Re: 857 Vara fm digipeats but not direct on FM
Got it running. In Windows 11 there ?is a legacy program for sound under More sound settings and under the mic Custom tab there is a AGC box I had to click off that got turned on from a Microsoft update!
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857 Vara fm digipeats but not direct on FM
There are two radio shacks at my home. Mine upstairs connects to the east side antennas. My spouse’s shack connects to west side antennas. My Yaesu 857 connects to HF and Fm Winlink with no problem both Digipeater and local gateway. . The Yaesu 857 downstairs connects HF and can digipeat to my 857 upstairs but it can not do straight Connection to our local gateway. I turned off my 857 upstairs but the downstairs 857 still can not direct connect to our local gateway. It does respond to local repeaters so the antenna is connected properly. The 857 uses pkt to obtain access to Winlink 2 meter. Out of ideas. Any suggestions. Oh I use Digirig.?
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Re: New 40M APRS-over-VARA Antenna Up
?After a freakish warmup here in central Michigan to 50 F / 10C??
for the last two days (it was -2 F / -19 C Sunday night), the snow
and ice melted allowing me to get outside and do some antenna
work.??
I have been using a 105' / 32 meter G5RV dipole in a sloper
configuration for my 40-meters APRS-over-VARA monitoring and
beaconing.
As of 16:30 US Eastern (2100 UTC) 28 Feb 2025, I have now
replaced this with a mini-dipole made from two 40M Hamstick-type
mobile whips mouinted in an MFJ bracket.? This antenna is only
about? 12 feet / 3.6 meters above the ground to favor daytime NVIS
on 40M.? Looking for reception reports when night-fall reaches
North America and 40 meters lengthens out.?
See what I'm hearing on 30M and 40M APRS-over-VARA here on my
APRS mapping webservers:
???
? Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency?? Details Here:
????
- APRS over VARA? --
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-
?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Hello, Facundo,
?
I use an IC-7300 for HF Winlink. The Icom driver software puts two com ports on the computer. Only one works with RMS Express email.
?
For the 2m Winlink gateway I am using a Rigblaster Nomic sound card and an Icom 2m mobile radio. The Rigblaster software puts one com port on the computer. I tried VOX and it did not work, although VOX works for other sound cards like Signalink. The installed com port worked fine with either Soundmodem or VARA FM, but not both together.? I installed com-port-splitter software as mentioned in this topic and it produced two com ports which allow both VARA FM and Soundmodem to work and respond to incoming email requests.
?
Scott does not recommend running both together because of potential conflicts if there is incoming RF signals at the same time. See "RMS Packet Dual-Mode (Packet and VARA FM Setup" on Winlink.org.
?
Although both work for me on a test gateway, I will probably only run with one, depending upon the interest of our club.
?
George VY1GP
?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Brian,
Can't imagine what could cause this. Which DRA (and if it is a VOX capable, is it jumpered for VOX?)??
Anyway, this is a Vara group, so I don't really want to continue down this path here. Contact me off group if you want to further research this.
?
-Scott, NS7C
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Make sure your TX level is not set too high. Most Icom rigs will not go into TX if the audio drive is too high.
?
-Scott, NS7C
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Except there is no COM port in his configuration. The RIM 9600 uses the HID GPIO line for PTT. HIDs are sharable across multiple applications without conflict.
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Re: Yaesu FTM-500 integration with Digrig
There are 2 versions...9600 and 1200 baud.? Which one do you have?? Settings will have to match.
--
Roy Dugger, KD6R
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Re: Yaesu FTM-500 integration with Digrig
I would assume this cable would work. I am using it with a FTM-6000.
On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 6:45?PM Derrick Beard via <derrick.beard= [email protected]> wrote: Lawrence - did you ever get this resolved? I'm having the symptoms.? I'm using Yaesu's CT-164 10pin to 6pin cable connected to the digirig 6 pin (male) 1200 baud to TRRS audio.? I've also used the digirig 10 pin (male) to TRRS 1200 baud cable.? Both will trigger the PTT but a signal isn't transmitted through the radio (even though I can hear it through headphones plugged into the digirig).? My sound from the radio is received through the window sound devices and Vara FM as evidenced by their meters.? Hopefully you are monitoring this site still... Looking forward to hearing back from you.
?
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
? ?
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Re: Yaesu FTM-500 integration with Digrig
Lawrence - did you ever get this resolved? I'm having the symptoms.? I'm using Yaesu's CT-164 10pin to 6pin cable connected to the digirig 6 pin (male) 1200 baud to TRRS audio.? I've also used the digirig 10 pin (male) to TRRS 1200 baud cable.? Both will trigger the PTT but a signal isn't transmitted through the radio (even though I can hear it through headphones plugged into the digirig).? My sound from the radio is received through the window sound devices and Vara FM as evidenced by their meters.? Hopefully you are monitoring this site still... Looking forward to hearing back from you.
?
