Winlink and VARA FM on the FT-991a
I decided to post my ham-radio whitepaper on my own website.?
It's free to view and use to help set up the Yaesu FT-991a radio with a VARA FM modem and use Winlink to send messages across the country. Who knows, given how things are going, it might be the only way to get messages out.
?
Comments are welcome.
--
William (Bill) Vaughn
Kj7BIH AE/VE
Redmond, WA USA
Dx10, FT991a?
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Re: Basic Introduction to APRS
On 5/9/2025 1:30 PM, Reiner N2PEZ via
groups.io wrote:
Hi Stephen,
?
Just getting into this a bit late.
You still have this on APRS-over-VARA:
<title>APRS
with FLdigi</title>
?
Reiner
--
Reiner Dieg N2PEZ
FN12 USA
_._,_._,_
?So what about it??? What are you asking?
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
MS Teams::??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
Studio B will be in the EMCOMMS Vehicle Expo
at the Dayton Hamvention? 16-17 May
? ?
- APRS over VARA? --
??
-
?
|
Re: Basic Introduction to APRS
Hi Stephen,
?
Just getting into this a bit late.
You still have this on APRS-over-VARA:
<title>APRS with FLdigi</title>
?
Reiner
--
Reiner Dieg N2PEZ
FN12 USA
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Re: QRP Labs QMX and VARA
VARA is simply a software modem.? It "can" control ptt via cat, com etc stand alone. The application accessing the vara modem controls the freq also may handle the ptt instead.
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Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
Hi Jeff,
?
I found the problem VARAFM was set to 8302 in the VARA setup. ?I will put this under you learn something every day. ?I never noticed the port. It appears to be working, but I am not the data port of 8303 is connecting to PAT. ?
?
Thank you,
?
Tim KM4ESU
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Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
Tim,
I don't use PAT, but the sample that WG1V posted had this configuration for running VARAHF.? Assume you would use the same for VARAFM.? It has cmdPort and dataPorts listed.? Might be worth giving a shot.
--Jeff AE5ME
On Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 02:10:59 PM CDT, Tim Huffaker via groups.io <thuffaker@...> wrote:
Hi Jeff,
?
Thank you for getting back to me. ?Below you and see from the PAT jason file I am using 8300. ?No, I only run one at a time to keep from conflicts. ?I start VARAFM first and then PAT to allow it to be up and running for PAT to connect. This is from WG1Vs' file, so I made no changes. ?You can see PAT calling this port when I select VARAFM. ?Since I am more interested presently in VHF, I have not set up my HF radio to test to see if PAT is connected to VARAHF. Since it's two different radios, I need to make a different rigctld to control it. ?
?
},
? "varafm": {? ?
? ? "addr": "localhost:8300",
? ? "bandwidth": 0,
? ? "rig": "",
? ? "ptt_ctrl": false
? },
?
PTT I have only tested the sound card PTT from. VARAFM and it does PTT the radio when selected, but does not stop unless I turn off VARAFM. ?This is only testing and not VARAFM making a connection. ?
?
I am at a loss as to why it will not connect since VARAFM's port is 8300, and I am calling on the same port. ?
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Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
Tim,
When you look at VARA FM settings, what port does it say it is using?
--Jeff AE5ME
On Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 02:32:08 PM CDT, Tim Huffaker via groups.io <thuffaker@...> wrote:
A little more input. ?
?
This is from PAT for VARAHF?
?
2025/05/08 14:14:33 Starting HTTP service (http://localhost:8080)...
2025/05/08 14:25:51 VARA modem (VARA HF v4.7.6) initialized
2025/05/08 14:25:51 Connecting to N4HSV (varahf)...
2025/05/08 14:25:56 VARA full speed available, registered to KM4ESU
This is with PAT restarted and rigctld started?
?
2025/05/08 14:28:38 Starting HTTP service (http://localhost:8080)...
2025/05/08 14:28:50 vara initialization failed: couldn't connect to VARA command port: dial tcp 127.0.0.1:8300: connect: connection refused
I do not know what is different, but it looks like VARAFM cannot see PAT and maybe the port in VARAFM changed?
?
Tim
KM4ESU?
|
Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
A little more input. ?
?
This is from PAT for VARAHF?
?
2025/05/08 14:14:33 Starting HTTP service (http://localhost:8080)...
2025/05/08 14:25:51 VARA modem (VARA HF v4.7.6) initialized
2025/05/08 14:25:51 Connecting to N4HSV (varahf)...
2025/05/08 14:25:56 VARA full speed available, registered to KM4ESU
This is with PAT restarted and rigctld started?
?
2025/05/08 14:28:38 Starting HTTP service (http://localhost:8080)...
2025/05/08 14:28:50 vara initialization failed: couldn't connect to VARA command port: dial tcp 127.0.0.1:8300: connect: connection refused
I do not know what is different, but it looks like VARAFM cannot see PAT and maybe the port in VARAFM changed?
?
Tim
KM4ESU?
|
Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
Hi Jeff,
?
