IC-R20 Cloning, CS-R20, CI-V & USB Driver

Summary: How to connect the IC-R20 to a PC: cloning with the CS-R20 software, CI-V remote control with the CT-17, and installing the USB driver.

Cloning With the CS-R20

The optional CS-R20 cloning software and OPC-1382 USB cloning cable transfer the programmed contents between the receiver and a PC (Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, per the manual) so you can edit and back them up. It’s also the way to programme PreSet and TV channels and to store or delete IC recorder audio. See the CS-R20 help file for details.

1. Install the USB driver first (below).
2. Connect the OPC-1382 from the PC to the receiver’s [USB] jack.
3. Turn the receiver on. The display shows CLONE-OUT while reading from the receiver and CLONE-IN while writing to it. Cloning requires an initial setup for your receiver’s version.

Don’t push any key during cloning: it causes a cloning error (“CLONE ERROR”), after which the receiver automatically does an ALL RESET and you should turn the power off and on.

USB Driver

The USB driver on the CS-R20 CD must be installed before the CS-R20 can be used. If the driver for the OPC-478U or ID-1 is installed on the PC, uninstall it first; the two drivers can’t be used on the same PC. The manual gives step-by-step instructions for Windows XP, 2000 and 98/98SE/Me (the receiver appears as a “USB High Speed Serial Converter” using the FTDI driver from the CD). Windows 10 and 11 aren’t covered by this manual.

CI-V Remote Control

The IC-R20 can be connected to a PC’s RS-232C port using the optional CT-17 CI-V level converter (through the receiver’s [SP/CI-V] jack). Control uses Icom’s CI-V interface; Icom doesn’t supply a CI-V application. The CT-17 needs 9-15 V DC power and a 3-conductor 3.5 mm plug.

• Address: 6C (settable 01-7F).
• Baud rate: AUTO (300, 1200, 4800, 9600, 19200 bps).
• Data format: FE FE, receiver address (6C), controller address (E0), command, sub command, data, FD. Commands include reading and setting the frequency and mode (LSB, USB, AM, CW, FM, WFM), reading the squelch state and the S-meter level.

The manual documents CI-V only through the [SP/CI-V] jack; the [USB] jack is described only for cloning.

Squawker Connect

See IC-R20 Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online.