IC-9700 USB Serial Backend Setup (macOS)¶

This guide shows how to control the IC-9700 dual-receiver transceiver via USB serial CI-V + USB audio devices or LAN network connection.

Why Use the Serial Backend?¶

No network required — direct USB connection (alternative to LAN)
Lower latency — no UDP/network overhead
Simpler setup — no IP config, username, or password
Dual-receiver control — both MAIN and SUB receivers simultaneously

IC-9700 Special Features¶

The IC-9700 has dual independent receivers:

Feature	IC-7610	IC-705	IC-7300	IC-9700
Receivers	2	1	1	2 ✨
LAN Backend	✅	✅	❌	✅
Serial Backend	✅	✅	✅	✅
CI-V Address	0x98	0xA4	0x94	0xA2

Hardware Requirements¶

IC-9700 satellite/VHF/UHF transceiver
USB cable with a Type-B plug (the IC-9700 [USB] port is Type B) for the serial backend
Ethernet (RJ-45) for the LAN backend
macOS computer (tested on Ventura+ arm64/Intel)

Radio Configuration¶

Serial Backend (USB)¶

Critical Setup Step

On the IC-9700, navigate to Menu → Set → Connectors → CI-V → CI-V USB Port and set it to Unlink from [REMOTE] (the radio's default), NOT Link to [REMOTE].

Unlink from [REMOTE] — the [USB] and [REMOTE] CI-V ports work independently; the CI-V USB Baud Rate setting applies only in this mode
Link to [REMOTE] — the [USB] and [REMOTE] CI-V ports are connected internally

LAN Backend (Ethernet)¶

The IC-9700 supports LAN operation:

Connect Ethernet to a network with your computer
Obtain IC-9700's IP address from the radio's menu or by scanning your network
Create LAN radio with IP address (see LAN backend section below)

Recommended Radio Settings¶

Setting	Value	Why
CI-V USB Port	`Unlink from [REMOTE]`	✅ Required for serial
CI-V USB Baud Rate	`115200`	Recommended for scope/waterfall
CI-V Address	`0xA2` (IC-9700 default)	Library auto-detects from profile
Dual Watch	Enabled (optional)	Monitor both MAIN and SUB

Baud Rate

115200 baud is recommended for scope/waterfall capability
Lower baud rates (19200, 9600) work for basic control but scope is disabled
CI-V baud rate must match between radio and library configuration

Dual-Receiver Considerations

When using both receivers: - MAIN and SUB can be on different frequencies - Each receiver has independent controls (AF/RF/mode/etc.) - Audio from both receivers can be simultaneously RX - Library enforces receiver-aware operations via receiver parameter

macOS Setup: Serial Backend¶

1. Install rigplane¶

pip install rigplane

2. Connect USB and Verify Devices¶

Plug in the USB cable:

ls /dev/cu.usbserial-* | head -5
# Output example: /dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV

Verify audio devices:

rigplane --list-audio-devices

An Icom radio's USB audio device is named USB Audio CODEC.

3. Connect via Python (Serial)¶

import asyncio
from rigplane import SerialBackendConfig, create_radio

async def main():
    # Serial radio for IC-9700
    config = SerialBackendConfig(device="/dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV", model="IC-9700")

    async with create_radio(config) as radio:
        # MAIN receiver operations (default)
        freq_main = await radio.get_freq(receiver=0)
        print(f"MAIN Frequency: {freq_main / 1e6:.6f} MHz")

        # SUB receiver operations
        freq_sub = await radio.get_freq(receiver=1)
        print(f"SUB Frequency: {freq_sub / 1e6:.6f} MHz")

        # Set frequencies independently
        await radio.set_freq(144_100_000, receiver=0)  # MAIN
        await radio.set_freq(144_200_000, receiver=1)  # SUB

asyncio.run(main())

4. CLI Usage (Serial)¶

# Check connection
rigplane --backend serial --model IC-9700 --serial-port /dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV status

# Set the frequency
rigplane --backend serial --model IC-9700 --serial-port /dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV freq 144100000