Thank you for getting back to me. ?Below you and see from the PAT jason file I am using 8300. ?No, I only run one at a time to keep from conflicts. ?I start VARAFM first and then PAT to allow it to be up and running for PAT to connect. This is from WG1Vs' file, so I made no changes. ?You can see PAT calling this port when I select VARAFM. ?Since I am more interested presently in VHF, I have not set up my HF radio to test to see if PAT is connected to VARAHF. Since it's two different radios, I need to make a different rigctld to control it. ?
?
},
? "varafm": {? ?
? ? "addr": "localhost:8300",
? ? "bandwidth": 0,
? ? "rig": "",
? ? "ptt_ctrl": false
? },
?
PTT I have only tested the sound card PTT from. VARAFM and it does PTT the radio when selected, but does not stop unless I turn off VARAFM. ?This is only testing and not VARAFM making a connection. ?
?
I am at a loss as to why it will not connect since VARAFM's port is 8300, and I am calling on the same port. ?
|
Re: VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
Tim,
1) On the WG1V article, he shows the VARA FM running on 8302.? Is it possible you configured VARA FM to run on 8302 instead of 8300?? Also, you cannot have VARA running and VARA FM running at the same time if they both have 8300 ports set.? That is the reason that WG1V gave them different port numbers.? If you want to run VARA FM with the same 8300 port, you have to shut down VARA. 2) PTT control on VARA FM is by VARA FM, not PAT or Winlink.? Under the PTT menu in VARA FM, you can set the PTT to be CAT and connect to the applicable COM port that goes from your Crosslink Windows session to the MAC to the radio serial port.? You will need to shut down rigctld as it will be connected to the same COM port for VARA work.? That should get your PTT working correctly.
--Jeff AE5ME
On Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11:00:01 AM CDT, Tim Huffaker via groups.io <thuffaker@...> wrote:
I have used Carl Howe WG1V's excellent article on installing Winlink, VARA, and ARDOP on an M1-, M2-, M3-Based MAC. From this article, it looks like he got VARAHF working, but I am working to get VARAFM working with a digirig. ?
?
I have the audio path working with the Digirig and my FTM-500. ?Crossver shows how to get a COM port to connect the Digirig USB. ?The audio works and PTT keys the radio with a soundcard tune. ?Unfortunately, it doesn't turn off. ?
What does not work in the local host port of 8300? ?I have looked at both Windows and Linux and connects to confirm what I am doing is correct. I have tried both Pat and Windlink Express to test, and neither can connect to the localhost port to eliminate the mail part. ?
?
Note: VARA HF connects to PAT in Crossover on my Mac. ?There is something different in VARAFM or how the bottle was built to keep this from connecting. ?Crossover is an acceptable way to use Windows-only programs on a M1 Mac, so if anyone can help with what stops this Localhost port from working, please share. ?
|
VARAFM with crossover on M1 MAC
I have used Carl Howe WG1V's excellent article on installing Winlink, VARA, and ARDOP on an M1-, M2-, M3-Based MAC. From this article, it looks like he got VARAHF working, but I am working to get VARAFM working with a digirig. ?
?
I have the audio path working with the Digirig and my FTM-500. ?Crossver shows how to get a COM port to connect the Digirig USB. ?The audio works and PTT keys the radio with a soundcard tune. ?Unfortunately, it doesn't turn off. ?
What does not work in the local host port of 8300? ?I have looked at both Windows and Linux and connects to confirm what I am doing is correct. I have tried both Pat and Windlink Express to test, and neither can connect to the localhost port to eliminate the mail part. ?
?
Note: VARA HF connects to PAT in Crossover on my Mac. ?There is something different in VARAFM or how the bottle was built to keep this from connecting. ?Crossover is an acceptable way to use Windows-only programs on a M1 Mac, so if anyone can help with what stops this Localhost port from working, please share. ?
|
For the record, mine does that, too. ?KM4WHO. ?I am sometimes successful at getting them all by shutting down WINLINK and then logging back in. ?I¡¯m successful with this less than 20% of the time.
Get
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I have two stations that connect to my MBO via VARA/Winlink that get tis message after downloading 5 message, with 5+ listed (in this case 6 messages).
"Held back 1 messages due to manual selection."
How can that limitation be removed?
Thanks!
de W4DNA Dave?
4RN HUB/MBO
|
I have two stations that connect to my MBO via VARA/Winlink that get tis message after downloading 5 message, with 5+ listed (in this case 6 messages).
"Held back 1 messages due to manual selection."
How can that limitation be removed?
Thanks!
de W4DNA Dave?
4RN HUB/MBO
|
Re: QRP Labs QMX and VARA
Does it control frequency also or just PTT?
?
Thanks,
Ben KB0ZOM
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Re: QRP Labs QMX and VARA
Currently using QMX+ with VARA hf, and APRS using Pinpoint Aprs on HF 7.08350 USB. Works great!
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Re: QRP Labs QMX and VARA
Winlink via RMS Express/VARA also succesful.
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Re: Running VARA FM and Packet (Soundmodem) as digipeaters on the same machine
I will check out their PDF. I think I had it open at one point. And I use an XGComms customized usb-digimode (CMedia) interface right now.
?
Thank you for the information and suggestions.
Patrick.
