Help: LogBook Radios Camera Diagnostics NTP Time UDP Hub
Radios - RigAndLog and HamlibStarter

Radios - where to start

RigAndLog reads the frequency and mode from your radio and writes them into the log by itself. It can also control the radio: change the band or mode, or switch to transmit. This help shows how the radio “talks” to the program and how to set it up step by step.

How it works - in three sentences

  1. The radio is connected to the computer with a cable (usually USB). Windows sees this cable as a COM port, e.g. COM5.
  2. A COM port can be opened by only one program at a time. If RigAndLog took COM5, WSJT-X could no longer reach the radio.
  3. That is why a middleman works between the radio and the programs: OmniRig or Hamlib. It holds the radio cable, and all programs ask it about the radio.
Your radio TRX USB cable (COM port) Middleman OmniRig or Hamlib the only one holding the cable RigAndLog log, Rig window WSJT-X and other programs

The programs connect to the middleman (arrows), and only the middleman talks to the radio over the cable.

This will NOT work - two programs on one COM port: Your radio COM5 - opened by RigAndLog COM5 - busy! RigAndLog WSJT-X

The second program gets a “port busy” message (Access denied). A middleman solves this problem.

Which middleman should I choose?

Your situationChoose
One radio, Windows, it should “just work”OmniRig
Two radios, WindowsOmniRig (handles two) or HamlibStarter
Three or four radiosHamlibStarter
WSJT-X should work on a different radio than the one in your logHamlibStarter
Linux (the program runs under Wine)Hamlib - HamlibStarter or your own rigctld
The radio is at another computer (e.g. a Raspberry Pi in the shack)Hamlib - client address:port
A radio that OmniRig does not know, or bands above 2 GHzHamlib (knows more radios)

Not sure? Start with OmniRig for one radio, or with HamlibStarter when you have more radios. You can always change it later - it is just a setting in the program.

Next

Quick startFirst start step by step - with OmniRig or with HamlibStarter. Rig windowWhat the MAIN and SUB rows, the buttons and the menu mean. SatellitesThe SAT panel: satellites, passes, Doppler, QSOs as SAT, transverters. RotorThe Rotor panel: Hamlib rotctld or PstRotator, compass, STOP, satellite tracking. HamlibStarter and Rig 0Several radios at once and one address for WSJT-X. Transmitting (TX)When the program switches transmit off, and when it does not. ExamplesReady setups: one radio, two radios, FT8 next to the log, Linux. Something does not workThe most common symptoms and what to do about them.

Where to set what

What you want to setWhere to find it
Switch OmniRig or Hamlib onRig window → Menu button → RIG (TRX) configuration. The Rig - radio sources window opens.
Which radio is shown in the upper row (MAIN) and which in the lower one (SUB)The ≡ button at the beginning of the row in the Rig window
COM port and radio model in OmniRigRig - radio sources window → OmniRig settings
Corrected OmniRig radio filesRig - radio sources window → the Rigs.7z link (see OmniRig: corrected radio files)
Hamlib address and portRig - radio sources window → Hamlib client (address:port) → Configure
Radios in HamlibStarter (Rig 1-4, Rig 0)HamlibStarter → menu button → Configure Hamlib server (the Rigs Configuration window)