# Read the meters
rigplane --backend serial --model IC-9700 --serial-port /dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV meter

5. Web UI (Serial)¶

rigplane --model IC-9700 --serial-port /dev/cu.usbserial-A602RVBV web
# Open http://localhost:8080
# Use MAIN/SUB selector in web UI

macOS Setup: LAN Backend¶

The IC-9700 supports direct LAN connection (Ethernet):

1. Network Configuration¶

# Discover IC-9700 on your network
rigplane discover --timeout 5

2. Connect via Python (LAN)¶

import asyncio
from rigplane import LanBackendConfig, create_radio

async def main():
    # LAN radio for IC-9700
    config = LanBackendConfig(
        host="192.168.1.100",
        model="IC-9700",
        username="radio",
        password="password",  # From radio network settings
    )

    async with create_radio(config) as radio:
        # LAN operations are identical to serial
        main_freq = await radio.get_freq(receiver=0)
        sub_freq = await radio.get_freq(receiver=1)
        print(f"MAIN: {main_freq / 1e6:.6f} MHz  SUB: {sub_freq / 1e6:.6f} MHz")

asyncio.run(main())

3. CLI Usage (LAN)¶

rigplane --model IC-9700 --backend lan --host 192.168.1.100 status
rigplane --model IC-9700 --backend lan --host 192.168.1.100 freq 144100000

Dual-Receiver Operations¶

Independent Frequency Control¶

async with radio:
    # Set MAIN and SUB to different frequencies simultaneously
    await radio.set_freq(144_100_000, receiver=0)  # MAIN: 144.1 MHz
    await radio.set_freq(144_200_000, receiver=1)  # SUB:  144.2 MHz

    # Read both
    main = await radio.get_freq(receiver=0)
    sub = await radio.get_freq(receiver=1)
    print(f"MAIN: {main}  SUB: {sub}")

Independent Mode Control¶

async with radio:
    await radio.set_mode("USB", receiver=0)   # MAIN: USB
    await radio.set_mode("CW", receiver=1)    # SUB:  CW

    main_mode, _ = await radio.get_mode(receiver=0)
    sub_mode, _ = await radio.get_mode(receiver=1)
    print(f"MAIN: {main_mode}  SUB: {sub_mode}")

Supported Features¶

Feature	MAIN RX	SUB RX	Status
Frequency	✅	✅	Independent control
Mode	✅	✅	Independent control
Power	✅	N/A	MAIN only (radio limitation)
Scope/Waterfall	✅	✅ (SUB)	Both receivers, switchable
Audio RX	✅	✅	Simultaneous dual audio
Meters	✅	✅	Per-receiver S-meter
Filters	✅	✅	Independent per receiver
DSP	✅	✅	Per-receiver settings
Dual Watch	✅ (setting)	✅ (setting)	Library compatible

Troubleshooting¶

Receiver=1 Operations Fail¶

CommandError: get_freq does not support receiver=1 for profile IC-7300 (receivers=1)

Cause: Using receiver=1 on a single-receiver radio (IC-705, IC-7300).

Solution: Only profiles with two receivers accept receiver=1 (IC-9700, IC-7610, FTX-1). Check model in use.

Serial port not found¶

Solution: Verify USB cable and check /dev/cu.usbserial-* listing.

Low Baud Rate Warning (Serial)¶

Solution: Set CI-V USB Baud Rate to 115200 in radio menu.

LAN Connection Timeout¶

Solution: 1. Verify IP address with rigplane discover 2. Check network connectivity: ping 192.168.1.100 3. Verify radio network settings (username/password)

Performance Notes¶

Dual-receiver switching: ~200ms per receiver (web UI smoothing applied)
Dual audio RX: ~10-20ms latency per receiver
Scope data rate: ~50 Hz at 115200 baud

Get the Packaged Desktop App¶

Prefer a packaged desktop app?

This guide covers the open-source rigplane Python library. If you want a polished desktop application with a GUI for IC-9700 control on macOS and Linux, check out RigPlane Pro.

Download RigPlane Pro for Mac and Linux →