It wouldn't hurt to use some anti-malware software to see if you are infected, but you could use a different port number. I've used 8310 on one of my PCs.

Have you tried re-booting your PC first?

73
John Denison
KD5YOU

Danny

Thank you for the info. Unfortunately I would not recognize a Local Host (127.0.0.1 ?)
if it bit me.? This requires I go into Windows Firewall and to say it is something I tread
lightly in doing is an understatement.

Appreciate the feedback.

Regards

Chuck WD4HXG

I am trying to stand up an install of VarAC and have run into a situation
where the setup sends CAT Commands to the FT-950 and the FT-950
reacts as expected. Also when sending beacons, I hear the warbling being
sent to the FT-950 and frequently hear tones following the beacon, but
I do not see any text displayed in VarAC.?

I have also setup VARA HF and it overall appears to be working, but when
the Monitor feature is activated, and tones are received, there is nothing
being displayed in the monitor screen of VARA HF.

The lashup being used is:


<Desktop PC>-----USB-----<Yaesu SCU-17>-|----=RS-232-----<FT-950 RS-232 Port>
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? |----Audio IO----<FT-950 Rear AFSK Data Port>

Windows 10 Pro Version ? ?10.0.19045 Build 19045


Signals are observed being received in Waterfall of VARA HF

PC generated audio PSK tones are being sent to SCU-17 and then onto the rear AFSK jack.

The FT-950 keys, warble is heard with monitor of FT-950 active and RF Output is generated
as heard by 3rd party some distance away on his receiver.

Examining the LOG Files I discover the following complaints from each VarAC and VARA HF:

VarAC Log File Output:

/07/2024 14:10:10 - Checking for VarAC update.
01/07/2024 14:10:11 - Connecting VARA Main Modem Command interface...
01/07/2024 14:10:12 - Connecting VARA Main Modem data stream...
01/07/2024 14:10:13 - Connecting VARA Main Modem KISS Command interface...
01/07/2024 14:10:13 - ERROR: Failed to connect VARA modem. Check that the IP and Ports are configured and that the VARA modem is running.

VARA HF Log File Output:

2024-07-01 13:25:49 ? ?Disconnected ? ? ?TX: 0 Bytes (Max: 0 bps) ? RX: 0 Bytes (Max: 0 bps) ? Session Time: 00:13

2024-07-01 16:05:38 ? ?WARNING: VARA is not connected to any App via TCP Port 8300

2024-07-01 16:06:38 ? ?WARNING: VARA is not connected to any App via TCP Port 8300

2024-07-01 16:07:38 ? ?WARNING: VARA is not connected to any App via TCP Port 8300

Checked Windows firewall for rule for VARA HF and found the following rule:
TCP? - Local Port - All Ports
??????? - Remote Port - All Ports


There was no rule setup for VarAC, only VarHF.

While I can probably trial and error my way through setting up a firewall rule for VarAC Port 8300
I much prefer tapping the knowledge base before doing so and leaving the computer more vulnerable
to attacks.

Is it an operator installation step to create a firewall rule for VarAC or am I chasing a wild goose?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards

Chuck WD4HXG

Here is an update on using the "Chinese TM-271A" for Vara.

Short story, it does not work well.
Details as follows:

The radio is labeled as a TM-271A (M3).? ? Market 3 is a term I see in some service manual instructions.

In the photo in my prior post you can see a line of 6 contacts.? The top one has a box around it which I identify as #1
By using a signal tracer, a voltmeter, and taking a chance on grounding 2 of the terminals I determined they are as follows.? I assigned the Kenwood names as best I could.

1 Ground
2 PKD Packet data send
3 SQL Squelch but with the open and closed voltage reversed from the book.
4 PR9 Packet receive 9.6 ??, it is always audio out.
5 PKS Data Transmit.
6 +5volt. I could not identify its function.

Missing, PR1 Packet Receive 1200

I tied the shield of the cable to a chassis ground screw.

Menu item 39, Packet speed of 1200 or 9600 had no effect on any tx or rx signal.

Menu item 26, Narrow FM was off.

On sending a 13 k file to and from "test" the speeds hunted around but in both directions settled on 2390.

using autotune or ping showed good values of the signals.

Using my other radio on the same antenna and same (Masters) codec ran above 7000.

I guess I will put the radio back on the market for Voice or 1200 packet.

KA9CAR

> Ian, it sounds as though you’re using the data DIN port on the FT-991A. Don’t! Use a USB cable directly to your computer. Warren KN4LYf

Back from FD. Being the modem group I did not get into the Winlink side of things (there was a parallel discussion ongoing there when this thread started). I can appreciate that there are differences depending on the app: refer to Marek SP5ISZ's comment with respect to VarAC settings. Just for info, without going into details it turns out that for RMS Trimode CAT must go through the FT-991/A serial port while audio and keying are on the USB port. I have not yet gone back to determine the implications of splitting CAT with Winlink Express HF nor the impact on creating a portable "Hybrid HF" / 2/U Post Office capability. Topic for the other list.

