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Icom USB Driver Setup

Install the driver and identify the radio COM port.

The Icom USB driver is the foundation for ShackMaestro, ShackScope, and most other Icom CAT-control software.

Open Icom Driver Page Back to Setup Guides

Purpose

The USB driver creates the Windows COM port used for radio control.

Install the Icom USB driver before relying on ShackMaestro, ShackScope, OmniRig, or other CAT-control software. After the driver is installed and the radio is connected, Windows should show one or more Icom-related COM ports.

Important: Use the official Icom USB driver for your radio. Avoid assuming Windows has selected the best driver automatically.

Steps

Install and verify the driver.

1

Download the official Icom USB driver

Download the driver from Icom’s support site for your radio model and Windows version. Start from the Icom USB driver support page.

2

Install the driver before final software setup

Run the installer and follow Icom’s instructions. Restart Windows if the installer or Windows requests it.

3

Connect the radio by USB

Use a reliable USB cable and connect the radio directly to the PC where practical. Turn the radio on after the driver is installed.

4

Open Device Manager

Look under Ports (COM & LPT) and identify the COM port assigned to the Icom radio.

5

Select that COM port in ShackMaestro

Use the physical radio USB COM port and matching baud rate in ShackMaestro’s Radio Settings. Do not assign this same physical COM port directly to OmniRig, WSJT-X, Log4OM, SDR Console, or ShackScope.

ShackMaestro Radio Settings dialog

Where the COM port is used

After Windows assigns the radio USB COM port, select that port in ShackMaestro’s Radio Settings. ShackMaestro should be the program that owns the physical radio connection.

Troubleshooting

Common USB driver issues.

No COM port appears

Reinstall the Icom driver, try a different USB cable, and confirm the radio is powered on.

Wrong COM port selected

Disconnect and reconnect the radio while watching Device Manager to identify which COM port changes.

Another app locks the port

Only one program can usually open a physical serial port directly. Close other CAT programs before testing ShackMaestro.

Recommended workflow

Add one piece at a time.

Install the Icom USB driver, then verify the ShackMaestro-to-radio connection. After that, create the ShackScope virtual COM pair and verify ShackScope. Add optional OmniRig and other station software one step at a time later.