diff --git a/rotators/ioptron/rot_ioptron.c b/rotators/ioptron/rot_ioptron.c
index 4a584ac95..7a5387279 100644
--- a/rotators/ioptron/rot_ioptron.c
+++ b/rotators/ioptron/rot_ioptron.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ const struct rot_caps ioptron_rot_caps =
     .copyright =      "LGPL",
     .status =         RIG_STATUS_ALPHA,
     .rot_type =       ROT_TYPE_AZEL,
-    .port_type =      RIG_PORT_SERIAL|RIG_PORT_NETWORK,
+    .port_type =      RIG_PORT_SERIAL,
     .serial_rate_min  = 9600,
     .serial_rate_max  = 9600,
     .serial_data_bits = 8,
diff --git a/src/amplifier.c b/src/amplifier.c
index 4825baad2..5bd2c29cb 100644
--- a/src/amplifier.c
+++ b/src/amplifier.c
@@ -310,6 +310,13 @@ int HAMLIB_API amp_open(AMP *amp)
 
     rs->ampport.fd = -1;
 
+    // determine if we have a network address
+    if (sscanf(rs->rotport.pathname,"%d.%d.%d.%d:%d", &net1, &net2, &net3, &net4, &port)==5) 
+    {
+        rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE,"%s: using network address %s\n", __func__, rs->rotport.pathname);
+        rs->rotport.type.rig = RIG_PORT_NETWORK;
+    }
+
     switch (rs->ampport.type.rig)
     {
     case RIG_PORT_SERIAL:
diff --git a/src/rig.c b/src/rig.c
index 90a73d6a0..0859975ac 100644
--- a/src/rig.c
+++ b/src/rig.c
@@ -568,6 +568,13 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_open(RIG *rig)
 
     rs->rigport.fd = -1;
 
+    // determine if we have a network address
+    if (sscanf(rs->rotport.pathname,"%d.%d.%d.%d:%d", &net1, &net2, &net3, &net4, &port)==5) 
+    {
+        rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE,"%s: using network address %s\n", __func__, rs->rotport.pathname);
+        rs->rotport.type.rig = RIG_PORT_NETWORK;
+    }
+
     if (rs->rigport.type.rig == RIG_PORT_SERIAL)
     {
         if (rs->rigport.parm.serial.rts_state != RIG_SIGNAL_UNSET
diff --git a/src/rotator.c b/src/rotator.c
index 29300f063..315006ac6 100644
--- a/src/rotator.c
+++ b/src/rotator.c
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ int HAMLIB_API rot_open(ROT *rot)
     const struct rot_caps *caps;
     struct rot_state *rs;
     int status;
+    int net1,net2,net3,net4,port;
 
     rot_debug(RIG_DEBUG_VERBOSE, "%s called\n", __func__);
 
@@ -338,6 +339,13 @@ int HAMLIB_API rot_open(ROT *rot)
 
     rs->rotport.fd = -1;
 
+    // determine if we have a network address
+    if (sscanf(rs->rotport.pathname,"%d.%d.%d.%d:%d", &net1, &net2, &net3, &net4, &port)==5) 
+    {
+        rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE,"%s: using network address %s\n", __func__, rs->rotport.pathname);
+        rs->rotport.type.rig = RIG_PORT_NETWORK;
+    }
+
     switch (rs->rotport.type.rig)
     {
     case RIG_PORT_SERIAL: