Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
Sometime I use the 28.148 Mhz in VARA Aprs
Jose,
Thanks for the correction on your location. I should have looked you up.
Your symbol in the station list showed?RSGB so I assumed you were in the UK.
Have fun with HF APRS.
Wayne
WA5LUY
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
Jose,
Thanks for the correction on your location. I should have looked you up.
Your symbol in the station list showed?RSGB so I assumed you were in the UK.
Have fun with HF APRS.
Wayne
WA5LUY
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Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
This groups is for VARA and not VarAC, two different programs. Ask this question on the VarAC forums section on the VarAC website.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message -------- From: "David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io" <cymru242002@...> Date: 11/30/24 7:00 PM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [VARA-MODEM] Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
Please.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, 5:32 PM, David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io <cymru242002@...> wrote: I saw in prior versions of this program that you could put in place a frequency scheduler. I don't see any ? such option now. Has it been discontinued? ?If it's still an option, how do I do it??
As to antenna tuners, I have owned one for roughly a month now. How does the software actually to the antenna tuner? I let it know that I have one. I am clueless as to the program interacts, with the tuner. Would you ?please explain Thanks.
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
I am ea8ee? no ea8ff and I am not in the United Kingdom but Gran Canaria island Spain
I have been monitoring HF 30M APRS stations for a number of years using AX25 packet. It is not uncommon to hear and I-gate European station when the band is open.?
a couple of months ago I set up a Vara station using the same receiver and antenna as the packet station.
There are fewer stations using Vara but here is what I heard for folks using Vara in the past couple of months.
Note: EA8FF-15? in the UK was copied 11/29 at 01:14.? The list is only about half the stations copied.
73 and good HF APRS.
Wayne
WA5LUY
?
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Re: Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10
PIeter,
I have not tried using ARDO. ?I will give it a try. I ?have no rouble triggering the radio when using WSJT X modes. Thanks,,,,
Richard KZ4JV On Nov 30, 2024, at 21:50, Pieter V51PJ via groups.io <v51pj@...> wrote:
Richard i am not familiar with your specific radio Can you trigger your radio with ardop for example?
If you trigger via the usb port which i assume can do sound and ptt then it is easy but i think some radio models only support audio and ptt is externally or using vox?
Greetings from the Namib
Pieter Jacobs V51pj On 1 Dec 2024, at 00:27, RICHARD PLOTKIN via groups.io <raplotkin@...> wrote:
? I have been trying to get Winlink vara hf working ?with no success. I receive just fine, but cannot get the program to trigger the PTT function on the Ftdx10. ? Winlink works fine on telnet and on vara hf, I am receiving ?and it goes to Ready state. ?However, while the program is trying to transmit, the transmit does not occur on the Ftdx10. ?I've tried many different settings on both the PC and the radio. ?If I use a Signaling ?box, I can get it to go out, but for operational purposes, I prefer to go directly from the PC to the radio. Anyone have a similar issue that has been resolved? ?Thanks....
Richard A. Plotkin
6565 The Masters Ave
Lakewood Ranch, Fl 34202
Cell: ? ? 401-862-4809 KZ4JV
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Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
It is still there.
Enter like this
I don't believe VarAC interacts tuners. Your tuner would need to be automated and tune based on CAT control from your transceiver, etc.
73
Danny, K5CG
HH 550-0609
SKCC 14257
From: "David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io" <cymru242002@...> To: "VARA-MODEM" < [email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2024 11:16:52 AM Subject: [VARA-MODEM] Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
I saw in prior versions of this program that you could put in place a frequency scheduler. I don't see any ? such option now. Has it been discontinued? ?If it's still an option, how do I do it?? As to antenna tuners, I have owned one for roughly a month now. How does the software actually to the antenna tuner? I let it know that I have one. I am clueless as to the program interacts, with the tuner. Would you ?please explain Thanks.
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Re: Var AC configuration issues. HF and FM
You can create a distinct .ini file for each profile. Pass the .ini file as an argument to the exe and that is what profile will run.
For example, a shortcut on my desktop...