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Re: Running VARA FM and Packet (Soundmodem) as digipeaters on the same machine
Look at Winlink.org's article on "RMS Packet gateway, dual mode Vara FM and AX.25 packet".
?
If you are looking to use a digipeater only; ignore the whole section on RMS Packet setup and just follow the setup for the Packet software TNC and VARA FM.
?
I would avoid any sound card radio interface that uses serial port features for FM, in particular if you want two devices operating at the same time.? VOX works well, but in the 7 systems that I support having dual mode digipeaters, only one uses VOX.? I prefer using the devices that use the C-Media Hardware PTT, all but one use one of the MastersCommunications DRA series. A low-power portable system uses a DigiRig Lite.?
?
Since you are setting up a system, I'd recommend installing the RMS Packet Software and RMS Relay.? Just configure the RMS Relay to be a standalone Post Office on your digipeater as well.? Just give it a different SSID.? The Post Office allows for folks that are aware of it to leave a message for another Ham, and when that Ham connects to the Post Office, they will receive the message.? No Special Session Types or Message Types like P2P and Radio Only require.? Just standard Winlink Sessions and Standard Winlink messages.? No internet required.
?
Brian - W7OWO
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Re: Running VARA FM and Packet (Soundmodem) as digipeaters on the same machine
Sounds simple, But I see a collision in your future. If some data is received by one of?the?software by network and needs to be sent OTA . while another software is also repeating a local payload. you will have both signals mixing in and sent by the radio. I never tested such a strange signal. But I don't?think any of the receiving stations will be able to decode their respective signals.? Now if this happen from time to time, it could be ok but lets say both network send a lot of data, none will work most of the time.?
Just my 2 cents.?
Pierre VE2PF
Totally agree!
I used to utilize comports exclusively?
also, running multiple apps, however,
after using VOX activation feature, it operates so well,
I have no need? nor want?for comports.
?
Eliminates lot's of headaches and goes back to?
the old adage, KISS; Keep It Simple Stu**d
73
On 5/3/2025 8:47 AM, Patrick Dickey via wrote:
Hi, everyone,
I would like to set up a digipeater running both VARA FM and Soundmodem on the same computer with the same radio. We have an RMS that can receive both on the same frequency, but it's hard to reach for a few operators. I have a spare radio and computer
lying around that I could set up for this. My questions are, will this work, and what steps do I need to take to do it? I know that each works individually as a digipeater, but I haven't tried running both of them at the same time.
?
If necessary for the PTT function, I can use Omnirig to control that. Currently each program handles it on their own.
?
There is no problem running multiple apps on the same sound card simultaneously.? (I have had as many as 4 soundcard apps using the same sound system simultaneously.) ? The key is in the sound RX and TX setting dialogs "Advanced" tab.? Be sure the check
box for "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" is unchecked. ?? And in each app, set the PTT COM port to "0" or "VOX" ?
The headache is in PTT keying.?? By far the simplest way to do this is to use a VOX-activated interface like a TigerTronics Signalink or the New Zealand-made USB RigLink. This way you totally avoid having to screw around with conflicting calls to the same
COM port.
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at)
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
Studio B will be in the EMCOMMS Vehicle Expo
at the Dayton Hamvention? 16-17 May,? with
multiple VARA operations running simultaneously
? ?
- APRS over VARA? --
??
-
?
|
Re: Running VARA FM and Packet (Soundmodem) as digipeaters on the same machine
Totally agree!
I used to utilize comports exclusively?
also, running multiple apps, however,
after using VOX activation feature, it operates so well,
I have no need? nor want?for comports.
?
Eliminates lot's of headaches and goes back to?
the old adage, KISS; Keep It Simple Stu**d
73
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 5/3/2025 8:47 AM, Patrick Dickey via groups.io wrote:
Hi, everyone,
I would like to set up a digipeater running both VARA FM and Soundmodem on the same computer with the same radio. We have an RMS that can receive both on the same frequency, but it's hard to reach for a few operators. I have a spare radio and computer
lying around that I could set up for this. My questions are, will this work, and what steps do I need to take to do it? I know that each works individually as a digipeater, but I haven't tried running both of them at the same time.
?
If necessary for the PTT function, I can use Omnirig to control that. Currently each program handles it on their own.
?
There is no problem running multiple apps on the same sound card simultaneously.? (I have had as many as 4 soundcard apps using the same sound system simultaneously.) ? The key is in the sound RX and TX setting dialogs "Advanced" tab.? Be sure the check
box for "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" is unchecked. ?? And in each app, set the PTT COM port to "0" or "VOX" ?
The headache is in PTT keying.?? By far the simplest way to do this is to use a VOX-activated interface like a TigerTronics Signalink or the New Zealand-made USB RigLink. This way you totally avoid having to screw around with conflicting calls to the same
COM port.
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
Studio B will be in the EMCOMMS Vehicle Expo
at the Dayton Hamvention? 16-17 May,? with
multiple VARA operations running simultaneously
? ?
- APRS over VARA? --
??
-
?
|
Bill Vaughn Kj7BIH
Reiner N2PEZ
Richard Dyer
W4DNA - Dave
Brian - W7OWO
Allen Bottorff