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
? ?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
George, this is a very timely post as I was trying to do exactly the same yesterday. I followed the recipe that Steve K3FZT posted, but I am having issues with the PTT. I am using an IC-9700 as the radio. As VA3MCT said, the way to do this would be with VOX. Somehow, I am unable to get VOX to work with the 9700 connected to the PC, so I must be missing something simple. If anybody has suggestions, please let me know!
?
Facundo-KK4ODA
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
On 2/24/2025 1:43 PM, Bob W0EG via
groups.io wrote:
I am relatively new to this.? I use VARA HF with
an Icom IC-7300 and VARA FM with Alinco DR-135 and Repeater
Builder 9600 interface.? Both use PTT, just by checking the box
for RA-board in VARA setup.? No need for COM port settings.
?
It's trivial UNTIL you want to run two or more sound card apps on
the same sound device at the same time (such as both AX. 25 packet
with the UZ7HO Soundmodem -AND- VARA ).? Then all hell breaks
loose as two or more programs fight for control of 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:?????????
30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency?? Details Here:
????
- APRS over VARA? --
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-
?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
I am relatively new to this.? I use VARA HF with an Icom IC-7300 and VARA FM with Alinco DR-135 and Repeater Builder 9600 interface.? Both use PTT, just by checking the box for RA-board in VARA setup.? No need for COM port settings.
On 2/24/2025 12:30 PM, Larry Burns via
wrote:
Why are you using VOX ? It's not needed in the setup
as sound modem has its own PTT.?
?VOX (as in a SignaLink or the "DATA VOX" function on some Yaesu
radios) has huge advantages.? You avoid the hassle of serial
ports, especially on modern computers that force you to use a
USB<-->serial dongles because they lack physical serial
ports.? And you avoid the even greater hassle of CAT control over
virtual COM ports.?? Note that dedicated data-mode VOX functions
are far faster on keyup and unkey than normal voice VOX setups.
But most importantly, VOX allows you to use two different
soundcard digimode apps (like VARA and the Soundmodem) on the same
sound card at the same time -- without the problem of two programs
fighting to control the same COM port at the same time.
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at)
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency?? Details Here:
????
- APRS over VARA? --
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-
?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
On 2/24/2025 12:30 PM, Larry Burns via
groups.io wrote:
Why are you using VOX ? It's not needed in the setup
as sound modem has its own PTT.?
?VOX (as in a SignaLink or the "DATA VOX" function on some Yaesu
radios) has huge advantages.? You avoid the hassle of serial
ports, especially on modern computers that force you to use a
USB<-->serial dongles because they lack physical serial
ports.? And you avoid the even greater hassle of CAT control over
virtual COM ports.?? Note that dedicated data-mode VOX functions
are far faster on keyup and unkey than normal voice VOX setups.
But most importantly, VOX allows you to use two different
soundcard digimode apps (like VARA and the Soundmodem) on the same
sound card at the same time -- without the problem of two programs
fighting to control the same COM port at the same time.
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:?????????
30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency?? Details Here:
????
- APRS over VARA? --
??
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
??
-
?
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Why are you using VOX ? It's not needed in the setup as sound modem has its own PTT.?
Scott,
I have gotten SoundModem working flawlessly for several YCARES gateways I switched from hardware packet TNCs to using DRA's or SignaLinks where I new I need to use a program that only supported VOX.? I've also converted several dual mode installations to use SoundModem that I had originally used DireWolf and I have built several YCARES Digital Go-Kits to use SoundModem, relying on previous recommendations I've seen from you.? Up until now I've had no issues, but for some reason, I couldn't get this particular installation to work.? The DireWolf install was a Hail Mary attempt to get Packet working on this installation.? ?I was on a dead line to have it working an placed before the next YCARES Drill since it worked I left it alone.
?
Fast forward several months.? ?That system has not yet been placed in its targeted location due to water damage that occurred at it target location just before it was to installed.? ?So, after seeing your PTT.dll comment, and since I still have easy physical access, I got into its PC to see if somehow I had overlooked the PTT.dll.? I hadn't, it was there. I then tried switching back to SoundModem.? No joy still no PTT.? ?I even checked for a rogue directory of SoundModem just incase I had it in two locations and was starting a different SoundModem than the one that had the PTT.dll.? ?I've been using the system for most of the YCARES Winlink Net and have found it to be reliable.? I often use Packet days I suspect little or no messages will be downloaded as there is a measurably shorter time for the Winlink Packet Session when there is nothing to send or deliver than with VARA FM.??
?
?
Brian?
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Re: Winlink VARA-FM working with AIOC and Baofeng
Yes, it was Bullard's Beach! We had amazing fish'n'chips at a little place in the harbor, and enjoyed a cranberry bog tour. We found that the cranberry-rum jam was amazing! Sadly, the day we drove back home was 9/11/2001. We were listening to the radio as we drove, and kept hearing the reporting about the fires and deaths in New York and wondering what was going on, as no one said what specifically had happened. We stopped at a convenience store in McCloud, and they had the TV on, and we discovered what had happened.