C:\...\VarAC.exe VarAC_7300_4BTV.ini
This launches VarAC with the configuration for the VARA HF modem and canned messages with details for my IC7300 and 4BTV antenna.
73
Danny, K5CG
HH 550-0609
SKCC 14257
From: "David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io" <cymru242002@...> To: "VARA-MODEM" < [email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2024 11:06:14 AM Subject: [VARA-MODEM] Var AC configuration issues. HF and FM
?
I have a station that I have successfully installed Vara AC on. I use Vara HF as my modem. I have separately installed VARA FM. I don't currently use it, because there are no gateways within range. I just came aware of people using VA AC with HT's and miles, including using other digital programs such as FLDIGI. It's particularly interesting, in that they are using DMR radios such as the Anytone D87UV HT. So the question is how go I use both the HF and FM versions of Vara? Is there a way to ?configure one copy of the program to allow you to choose which one you want to use for a particular session? Alternately can you run multiple ?copies of Var AC configured ?differently. Which is the preferred alternative? Thanks for your attention to this issue.?
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Re: Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10
On Sat, Nov 30, 2024 at 4:27?PM RICHARD PLOTKIN via <raplotkin= [email protected]> wrote: I have been trying to get Winlink vara hf working with no success. I receive just fine, but cannot get the program to trigger the PTT function on the Ftdx10. ? Winlink works fine on telnet and on vara hf, I am receiving ?and it goes to Ready state.? However, while the program is trying to transmit, the transmit does not occur on the Ftdx10.? I've tried many different settings on both the PC and the radio.? If I use a Signaling ?box, I can get it to go out, but for operational purposes, I prefer to go directly from the PC to the radio. Anyone have a similar issue that has been resolved?? Thanks....
_ On the radio, there is an "RPTT" setting for the mode you are operating in. I'm operating in Mode SSB, so for RPTT in SSB mode, the default setting is "DAKY", which is what would work with a Signalink or other device that uses the data/packet port. Because I'm using the internal sound card, I changed the RPTT setting to "RTS".? Then in VARA HF, under "Settings" > "PTT" I selected the applicable COM port and "RTS".
The applicable COM port for PTT is one of two virtual ports that are detected in Windows when the USB cable is connected between the radio and the computer. One COM port is the "enhanced" port, which is used for CAT control, and the other COM port is the "standard" port, which is used for PTT. Use the COM port number of the standard port in VARA's PTT setting.
I assume by "
trying to get Winlink vara hf working" you are referring to using Winlink Express with VARA HF. I'm not using Winlink Express with VARA HF, so your results may vary. If you can get VARA HF to provide the PTT options in the "Settings" menu, I expect things to work.
73, Lee K5DAT
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Re: Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10
Richard i am not familiar with your specific radio Can you trigger your radio with ardop for example?
If you trigger via the usb port which i assume can do sound and ptt then it is easy but i think some radio models only support audio and ptt is externally or using vox?
Greetings from the Namib
Pieter Jacobs V51pj
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 1 Dec 2024, at 00:27, RICHARD PLOTKIN via groups.io <raplotkin@...> wrote:
? I have been trying to get Winlink vara hf working ?with no success. I receive just fine, but cannot get the program to trigger the PTT function on the Ftdx10. ? Winlink works fine on telnet and on vara hf, I am receiving ?and it goes to Ready state. ?However, while the program is trying to transmit, the transmit does not occur on the Ftdx10. ?I've tried many different settings on both the PC and the radio. ?If I use a Signaling ?box, I can get it to go out, but for operational purposes, I prefer to go directly from the PC to the radio. Anyone have a similar issue that has been resolved? ?Thanks....
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
I have been monitoring HF 30M APRS stations for a number of years using AX25 packet. It is not uncommon to hear and I-gate European station when the band is open.?
a couple of months ago I set up a Vara station using the same receiver and antenna as the packet station.
There are fewer stations using Vara but here is what I heard for folks using Vara in the past couple of months.
Note: EA8FF-15? in the UK was copied 11/29 at 01:14.? The list is only about half the stations copied.
73 and good HF APRS.
Wayne
WA5LUY
?
