar challenges with your ham radio setup and want to explore how VSPD could work for you, it might be worth visiting eHam.net for more reviews and insights from other users. With the right configuration, VSPD could be the key to unlocking a more versatile and efficient amateur radio operation.