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Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

To Dave KO4KHB;
We understand your desire to package an encryption ham radio product with your commercial communication packages to government agencies for a profit.

Ham radio by its nature is not secure.

You can list URLs to download security software with your products or even burn a cd/dvd with them to include when you make a sale.
Or you can contact the authors direct for a commercial encryption capable version.
Or sell them a dragon P4 pactor modem!

--

73 de w8nsi Jim
Yes, I am a VET too. Vietnam '68-'72
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

I meant VARA moden not VaraC. Why add encryption complication to an amateur radio product when there are already easily publicly available methods of encryption?
--

73 de w8nsi Jim
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

I suggest use of PGP for a public encryption method. It is universally available, and mostly understood with little or no additional instruction to use.

VaraC is an amateur radio product.
Not an Everything To Everyone program.
Why over-complicate a wonderful transmission method through a desire to hang another doo-dad onto it.

--

73 de w8nsi Jim
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

If your running in a non ham band, likely the easiest method for encryption would be to run gnupg. Turns it into text that can be sent, but it's secure.


On Tue, Jun 6, 2023, 4:22 AM G4AON <dave.g4aon@...> wrote:
On Mon, Jun 5, 2023 at 04:50 PM, det wrote:
We have DoD customers working with partner countries .. where they want VarAC , VARA HF messaging but with at least AES-256 encryption
Tell them to go and buy a Dragon modem from SCS and use Pactor with AES-256

73 Dave


Re: Yeasu 991A Winlink/VARA com port errors #newuser

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I have seen Windows erroneously report a port in use, after the program that was using it has exited. Not frequently, but it happens. The only cure I know of is to reboot Windows.

(It can also happen when a program crashes, or performs an abnormal exit. Again, not always, but frequently enough. :-( )

Check it immediately after a Windows reboot...

Good Luck!

73,
Paul

On 6/7/23 12:05, Gary Lamunion wrote:

I¡¯m new to this platform, so please excuse any missteps. I am getting desperate trying to set up WInlink on my Yeasu 991A. The intent is to set it up on and 891 with SIgnalink, but thought I would set it up on the 991A first, since it has a built in sound card and eliminates one variable in my learning curve. I have reviewed Youtube ad nauseam for 991 menu set ups and think I have all the parameters set. I believe this, because I was once able to send a WInlink test message on HF (once only). Now what happens is every time I try to send a test message, when I open the session I get an error that states com port 7 is either in use by another program or not functioning. I do not have any other programs running, I turn the computer on, open winlink, get the error. Yes, the two Yeasu drivers load, enhanced and standard (they show up in Device Driver as soon as I connect the readio.). ?I have gone in computer (Windows 10) regit>HKEY_Local_Machine\system\currentcontrolset\control\com name arbitrator and all parameters are 0 (zero). I have gone into Process Explorer and the only item in the details tab is silabser.sys. I tried to uninstall Vara but it doesn¡¯t show up as a choice in uninstall. I uninstalled/reinstalled Winlink, but same problem. In device mgr, com ports, Com 6 in the enhanced port and com 7 the standard. I am totally at a loss here. Any help would be appreciated


Re: Yeasu 991A Winlink/VARA com port errors #newuser

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I ran into something similar recently.?

The Enhanced com port was 6 in DM. I was using an iPhone hot spot to tie the computer to the Internet.?

That WiFi connection was capturing Com 6 but not showing up anywhere. Trial and error to find this out.?

Try manually moving the enhanced port to an unused port #. 20 worked for me.?

Something similar may be happening in your system. This was a 991A with Pactor 7800 modem in my case with Dell Rugged notebook and W10.?

73
Doug?
W4DBL?


On Jun 7, 2023, at 22:45, Gary Lamunion via groups.io <W8GLL8@...> wrote:

?I¡¯m new to this platform, so please excuse any missteps. I am getting desperate trying to set up WInlink on my Yeasu 991A. The intent is to set it up on and 891 with SIgnalink, but thought I would set it up on the 991A first, since it has a built in sound card and eliminates one variable in my learning curve. I have reviewed Youtube ad nauseam for 991 menu set ups and think I have all the parameters set. I believe this, because I was once able to send a WInlink test message on HF (once only). Now what happens is every time I try to send a test message, when I open the session I get an error that states com port 7 is either in use by another program or not functioning. I do not have any other programs running, I turn the computer on, open winlink, get the error. Yes, the two Yeasu drivers load, enhanced and standard (they show up in Device Driver as soon as I connect the readio.). ?I have gone in computer (Windows 10) regit>HKEY_Local_Machine\system\currentcontrolset\control\com name arbitrator and all parameters are 0 (zero). I have gone into Process Explorer and the only item in the details tab is silabser.sys. I tried to uninstall Vara but it doesn¡¯t show up as a choice in uninstall. I uninstalled/reinstalled Winlink, but same problem. In device mgr, com ports, Com 6 in the enhanced port and com 7 the standard. I am totally at a loss here. Any help would be appreciated