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Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, 5:32 PM, David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io <cymru242002@...> wrote: I saw in prior versions of this program that you could put in place a frequency scheduler. I don't see any ? such option now. Has it been discontinued? ?If it's still an option, how do I do it??
As to antenna tuners, I have owned one for roughly a month now. How does the software actually to the antenna tuner? I let it know that I have one. I am clueless as to the program interacts, with the tuner. Would you ?please explain Thanks.
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Re: Questions about VAR-AC and My Yaesu 991 A
The emails pretty much sum up my experience. I am using VarAC v10.3,1 and Vara HF v4.89.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, 5:33 PM, David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io <cymru242002@...> wrote: I am a new Var- AC user. I have had several strange experiences starting out. ?The initial usage was smooth enough. Then the comm port was seized by another process and the application could not communicate with the radio. I computer programmer friend of mine, who is also a ham suggested that I renumber the port to another number. That didn't work. My Elmer went in and set everything back to the original number. Thing started working again spontaneously without diagnosing or fixing the original comm port problem. So here is my immediate concern. The radio is transmitting e.g. beaconing and attempting to initiate a QSO. The problem is that the software isn't making it's usual noise when the radio is transmitting. Problem 2 is that when the radio transmits, it emits no sound when you listen to it with the monitor function. I have verified that it is on and that the volume is way up. Pskreporter verified that I actually transmitted. So ?what is going on? I have only done one QSO.?
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Re: Var AC configuration issues. HF and FM
VarAC has profiles, and each profile can reference a different codefile for VARA. You want to set the HF (SSB) to the proper path and .exe. Then repeat for the FM profile. It has been some time since I looked at this, you may need to manually create the various profiles. But that's the way to get VarAC to have HF and FM. In fact, if I remember correctly, you can even change the saved messages so each profile has its own saved messages.
?
73
Doug / N3JXB
?
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Questions about VAR-AC and My Yaesu 991 A
I am a new Var- AC user. I have had several strange experiences starting out. ?The initial usage was smooth enough. Then the comm port was seized by another process and the application could not communicate with the radio. I computer programmer friend of mine, who is also a ham suggested that I renumber the port to another number. That didn't work. My Elmer went in and set everything back to the original number. Thing started working again spontaneously without diagnosing or fixing the original comm port problem. So here is my immediate concern. The radio is transmitting e.g. beaconing and attempting to initiate a QSO. The problem is that the software isn't making it's usual noise when the radio is transmitting. Problem 2 is that when the radio transmits, it emits no sound when you listen to it with the monitor function. I have verified that it is on and that the volume is way up. Pskreporter verified that I actually transmitted. So ?what is going on? I have only done one QSO.?
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Var AC configuration issues. HF and FM
?
I have a station that I have successfully installed Vara AC on. I use Vara HF as my modem. I have separately installed VARA FM. I don't currently use it, because there are no gateways within range. I just came aware of people using VA AC with HT's and miles, including using other digital programs such as FLDIGI. It's particularly interesting, in that they are using DMR radios such as the Anytone D87UV HT. So the question is how go I use both the HF and FM versions of Vara? Is there a way to ?configure one copy of the program to allow you to choose which one you want to use for a particular session? Alternately can you run multiple ?copies of Var AC configured ?differently. Which is the preferred alternative? Thanks for your attention to this issue.?
|
Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners
I saw in prior versions of this program that you could put in place a frequency scheduler. I don't see any ? such option now. Has it been discontinued? ?If it's still an option, how do I do it??
As to antenna tuners, I have owned one for roughly a month now. How does the software actually to the antenna tuner? I let it know that I have one. I am clueless as to the program interacts, with the tuner. Would you ?please explain Thanks.
|
Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10
I have been trying to get Winlink vara hf working ?with no success. I receive just fine, but cannot get the program to trigger the PTT function on the Ftdx10. ? Winlink works fine on telnet and on vara hf, I am receiving ?and it goes to Ready state. ?However, while the program is trying to transmit, the transmit does not occur on the Ftdx10. ?I've tried many different settings on both the PC and the radio. ?If I use a Signaling ?box, I can get it to go out, but for operational purposes, I prefer to go directly from the PC to the radio. Anyone have a similar issue that has been resolved? ?Thanks....
