OmniRig

OmniRig is a free program for Windows. It holds the radio cable and “lends” the radio to every program that asks for it - RigAndLog, WSJT-X, contest programs. It handles two radios: Rig 1 and Rig 2.

When to choose OmniRig

• you have one or two radios and you work on Windows;
• you want RigAndLog and WSJT-X (or a contest program) to work on the same radio at the same time - without extra settings.

Setup step by step

1. Install OmniRig (free, author's website: dxatlas.com/omnirig).
2. In RigAndLog open the Rig window (the Rig button in the log) → Menu → RIG (TRX) configuration.
3. Tick OmniRig (Rig 1, Rig 2) and click OmniRig settings.
4. In the OmniRig window, Rig 1 tab: Rig type = your model, Port = the COM number of the radio, Baud rate = the CAT speed from the radio menu. Leave the other fields unless the radio manual says otherwise. OK.
   Recommended speed: 38400 for Yaesu, 115200 for Icom - the same in the radio and in OmniRig.
5. The second radio - the same way on the Rig 2 tab.
6. Close the radio sources window with OK.
7. In the Rig window: ≡ on the upper row → OmniRig → Rig 1. For the second radio: ≡ → Show SUB, then ≡ on the lower row → Rig 2.

Extended functions and SWR (Yaesu, Icom)

For some radios RigAndLog has a separate window with extra buttons: filters, power, antenna tuner, reading settings from the radio. It can also show SWR while transmitting (with an alarm when a limit is exceeded). Supported models: Yaesu FT-710, FT-891, FT-991A, FTDX10, FTDX101D, FTDX101MP and Icom IC-705, IC-7100, IC-7300.

OmniRig does not tell the program which model it is, so you have to set it once:

1. Rig window → Menu → OmniRig: radio models (extended functions, SWR). The Rig configuration window opens.
2. In the OmniRig Rig 1 configuration part tick Allow advanced functions and in Select TRX model choose your radio. For Icom usually leave the HEX address at its default (change it only when a different CI-V address is set in the radio). The second radio - the OmniRig Rig 2 configuration part.
3. SWR: tick Check SWR every (number of seconds) and, if you like, Trigger alarm when SWR exceeds: with a limit and sound. OK.
4. The functions window: Menu → Extended TRX functions (OmniRig). It opens for the radio in the active row.

The power read in the extended functions window goes into the log - but only when this radio is in the active row of the Rig window.

OmniRig limitations

• Windows only. Under Linux (Wine) RigAndLog does not start OmniRig at all - even when the configuration came from a Windows computer. The setting is kept and works again when you go back to Windows.
• Only two radios (Rig 1, Rig 2). More radios - HamlibStarter.
• 8 modes: LSB, USB, CW-L, CW-U, DATA-L, DATA-U, AM, FM. Others (e.g. RTTY, PSK, DATA-FM) are changed by the program to the closest one from this list.
• Up to about 2.1 GHz. Higher bands (e.g. IC-905) - via Hamlib.
• The same permissions. Start OmniRig and RigAndLog the same way (both normally or both as administrator) - otherwise OmniRig does not respond. When OmniRig does not respond (also right after closing the program, while the previous OmniRig is still closing), the program retries every 30 s by itself.
• What OmniRig can read depends on the radio file (.ini). Some files do not report which VFO is active - then the VFO button shows “VFO ?”, although the radio switches correctly. Some files have errors - see Corrected radio files.

Corrected radio files (Rigs.7z)

OmniRig radio files (.ini) have errors: split or transmit read wrongly, VFO B never seen, the DATA mode sideband reversed, setting RIT that changes the frequency. RigAndLog has corrected versions - the Rigs.7z archive in the OMNIRIG folder of the program. A corrected file has the ending _V2, _V3... in its name, and at the beginning a description of the changes and the document it was corrected against.

1. Rig window → Menu → RIG (TRX) configuration → the Rigs.7z link under OmniRig. Explorer shows the archive.
2. Extract the file of your radio from it (e.g. with 7-Zip) to the Rigs folder of OmniRig, usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Afreet\OmniRig\Rigs. Windows asks for administrator rights.
3. Close the programs that use OmniRig (RigAndLog, WSJT-X...). OmniRig closes together with them and sees the new files when it starts the next time.
4. OmniRig settings → Rig type = the model with the ending, e.g. FT-817_V2. The original file stays - if there are problems, choose the model without the ending again.