Winlink VARA and SCU-17 PTT port

 

As mentioned there is a problem with the SCU-17 and the second port it uses for PTT. But there is a solution and I will mention it.
At least for me it works without any problem. After many unsuccessful attempts with the SCU-17 and the Yaesu FT-100 (I believe the same applies to other models such as the FT-817 etc) I thought of tricking the VARA SAT or VARA HF with another port emulation software to set the parameters myself .
And indeed it worked.The application is named Free Virtual Serial Port Emulator or VSPE which really is one of the best if not the best application for such cases and not only. The settings follow with images.
After install it



Make a splitter the standard SCU-17 PTT port with a port not used number. In my case the SCU-17 was CAT com 4 and PTT com 3.
Only the com port PTT need to emulate. I make the com port 3 to virtual 1 this is free in my system.



Change the Baud Rate as needed and UNCHECK RTS and DTS this is important.?
Save click on new splitter and start the emulator. Save it for quick start in next run.



When staring ok minimize it.
Next to Winlink and VARA radio setup.



Update setup after the changes and run


Success


I run it in Windows 7 but i think not matter the windows versions.
73 Chrysanthos SV1HEP


Yeasu 991A Winlink/VARA com port errors #newuser

Gary Lamunion
 

I¡¯m new to this platform, so please excuse any missteps. I am getting desperate trying to set up WInlink on my Yeasu 991A. The intent is to set it up on and 891 with SIgnalink, but thought I would set it up on the 991A first, since it has a built in sound card and eliminates one variable in my learning curve. I have reviewed Youtube ad nauseam for 991 menu set ups and think I have all the parameters set. I believe this, because I was once able to send a WInlink test message on HF (once only). Now what happens is every time I try to send a test message, when I open the session I get an error that states com port 7 is either in use by another program or not functioning. I do not have any other programs running, I turn the computer on, open winlink, get the error. Yes, the two Yeasu drivers load, enhanced and standard (they show up in Device Driver as soon as I connect the readio.). ?I have gone in computer (Windows 10) regit>HKEY_Local_Machine\system\currentcontrolset\control\com name arbitrator and all parameters are 0 (zero). I have gone into Process Explorer and the only item in the details tab is silabser.sys. I tried to uninstall Vara but it doesn¡¯t show up as a choice in uninstall. I uninstalled/reinstalled Winlink, but same problem. In device mgr, com ports, Com 6 in the enhanced port and com 7 the standard. I am totally at a loss here. Any help would be appreciated


Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

On Mon, Jun 5, 2023 at 04:50 PM, det wrote:
We have DoD customers working with partner countries .. where they want VarAC , VARA HF messaging but with at least AES-256 encryption
Tell them to go and buy a Dragon modem from SCS and use Pactor with AES-256

73 Dave


Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

KJ7QQG
 
Edited

You only installed Java 8 (which recognizes up to 52.0). You need to have Java 17 installed (which goes up to 61.0).
Maybe try something from here...?


Also, it's just easier to run it from the command line because that is how you control the server. I don't know how to nor do I have the want to make a GUI for it at the moment


Re: Vara HF security encryption

det
 

He stated ¡°non ham frequencies¡±.

We have DoD customers working with partner countries .. where they want VarAC , VARA HF messaging but with at least AES-256 encryption

73

David E. Theriault
President
4K Solutions, LLC
(706) 593-9070
KO4KHB

SDVOSB (CvE)

On Jun 5, 2023, at 8:23 AM, Nigel (ZL2SEA) <zl2sea@...> wrote:

?Hi Jose
In an Ecomm event there is a requirement when sending sensitive messages from police or gov. agencies etc. to send via secure methods.
Is there a secure encryption version of Vara for use on non ham frequencies?
Thanks
Regards Nigel ZL2SEA





Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On 6/5/2023 10:26 AM, W8NSI James wrote:
On Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 11:36 AM, KJ7QQG wrote:
java -jar vrws.jar
There is some programming method to have .JAR files execute without the fiddly diddly of opening command line every time,then having to remember the incantation "java -jar vrws.jar".

?

I haven't had any problems.? On Windows 7 and 11,? I just create a desktop shortcut that contains a fully-formed path to the? .jar? file in question; i.e. ;something like?

??? "E:\Program Files\YAAC\YAAC.jar"??

[This the link to a Java-based APRS program program called YAAC (Yet Another APRS Client).]

Note that as usual, if the path has any spaces in it like "Program Files", that the entire string must be enclosed in quotes.?

The current versions of the Oracle Java Runtime for Windows registers the extension? .JAR? with Windows when installed.? From Windows' standpoint, .JAR files are just another file type associated with with a particular program (the Java Runtime for Windows). ? Just like .DOC files are associated with MS Word. ? And .HTM files are associated with your default web browser.? You don't need to know where the relevant program? handling the file type is located. Just double-click (or short-cut) the file in question.


