Connect the IC-705 over WLAN

In 10 minutes from "IC-705 sitting on the desk" to "frequency, mode and S-meter running wirelessly in HAM-Tools" — without any USB cable, wfview or kappanhang. Since 1.13.0 HAM-Tools speaks the Icom network protocol (RS-BA1) directly.

Requirements

• IC-705 with current firmware
• Mac and IC-705 on the same WLAN (or the IC-705 acts as the access point itself — see below)
• HAM-Tools 1.13.0 or newer

What runs over WLAN — and what doesn't

Works: frequency, mode, S-meter (live), PTT, QSY on spot click, CW keying, the rig's internal voice memories. Doesn't work: audio — HAM-Tools deliberately doesn't stream it. You use WSJT-X & Co. externally as usual.

Step 1 — Enable WLAN on the IC-705

1. Menu → Set → WLAN Set
2. Set WLAN to ON
3. Connection Type: Station (the IC-705 joins your shack WLAN) — for the field see Access Point Mode
4. Under Connection Settings (Station) → Access Point, select your WLAN and enter the WLAN password
5. Wait until the WLAN icon appears in the display

Step 2 — Create a Network User

HAM-Tools logs in to the radio with a username + password:

1. Menu → Set → WLAN Set → Remote Settings
2. Set Network Control to ON
3. Under Network User 1:
   • Assign a username (e.g. hamtools)
   • Assign a password (at least 8 characters)
   • Set Administrator to YES

Step 3 — Read the IP Address

1. Menu → Set → WLAN Set → Connection Status
2. Note the IP address, e.g. 192.168.1.47

Static IP recommended

If your router hands the IC-705 a new IP on every login, you have to adjust it in HAM-Tools every time. Better: set up a static IP reservation in the router for the IC-705's MAC address (one-time, takes 2 minutes).

Step 4 — Configure HAM-Tools

1. HAM-Tools → Cmd+, → CAT tab
2. Optional: use "Save As…" to create a separate configuration (e.g. IC-705 WLAN) — that way your USB config stays untouched
3. In the Connection picker, choose "IC-705 WLAN"
4. Fill in the fields:

Field	Value
Radio IP	the IP from Step 3, e.g. 192.168.1.47
User	the network user from Step 2, e.g. hamtools
Password	the matching password

5. Check the CI-V address: the IC-705 default is 0xA4 — it has to match the setting in the radio (Menu → Set → Connectors → CI-V)

Step 5 — Connect + Test

1. Click "Start" — the status pill switches to 🟢 Connected
2. Turn the VFO on the IC-705 → the frequency in HAM-Tools follows live
3. Watch the S-meter bar — it follows the receive signal
4. Click a DX cluster spot → the radio jumps to the frequency (QSY over WLAN)

Access Point Mode for the Field

On the summit or in the park there's no shack WLAN — then the IC-705 opens the network itself:

1. Menu → Set → WLAN Set → Connection Type: Access Point
2. Set the SSID + password of the radio WLAN
3. On the Mac, select this WLAN (the radio shows up as a network)
4. In HAM-Tools, enter the IC-705's access point IP as the Radio IP (readable in the radio under Connection Status)

No router, no hotspot needed — Mac and radio talk directly.

Internet gone?

As long as the Mac is on the radio WLAN, it has no internet (unless via a second interface). DX cluster & co. then need e.g. iPhone tethering in parallel — or you work offline and load spots later.

Common Problems

Status stays on 🔴 / connection fails → Wrong password or a user without administrator rights (check Step 2). Mind upper-/lowercase.

Radio unreachable → Are the Mac and IC-705 on the same network? Test in Terminal: ping 192.168.1.47. No reply → check the radio's WLAN connection (Connection Status menu).

Connected, but frequency stays at 0 → The CI-V address doesn't match the radio — default 0xA4, check in the radio under Menu → Set → Connectors → CI-V.

Only one at a time → The IC-705 allows only one network control connection at a time. If wfview, the RS-BA1 software or a second HAM-Tools instance is still running, it blocks the slot — disconnect there first.

WSJT-X should run alongside → You get the audio as usual (e.g. USB audio or wfview on another device). For the CAT side you can additionally enable Share CAT in HAM-Tools — then WSJT-X also operates the radio through HAM-Tools' rigctld server.

Next Steps

• CAT Module Docs — all three connection paths at a glance
• CAT Setup (USB) — the classic way with a cable
• Log Your First POTA QSO — the IC-705 is built for going outdoors, after all