What cables did you upgrade to CAT 8, the Ethernet cabling??
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Dang, now I'm going to need to get one of those.? The little adapter is a bit janky.
Mat
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I would get a DRA-36 (not on the website yet, but contact Kevin), and then use a cheap 6-pin to 6-pin PS/2 type cable from Amazon. Those cables are so cheap, just get another one and cut the connector off one end and add whatever connector your HT needs. This is a DRA-50, same idea as the DRA-36 (uses a 6-pin DIN instead of the DB9):  ? -Scott, NS7C
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I would just use the DRA for everything. Unmodified, the Signalink is pretty ugly in the low end of the audio spectrum (do a google search on Signalink Mods). I rarely use mine for anything anymore. You really do not want to have both devices connected together. With the transformers in the Signalink, you are going to do strange things to the input and output impedance, which will will probably make both devices perform much worse.
-Scott, NS7C
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Re: DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
Correct. I use a cheap ($5) PS/2 type cable from Amazon for the radio cable:  -Scott, NS7C
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Re: DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
Scott,
Re the DRA-50¡ So you build one cable with both the 1200 and 9600 lines going thru and then jumper in the DRA as to what speed you want? ? Din 6 on each end¡ depending on the radio.
Our local guys running the Kenwood 710s found the same thing. ?Need lots of audio to drive the 9600 baud.
================ Bob Sampson 360-477-0776 (cell) Sequim, WA
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When using the "9600" pins on a radio you are connecting directly to the receiver discriminator (not bypassing it) and the transmitter modulator. It generally takes a lot more drive when you are connected to the modulator to achieve the desired deviation. Some manufacturers point this out in the manual, most do not. The "standard" 6-pin DIN connector is anything but "standard". The pin assignments are the same between manufacturers, but the levels and impedance of the input and output vary widely between manufacturers and even between models from the same manufacturer. On some radios the DRA-30 cannot provide enough drive to the modulator to achieve proper deviation. That's why there is a DRA-45, which includes additional amps for both input and output. There will soon be a DRA-36 and DRA-50 which have 6-pin DIN connectors and "1200"/"9600" jumpers on the board, eliminating the need for the 6-pin connector board.
-Scott, NS7C
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Re: DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
When using the "9600" pins on a radio you are connecting directly to the receiver discriminator (not bypassing it) and the transmitter modulator. It generally takes a lot more drive when you are connected to the modulator to achieve the desired deviation. Some manufacturers point this out in the manual, most do not. The "standard" 6-pin DIN connector is anything but "standard". The pin assignments are the same between manufacturers, but the levels and impedance of the input and output vary widely between manufacturers and even between models from the same manufacturer. On some radios the DRA-30 cannot provide enough drive to the modulator to achieve proper deviation. That's why there is a DRA-45, which includes additional amps for both input and output. There will soon be a DRA-36 and DRA-50 which have 6-pin DIN connectors and "1200"/"9600" jumpers on the board, eliminating the need for the 6-pin connector board.
-Scott, NS7C
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Re: DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
OK, I cranked up the volumes and that seemed to do the trick.? It is interesting the difference in volume levels between the two settings on the radio.
Thanks again,
Mat
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Re: DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
Mat,
In the VARA FM settings, Vara Setup, FM settings to Wide? ? ?Level all the way up on whatever channel (L or R) on the DRA30 ?you are using? ? Sound card RX level (L or R) up to at least 50%??
My best guess.,
================ Bob Sampson 360-477-0776 (cell) Sequim, WA
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I have two DRA-30's with the DIN-6 Connector board attached to a Kenwood D710 and V71 for testing.? I have had good results testing VARA-FM in narrow mode with each radio having their data port configured in 1200 baud mode.? I now want to start testing Wide mode.? I configured each radio's data port to 9600 bps which should adjust the audio path to bypass the onboard discriminator.? I also moved the 1200/9600 pin on the DIN-6 Connector board.? It doesn't matter which radio I try this on, when I press the tune button on the SoundCard menu in VARA I see the radio key up but I do not hear the tone I normally hear when the radios are configured in 1200 bps mode.? I have check the cables for continuity and I have checked the DIN-6 connector board for continuity between the appropriate 9600 bps pin and the board.? All looks good there.? In VARA the Audio Input meter is showing signal as well.? I don't have any of the pins jumpered on the DRA-30 if that matters.? Thoughts?
Mat
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DRA-30, Audio when radio configured in 1200 baud mode, no audio when configured in 9600 baud mode
I have two DRA-30's with the DIN-6 Connector board attached to a Kenwood D710 and V71 for testing.? I have had good results testing VARA-FM in narrow mode with each radio having their data port configured in 1200 baud mode.? I now want to start testing Wide mode.? I configured each radio's data port to 9600 bps which should adjust the audio path to bypass the onboard discriminator.? I also moved the 1200/9600 pin on the DIN-6 Connector board.? It doesn't matter which radio I try this on, when I press the tune button on the SoundCard menu in VARA I see the radio key up but I do not hear the tone I normally hear when the radios are configured in 1200 bps mode.? I have check the cables for continuity and I have checked the DIN-6 connector board for continuity between the appropriate 9600 bps pin and the board.? All looks good there.? In VARA the Audio Input meter is showing signal as well.? I don't have any of the pins jumpered on the DRA-30 if that matters.? Thoughts?
Mat
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Re: VARA Wide Mode on VHF or UHF
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Re: VARA Wide Mode on VHF or UHF
It works identical on any FM mode. 6 Meters, ?2 Meters, 220 MHz, 440 MHz etc.
For best results the radio needs the ¡°9600¡± mode and data connector.
Or, You need to otherwise connect the sound card interface to flat transmit audio and discriminator receive audio, such as via the options connector on rear of commercial radios.
Wide refers to the audio bandwidth. Bypassing internal radio audio filtering.
W3RWN Seattle, WA
Does VARA wide mode run on both VHF and UHF or just UHF?? If it can run on both, do you get better speeds on one band verses other??
Mat
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VARA Wide Mode on VHF or UHF
Does VARA wide mode run on both VHF and UHF or just UHF?? If it can run on both, do you get better speeds on one band verses other??
Mat
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VARA FM v3.1.0 - 25-May-2020
Reporting that VARA FM v3.1.0 was downloaded and installed, updating from the prior VARA FM v3.0.8 we were running.
Are there release notes or other indication what this change does?
Feel free to use this thread to dialog on VARA FM v3.1.0.
73,
Randy W3RWN
Seattle, WA
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Lewis - K7LBH
I tried contacting you via VARA CHAT yesterday evening on both 80M and 40M... no response. I was able to connect with a VARA HF gateway in Bandon OR, so I believe my VARA HF setup is working properly.
Please let me know when you'll be operating your VARA CHAT system, so we can set up a sked.
Mark - AD7EF
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Did you run it as Administrator?
P-T
I tried to install VARA chat today and got the false positive virus warning, got around it, but when I tried to run it came up with a warning for some bot and would not run.
AL M
KF5SMH
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I tried to install VARA chat today and got the false positive virus warning, got around it, but when I tried to run it came up with a warning for some bot and would not run.
AL M
KF5SMH
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Walter/K5WH... The VARA HF P2P mode is listed as "Vara P2P" in the session drop-down list on the Winlink Express main window.
K7LBH - Lewis... what VARA HF mode are you looking to test with? P2P, or VARA CHAT?
I haven't experimented with VARA CHAT yet, but I look forward to doing so.
Mark - AD7EF
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Scott Currie
Mark Davis
Al Massaro KF5SMH