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To connect CatRadio, use the radio’s CAT-capable USB port or its CAT serial connector with the correct cable or adapter. In CatRadio, select the exact radio model, the computer’s enumerated CAT serial/COM port, and the baud rate specified by the radio. Icom radios also require the CI-V address in hexadecimal. Check the radio’s manual first: connector, driver, and settings differ by model.
What you need to know before connecting
CatRadio is a PC graphical application that controls supported receivers and transceivers through Hamlib. Its project page describes local and remote connections and an interactive VFO; the functions available for a particular radio depend on that model’s Hamlib support, so compatibility does not guarantee that every control works. See the CatRadio project page for its documentation and supported-radio information.
The project page lists CatRadio 1.4.0 downloads for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit and Raspberry Pi OS, and 1.3.0 for Ubuntu 64-bit. These are the versions shown on that page, not a claim that they are the latest upstream releases. Its installation procedure is to download the package for your operating system, unpack it, launch the executable, and configure the radio.
A USB socket alone does not establish that it supports CAT control. Confirm the radio’s CAT connector and protocol, any required driver or radio-menu setting, and the correct cable in the radio’s manual. Some radios use standard RS-232; others need a manufacturer-specific interface cable.
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Connect the radio and configure CatRadio
- Check the radio manual. Identify the CAT-capable connector, supported protocol and baud rate, required driver, and any menu setting needed for computer control.
- Connect the appropriate interface. Use a CAT-capable USB port and suitable USB cable, or connect the radio’s serial CAT port with the specified serial cable or interface. Do not assume that an arbitrary USB-to-serial adapter fits or is electrically compatible.
- Install the manufacturer’s driver if required. For example, Yaesu says the FT-991A requires a USB driver for computer remote control.
- Open Config > Radio in CatRadio. Select the exact radio model, the CAT serial/COM port shown by your computer, the radio’s baud rate, and a refresh interval. For an Icom radio, enter its CI-V address in hexadecimal without the trailing “h.”
- Set a suitable refresh interval. CatRadio’s guide says 100–200 ms is generally sufficient. Use a longer interval for a slow radio, when other software shares the connection, or when connecting over rigctld. If frequent polling makes CatRadio slow or unresponsive, try disabling full polling.
- Connect and check for a response. Confirm that the radio’s status or frequency appears to respond before relying on other controls; individual functions vary by radio and Hamlib model.
CatRadio’s configuration and polling guidance is in the project documentation.
USB versus serial: choose by the radio’s CAT interface
| Connection | What to verify | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| USB | The radio’s USB port actually carries CAT control; check whether a manufacturer driver and a particular enumerated port are required. | USB may expose more than one serial port, and the CAT port may be distinct from audio or PTT. Do not select a port by name copied from another model’s instructions. |
| Serial | Connector type, cable wiring, baud rate, and whether an adapter or radio-specific interface is needed. | Some radios use standard RS-232; some have nonstandard connectors. A generic adapter may not be suitable. |
There is no universally better option: use the interface the radio documents for CAT control. CAT carries control and status commands; it does not necessarily carry the audio needed for digital modes or voice.
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Example: Yaesu FT-991A
USB connection
The FT-991A has a built-in USB-to-dual-UART bridge. Connect the radio’s rear USB jack to the computer with a USB cable and install the Yaesu USB driver required for remote control; the documented direct USB connection does not need an external interface box. The manufacturer states: “A USB driver is required for remote control from a computer.” See Yaesu’s FT-991A CAT Operation Reference Book.
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For the FT-991A’s rear-panel CAT jack, Yaesu specifies a straight serial cable, not a null-modem cable, with the correct gender and pin count. Set menu item 028 GPS/232C SELECT to RS232C. These instructions are specific to the FT-991A; check the manual for other radios.
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Identify the correct port
A CatRadio setup guide for the FT-991 describes separate USB serial ports and identifies the Enhanced port as the CAT port, as well as a separate USB audio device. Port names and driver behavior can vary by model and operating system, so select the port actually shown on your computer rather than applying the FT-991 example to another radio. See the CatRadio setup discussion.
CAT control and audio are separate
A working CAT link lets compatible software control or read radio status; it does not prove the computer’s audio path is configured. For digital modes or voice, the radio may expose a separate USB audio device or require an external audio interface. The FT-991 setup guidance treats USB serial CAT ports separately from USB audio, and the remote-station guide likewise treats control and audio interfacing as separate requirements.
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Use CatRadio through rigctld for a remote connection
Hamlib’s rigctld can let multiple compatible programs communicate with a radio over TCP. The CatRadio guidance describes configuring the server with the radio model, device path, and baud rate, then choosing the NET rigctl model and server address in CatRadio. Consult the current CatRadio/Hamlib guidance for the applicable setup, and secure the network path before making radio-control services available beyond a trusted network.
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Troubleshoot a failed or incomplete connection
- No serial/COM port appears: Check the manufacturer’s driver instructions, USB cable, radio power, and the operating system’s device list. The FT-991A, for example, needs the Yaesu USB driver for computer remote control.
- A port appears, but CatRadio will not connect: Confirm that you chose the CAT port rather than a separate PTT or audio port, selected the exact radio model, and set the baud rate configured for the radio.
- The connection is sluggish or intermittent: Check whether other software is polling the radio. Increase CatRadio’s refresh interval or reduce competing polling; the guide also suggests disabling full polling if the application becomes unresponsive.
- Some controls do not work: The radio may not support the command, or its selected Hamlib model may not implement it. Check the capabilities for the exact model rather than assuming all CatRadio controls are available on every radio.
- CAT works, but digital-mode audio does not: Configure the radio’s audio device or external audio interface separately; CAT control is not audio routing.
- The legacy radio has an unusual connector: Use the interface cable specified for that radio instead of assuming a generic USB-to-serial adapter will work.
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