73,

Ian VA3QT

This is my own update to the earlier posting, plus (I hope) a reply to people lost in struggle with the VARA FM. A few emails with Jose brought the pivotal information. Here it is: PTT control in VARA FM differs conceptually from that in VARA HF. This can be seen if you compare the info seen in SETTINGS tab of VARA_HF and VARA_FM. The VARA_FM has the PTT entry, while VARA_HF does not. In HF mode you set the PTT in VarAC; in FM mode you set the PTT in VARA_FM modem! To avoid problems with attempts of simultaneous access to the PTT port, you must set the PTT to NONE in VarAC. There is a rationale for this difference, it can be found in one of the postings in this forum, but frankly it is over the top of my head. When I removed the PTT setting from VarAC, and had the audio settings in FT-991 done according to a few postings it this trail (DATA FM, 1200 Baud RTTY, audio from USB etc) it started to sing.

Best regards,
Marek SP5ISZ

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 08:09 AM, Warren Yursik wrote:

Ian, it sounds as though you’re using the data DIN port on the FT-991A. Don’t! Use a USB cable directly to your computer. Download and install the Yaesu CAT drivers BEFORE connecting the cable.

Warren... all;

As discussed in the topic "VARA-FM Highly Variable Throughput" topic on this , the Yaesu FT-991 and FT-991A transceivers will not support full-throughput data communications for VARA FM 'WIDE' mode when using the internal USB sound-card system. This is because the internal USB sound-card system is limited to 3kHz audio bandwidth in the transmit path.

However, these transceivers are capable of supporting full-throughput data communications for VARA FM 'WIDE' mode when they are used with an external USB sound-card rig-interface device (such as the Masters Communications DRA- series device or Digirig Mobile) connected to the miniDIN-6 'DATA' connector.

Jeff WX7OR confirmed that this was the case in the "VARA-FM Highly Variable Throughput" topic.

Note, however, that while the transceiver must be set for "PACKET 9600bps" for VARA FM WIDE operation, the rig-interface device must be configured and/or the connecting cable to the radio's miniDIN-6 'DATA' connector must be wired for 1200bps operation. Here's why (as discussed in the "VARA-FM Highly Variable Throughput" topic):

...Yaesu has provided a mechanism for supporting “high speed” VHF/UHF FM data, with an external TNC or rig-interface device, by switching the unfiltered receive discriminator output to the miniDIN-6 “1200bps receive” pin when the radio is set for “9600 bps data” operation.

The key to making this work is making sure that the external rig-interface device, and radio-interface cable is jumpered (and/or wired) -only- for 1200bps operation, regardless of whether the radio is set in the 1200bps or 9600bps configuration, or whether VARA FM is running in “WIDE” or “NARROW” mode.

Mark - AD7EF

Ian, it sounds as though you’re using the data DIN port on the FT-991A. Don’t! Use a USB cable directly to your computer. Download and install the Yaesu CAT drivers BEFORE connecting the cable. Note that for FM, you have to change frequencies manually, but everything else works fine at 38.400.

If you have any other questions, my email is available at QRZ.

73
Warren KN4LYf

开云体育

--
73 de K3FZT / Steve

My 991a is set at 38.4 and works great

I have the A-model and have been struggling for weeks now to crack "the problem".? The root of it that Yeasu chose to prioritize RTTY and as a consequence departed from conventional dataport pin assignments.? The 'normal' 9600 output pin is allocated to shifting the RTTY signal (I don't do RTTY so I may not have expressed this technically correct).? So those apps that use a low data rate function normally do so because they are designed to function through the 1200 pin.? Winlink VARA HF works as intended, but the rig design limitation prevents high-speed VARA FM because we are forced to use the 1200 pin.? I can accept this on one level because it is still far more efficient than 1200 baud packet.

What I find unacceptable from the EMCOMM perspective is the number of 'front panel' setting changes needed to switch between FM voice and data modes.? The radio is fine in a stationary environment when set to a given repeater, and Winlink Express is switching it to Winlink HF 'automatically', but changing from 2/70 voice to data mode quickly is nigh impossible without detailed notes (the supplied manual is next to useless as an operator guide).

Unfortunately I can't give you my successfully settings for VARA FM;? I had notes on too many scraps of paper and never consolidated them before I realized that the FT-991A was never going to be useful/reliable as a HF/2/70 EMCOMM radio and now use it exclusively for HF.? But it will work on VARA FM narrow if you have the patience to find the right settings, connect thru the 1200 pin, and then never again change settings or mode.? Cynically,

Ian VA3QT?

开云体育

Greetings,

I tried to use the 991A version for 2m band FM (VarAC + VARA FM). I got to practically the same scenario as described above. The radio connected with the PC with a USB cable. My results were: CAT control (frequency, PTT) - yes. TX carrier upon PTT at the set RF power - yes. Modulation - NO. Looks to me like a radio hardware / firmware quirk. On the same 2m band with SSB modulation (VarAC + VARA HF) works like a charm.
Did anybody have a success with FM modulation, in the configuration: audio over USB + internal sound card of the radio? I would love to try the settings once again.

73/ Marek SP5ISZ

One picture of the overall board, and one picture of what may be points for a connection


--
KA9CAR

I have a TM-271. I just the cut the end off an old RS-232 cable and soldered 4 wires to a pad on the board. I have been using it for years without any issue. A multimeter helped me to figure out which wires to use for TXD and RXD.? It was rather simple to do.

I have a Kantronics KPC3+ TNC that has the serial interface that I use it with.?

Rob - KG4OPX