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
On 11/30/2024 4:26 PM, Mike Berg wrote:
I've been under the impression that VARA required Windows 10
or 11.
I assume that's incorrect?
The stick sounds interesting. How are you handling the PTT??
?
73
'QBH
_._,_._,_
Both VARA (the modems) and VarAC Chat work just fine on Win 7.??
I've encountered a number of programs recently that only mention
Win 10 / 10,? that actually work perfectly on Win 7.?? I think
it's just that software publishers just don't bother to test on
Win 7 anymore, and don't guarantee that their products will work
on Win 7.?
I like to use Win 7 on these minimum-hardware projects because it
takes a tiny fraction of the hard drive and RAM space of Win 10
and 11.? I have a "tiny" version of Win 7 that leaves out all the
multi-media fluff, Internet Explorer, etc.? It occupies about half
the installed space of a standard Win 7 build and about 1/4 that
of Win 10 / 11.?
As far as the PTT goes, I use my home-brew self-powered
tone-activated interfaces that don't require power, serial ports,
or USB ports. The computer audio goes through a transformer and
then a passive Schottky-diode voltage octupler that turns on a
MOSFET switch for PTT.? I use very small caps in the voltage
multiplier so it can key the PTT in less than 20 milli-seconds
after the audio tone starts, unlike most VOX-type setups.
Or if one wants to provide external 12 VDC power, you could use a
SignaLink USB which has it's own internal VOX system. ??
Or as I do on my Yaesu FT-857s, FT-891s and my FT-818
porta-luggie, turn on the radio's own dedicated "Data VOX"
function from a menu.? (The "data VOX" fun? is completely separate
from the usual mic-jack voice VOX function. It only responds to
audio input on the back-panel mini-DIN data port.)
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
APRS-over-VARA igates now operating on 30 & 60 meters
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-- APRS over VARA? --
??
?
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
I've been under the impression that VARA required Windows 10 or 11.
I assume that's incorrect?
The stick sounds interesting. How are you handling the PTT??
?
73
'QBH
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Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!
On 11/30/2024 1:45 PM, Mike Berg wrote:
Roger on no APRS Messenger.
I infer that mobile APRS VARA will require a laptop or mini PC.
Fortunately, they are plentiful and inexpensive.
?
I must say the new Yaesu mobiles have me spoiled for ease in
doing mobile APRS via packet.
With the right licence agreement(s) they could use VARA
modulation.
Just exercising my licence to dream...
73
'QBH
?
_.
This winter I will be experimenting with using a cheap "stick"
computer for VARA.??
If you haven't heard of these, they are a complete minimal
Intel-type single-chip PC in a package similar to a flash drive
but about twice as large.? They include WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet,
HDMI video and a sound system.? They have a USB A or C connector
sticking out one end ala flash drive.? They are used to drive the
menus on 42" TV monitors over the counter at fast-food places,
display schedules at airports & convention centers, and
increasingly those annoying ads that blast you at self-serve gas
pumps and supermarket check-outs. ? A stick computer is also the
package used by the GeoChron 4K.?? Normally, these devices are
powered by a USB phone charger.?? These devices can be had for as
little as USD $100-$150, depending on the amount of built-in
(non-expandable) ram and flash memory.?
To initially configure them, you connect them to a monitor and
keyboard/mouse, install an OS and and usually a single application
configured to auto-start when booted.? I envision placing a
stripped-down version of Windows 7, VARA HF and an APRS client app
like DireWolf or UIview on the device configured to autorun
headless (no keyboard or monitor) on boot, with a GPS receiver
connected to the USB port.??? ? ?
The sound card would be connected through the usual interface (or
maybe directly) to the data port of an HF mobile rig, creating
what would essentially be the equivalent of a TinyTrack III for
VARA.
If this works, I anticipate imaging the entire setup and making
it available as an ISO file on my website.?
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
APRS-over-VARA igates now operating on 30 & 60 meters
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-- APRS over VARA? --
??
?
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Jose Manuel ea8ee
wa5luy
Jim Ebner
Danny K5CG
Mike Berg