73,
Dave, KJ7WT
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Re: Winlink RMS Packet with VARA FM and Soundmodem
Scott,
I have gotten SoundModem working flawlessly for several YCARES gateways I switched from hardware packet TNCs to using DRA's or SignaLinks where I new I need to use a program that only supported VOX.? I've also converted several dual mode installations to use SoundModem that I had originally used DireWolf and I have built several YCARES Digital Go-Kits to use SoundModem, relying on previous recommendations I've seen from you.? Up until now I've had no issues, but for some reason, I couldn't get this particular installation to work.? The DireWolf install was a Hail Mary attempt to get Packet working on this installation.? ?I was on a dead line to have it working an placed before the next YCARES Drill since it worked I left it alone.
?
Fast forward several months.? ?That system has not yet been placed in its targeted location due to water damage that occurred at it target location just before it was to installed.? ?So, after seeing your PTT.dll comment, and since I still have easy physical access, I got into its PC to see if somehow I had overlooked the PTT.dll.? I hadn't, it was there. I then tried switching back to SoundModem.? No joy still no PTT.? ?I even checked for a rogue directory of SoundModem just incase I had it in two locations and was starting a different SoundModem than the one that had the PTT.dll.? ?I've been using the system for most of the YCARES Winlink Net and have found it to be reliable.? I often use Packet days I suspect little or no messages will be downloaded as there is a measurably shorter time for the Winlink Packet Session when there is nothing to send or deliver than with VARA FM.??
?
?
Brian?
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Re: Winlink VARA-FM working with AIOC and Baofeng
That would be Bullard's Beach State Park. The local radio group often has POTA activations there.
I am on the bluffs above Old Town and my Gateway has excellent coverage.
?
Bring your toys!
?
Thomas
KF7RSF
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Re: Winlink VARA-FM working with AIOC and Baofeng
Thomas,
Thanks for that information. I'm not sure exactly what led me to think that the "Radio only" mode was correct, but glad I was finally able to stumble my way to a working solution!
BTW, I saw that you live in a town in Oregon that my wife and I visited a number of years ago, and camped at the state park nearby. We had a wonderful time, and will have to return for another visit one of these years, hi!
So, at this point, I can run VARA-HF or VARA-FM and get good results. Now my next step is to get some other radios (not handhelds!) for these modes.
73,
Dave KJ7WT
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Re: Winlink VARA-FM working with AIOC and Baofeng
Congratulations on sorting out issues!
I strongly suggest that you stay as far from the Radio-Only modes as possible. These modes were written into the Winlink software to serve as a last resort in case of continent or world-wide loss of the internet. These methods are only possible if the final recipient has properly registered his personal choice of 1 or 2 MPS (Mail Pickup Stations) well in advance. You can also only send to an Amateur Call Sign - no sending to a SMTP email address. Even if these restrictions are met, there is no way to know when the message will make it to the recipient. HF forwarding from Gateway to Gateway is required, and can take many hours or even days to arrive. And, the message does not go to the recipient - it goes to his MPSs, and can only be picked up by the recipient connecting there.
I can say with certainty that if these methods are ever really needed, you are going to have many worse problems occupying your efforts. Communication will be well down the list.
Well-intentioned efforts to use these methods waste a lot of time, fail frequently, and serve little purpose. Many Gateway Admins wish they would just go away.
Concentrate on the routine use of the session types that include Winlink in their name, ie., Vara HF Winlink or Packet Winlink or VARA FM Winlink, and only when you are secure in your ability to connect and transfer data efficiently explore the modes in the second section of the drop-down menu - those that end in P2P.
Thomas Noel ?/WDT KF7RSF/NNA0WL
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Show quoted text
On Feb 23, 2025, at 17:08, Dave Telling, KJ7WT via groups.io <davetelling@...> wrote:
Hello All,
Well, I feel kind of foolish posting this, but I got my Winlink/VARA-FM/AIOC/Baofeng combo working, and it was partly due to my ignorance and an unexpected hardware issue.
My hardware setup worked to access a local BBS using Outpost and Direwolf, so I was pretty sure that aspect was good, but I could not get Winlink (RMS Express) to send or receive messages. My system would seemingly connect, but then after about 15 seconds, disconnect without doing any message actions.
I had been using "Vara FM Radio-only" as the session selection. I had tried "Vara FM Winlink" but could not even get an initial connection, so I thought that wasn't the correct protocol. Subsequently, I discovered that the battery in my Baofeng was basically down to the point where it was not responding to the PTT from the AIOC, so I charged it back up, tried "Vara FM Radio-0nly", but still no joy. I then though I'd try the "Vara FM Winlink" again, since I figured it could have failed because of the PTT issue and - success! I made a good connection, sent and received a couple of messages, and also tried with my Anytone 878 radio.
So, that has been my experience, perhaps it may help if someone else is scratching their heads about connection issues.
73, Dave, KJ7WT
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Scott Currie
Tyler Griffiths
Brian - W7OWO
Thomas KF7RSF