Set your IC-7300 clock with the computer & scripts for remote

  A while ago I saw a topic on a dutch hamradio forum about the failing clock back-up battery in the IC-7300. When this battery is broken and completely empty you have to set the time every time you switch on the radio. That could be very annoying. Of course you can replace the internal battery, which is a little tricky...But there is another way, you can easily set your time through the USB connection with your computer. I'm not the first one that published about this, there are other ways, there are multiple solutions. Although my internal battery is still working I just had to see if this works I had to test this. It might help some other HAMs as well...

Some powershell scripts were made by Martin PA2MP. At first he made one that only set the time and date but not exactly on the second. The IC-7300 doesn't know a command that set the time on seconds. But Martin wrote another script that waited till the clock hits "zero" before it send the commands to the IC-7300. It works very well. And since most of us have a small program in use that sets the time right to work with WSJT/JTDX or other software the time will be exactly right on the IC-7300, wonderfull...

This whole thing can be automated at the startup of your computer. It goes too far to completely explain how. I can give one hint: task scheduler. Martin wrote me a complete explanation about how to make a task in task scheduler that will automate running the powershell script. It is in PDF format, but it has been written in dutch. I have found it quite complicated but it works. So, anyone that likes to have that PDF send me an e-mail and I'll send it to you. If anyone can make a english version that would be highly appreciated!

In the mean time, Martin continued to update his powershell script till it evolved in one that not only will set the time but also switch on the IC-7300 if it is not on yet. That way it is excellent for remote control via the internet as well. So I wrote Martin if he could write a script to switch the set off as well with the computer. Since I do a lot of remote this really is excellent since I can now remotely switch off the whole station.

If you like you can try them yourself, PA2MP Martin has given permission to use the scripts for anyone that needs them. Download them here:

https://bit.ly/3izjMjE

(You don't have to log in with a dropbox or google account, just click the message away. You'll find a download button in the right upper corner)

I have packed the files into a .rar file. I included the original script that set the date and time only on the minute, the second script that waits for a new minute to begin to set the time exact at the second and the third script that switches your IC-7300 on and then sets the date and time. As a bonus I added the script to switch off your IC-7300.

Thanks Martin PA2MP, really appreciate your effort to make these scripts and make them available to others.