Here's another one:

? ??? C:\MatrixQuadraphonicDecoder\QuadraphonicMatrixDecoder.jar

Note that here the quotes were not required because the string has no spaces in it.


By the way (interesting piece of trivia), .JAR files are actually .ZIP files with a different extension.? The different extension causes Windows to open them with Java Run Time,? instead of your default .ZIP file handling program, when double-clicked. ? You can actually open JAR files with WinZip or WinRAR and see the file(s) inside.



Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????

-- APRS over FLdigi Modes? --
??

60-Meter APRS!?? HF NVIS APRS Igate Now Operating
??

Flying Digipeater!
??

11 Copies of UIview in Action on One Computer! ?
Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps
??





Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

From Module 6 of the ARRL EC-016 Course:
"In some instances, the served agency may allow you to send certain ¡°sensitive¡± information over more ¡°discrete¡± modes, such as packet or other digital mode such as D-Star, Winlink or PSK 31, but be sure they fully understand that no Amateur mode can be considered truly ¡°secure.¡± The served agency is the ultimate authority on which information can or cannot be sent, and by which modes. You will need to make any agency aware in advance that the security of amateur radio communications for confidentiality can never be guaranteed."

Randy
N1VTT

On Mon, Jun 5, 2023 at 10:04?AM Cliff Corcoran <cliffcor@...> wrote:
Ham Bands do not allow encryption. The singular exception is Satellite Operation commands.


Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

 

Yes it is a wifi connected computer.
--

73 de w8nsi Jim
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

 

I just downloaded and ran the java uninstaller tool to make sure that there are no conflicting versions. It cleaned me out.
I downloaded and installed (as administrator) "jre-8u371-windows-x64.exe". According to the page at java.com this is the latest version.
Are you using some a beta version of JDK to build this?

Here is the error message in the command line when java -jar vrws.jar is typed in.

===
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: VRWS/mainclass has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 61.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0
??????? at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
??????? at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
??????? at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
??????? at java.lang.Class.forName0(Native Method)
??????? at java.lang.Class.forName(Unknown Source)
??????? at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.jarinjarloader.JarRsrcLoader.main(JarRsrcLoader.java:59)
===


--

73 de w8nsi Jim
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

 

On Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 11:36 AM, KJ7QQG wrote:
java -jar vrws.jar
There is some programming method to have .JAR files execute without the fiddly diddly of opening command line every time,then having to remember the incantation "java -jar vrws.jar". Back in the Amiga and pre-windows MSDOS days, the command line was how it was done for everything. Java wasn't even a glimmer then.

I have another .jar file on my desktop that only requires a double click to open, but I will give this a try.

Hmmm I just got a big string of java dependency errors, so I just wiped java and have just installed to most current version.

So as I understand this VRWS is standalone not needing VaraC? Here goes...
?
--

73 de w8nsi Jim
ts-480, ft-857, 75m loop. efhw [40-10], 4btv
ft-818nd, mfj efhw [40-10] for portable
registered Winlink and Vara-modem user


Re: Vara HF security encryption

 

Ham Bands do not allow encryption. The singular exception is Satellite Operation commands.


Vara HF security encryption

 

Hi Jose
In an Ecomm event there is a requirement when sending sensitive messages from police or gov. agencies etc. to send via secure methods.
Is there a secure encryption version of Vara for use on non ham frequencies?
Thanks
Regards Nigel ZL2SEA


Re: VARA HF running under Crossover

 

This is probably an issue better solved by the crossover team, but some things you might try first include installing a new wineprefix/winebottle, then installing winetricks on your system (sudo apt-get install winetricks) and then trying to use winetricks to install VB6 runtime, the WinNT version of PDH.dll, and set wine to Win7 compatibility (winetricks vb6run pdh_nt4 win7 sound=alsa) before installing VARA. ?(I¡¯m not super sure if winetricks works with crossover though or just regular wine - you might also have to handle installation of those packages within crossover itself).

Your description here of your processor and software setup will help the crossover team too since the M2 processor is a newer thing for the crossover team (I believe it¡¯s an ARM processor and uses something like Rosetta2 to emulate instructions - though this might not be an issue since your other programs are working). It might also help them to know VARA is written in VisualBasic (VB6) and the other programs you¡¯re running are C# (I think).

Best of luck and keep us updated!
73,
Eric

On Sat, Jun 3, 2023 at 4:44 AM Lardizabal David (HR2DDL) via <davidlardizabal=[email protected]> wrote:

I am running Crossover on a new MacBook Pro with M2 chip.? I archived my setup from my old MacPro Intel and open on new computer. I get error from VARA HF see image.? Same problem with VARA FM.? I have no problem with Winlink packet VHF.? Any suggestion or solutions welcome.? Thanks.


Re: My VRWS (VARA Radio Web Services) server has released! #digitalham #varac #varachat

KJ7QQG
 

Open the VARA modem, then open a command line and type "java -jar vrws.jar" to run it. The modem doesn't open automatically.