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Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

To be 100% sure, you need to run the setup executable bij rightclicking it and choosing 'Run as Administrator', so that is a little different as usual.
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

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Yes, i am the Administrator !
Even my Desk Top Icon shows me with a User Account Control Administrator Badge.
Thanks?for asking, every hint helps.
Paul? w0rw
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

Hi Paul, just to be sure. Did you install Vara as Administrator (rightclick option on te setup executable)? It is a prerequisite.
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

Well i tried Excluding ('Quarantine') the .OCX and other offending programs in Norton, No good.
Reloaded the whole program, same warning. Now always reporting MSCHRT20.OCX or one of its co-dependencies or approvals missing....
? ?It has a Command Port failure to open, (Just like Andy, K3UK, had) so i changed the Port from 127.0.0.1:8300 to?127.0.0.1:8301,? No effect.
i tried to run VARA in the 'Compatibility Mode' as the Administrator as a Win7 but that didn't work either.
None of the Troubleshooting programs fix it.
? ?Maybe i can load a second O/S Win 7 software onto my Win10 PC and run VARA? over there.
It works great on Win7. i have 2 computers loaded with VARA on Win7.
Paul? ?w0rw
Re: On the air monitoring

 

Vara HF has a monitor function built in. Top Menu, "Monitor." :) Works pretty good but obviously, propagation dependent. Shows some data but not sure what you are looking to see. Vara FM has no such function.

Steven
KC3DSO
On the air monitoring

 

Is there an app which will allow monitoring of on the air VARA signals.? I know that the FCC had an issue with Pactor so there was an app made.? It is available on the SCS website.

BruceN / K4TQL
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Meant to say: ¡°...?too high a tx level will shut down your modulator... all you¡¯ll hear is un-modulated carrier in this case¡±

Mark - AD7EF
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

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Guys and Gals,

I'll add the following.? It's not in regard to TX level, but rather RX level.

Some people have reported that the setting of the receiver audio level is "touchy" when adjusting R12 (the larger control) on any of the RA or DRA series radio adapters.?

Some versions of Windows have "AGC" control which will try to counteract your setting of R12.? AGC needs to be turned off to regain full manual control of the receiver audio level.? This setting is buried deep in the menu system, but hopefully you can find it and turn it off.? Doing so allows the Microphone gain to be adjusted in conjunction with R12 so the control can be centered and not all "one ended".

----

Here's another more recent issue regarding Windows:

"Sound Card Error" after Windows 10 update Version 1803. The most recent Windows 10 update to Version 1803, is shutting off microphone access for some users due an incorrect privacy setting. This results in an error message when starting the communication program (Fldigi, WSJT-X, Digipan, etc.). If you have just updated your Windows 10 OS with update 1803 and are experiencing this error, then follow the steps below to resolve it. Please note that this solution applies to update 1803 only. To the best of our knowledge, prior updates have not caused this problem. If you have experienced a different problem after a Windows 10 update, then we would suggest that you double-check that your sound card settings in Windows and the communication program are correct (these settings can change after a Windows update).

Special thanks to Richard, KE6SHL, for providing us with this information!

1 - Close any communication programs that may be running.
2 - In Windows, go to All settings, then Privacy.
3 - Scroll down to App Permissions, Microphone.
4 - On the right side panel, select/enable "Allow access to the microphone on this device".
5 - Microphone access for this device should now be ON.

If not, then click Change and switch it to ON.

Note that you can apparently have the switch under "Allow apps to access your microphone" off and the radio adapter will still work.

Hope this additionally helps...

Kevin W3KKC
Masters Communications







On 7/4/2020 5:27 PM, Mark Davis wrote:

Dan;

It helps to monitor your transmit signal with a separate radio... a hand-held works great.?

Keep in mind that too high a tx level will shut down your modulator... all you¡¯ll hear is in-modulated carrier in this case.

The tx-level control on the DRA-36 and the ¡°Speakers - USB/PnP Sound Device¡± level control interact. To set the tx level, I recommend connecting your radio to a dummy load, and then using the ¡°Settings / Sound card / Calibrate¡± feature in the VARA FM modem to generate a sequence of increasing-level transmit signals you can use for finding a reasonable combination of DRA-36 and Windows Control-Panel settings for tx output.

Mark - AD7EF
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Dan;

It helps to monitor your transmit signal with a separate radio... a hand-held works great.?

Keep in mind that too high a tx level will shut down your modulator... all you¡¯ll hear is in-modulated carrier in this case.

The tx-level control on the DRA-36 and the ¡°Speakers - USB/PnP Sound Device¡± level control interact. To set the tx level, I recommend connecting your radio to a dummy load, and then using the ¡°Settings / Sound card / Calibrate¡± feature in the VARA FM modem to generate a sequence of increasing-level transmit signals you can use for finding a reasonable combination of DRA-36 and Windows Control-Panel settings for tx output.

Mark - AD7EF
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Dan;

My ¡®Connector > ACC/USB Output¡® setting is ¡®AF¡¯.

Check that your mini-DIN 6 to?mini-DIN 6 cable is fully populated (has all 6 conductors). On the PC ¡®Sound Control Panel¡¯, on the ¡®Recording¡¯ tab, watch the VU level meter to the right of the ¡°Microphone - USB PnP Sound Device¡° item should show one or two bars on receiver noise. If there are no bars, check the level set for this control panel item. You¡¯ll probably need it set 50% or higher. Also, try adjusting the input trim-pot (the large one) on the DRA-36 to a higher level. Keep in mind that the receive audio is coming from a different point in your radio circuitry than for the 1200bps configuration.

I didn¡¯t use a ¡®scope for setting up my IC-7100 system, but I do have another complete 9600bps system (DRA-45 & Kenwood TM-V71) that I can use for a table-top end-to-end P2P setup. I also can monitor the channel with my FT-60 hand-held.

Mark - AD7EF

On Saturday, July 4, 2020, Dan Goldston <SCGoldstonS@...> wrote:
Mark,
Thank you for the reply.
Do you have the connector? ACC/USB Output Select set to AF or IF?

I have tried both options with no success, using the other settings you posted above.

So I suspect I will have to set the DRA-36 sound card levels, perhaps with a scope.
Dan WD4NG

Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Mark,
Thank you for the reply.
Do you have the connector? ACC/USB Output Select set to AF or IF?

I have tried both options with no success, using the other settings you posted above.

So I suspect I will have to set the DRA-36 sound card levels, perhaps with a scope.
Dan WD4NG
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Dan;

I'll also point out that Icom support advised me that the IC-7100 sound-card hardware is limited to a 300 Hz - 3KHz tx-audio bandwidth. That bandwidth is suitable for 1200bps packet and VARA FM NARROW operation, but it is inadequate for 9600bps packet capability that's required for full-performance VARA FM WIDE throughput.

73

Mark - AD7EF
Re: IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE

 

Dan;

As you noted on another message thread, I've been able to get full VARA FM 'WIDE' throughput using a DRA-45 board with my IC-7100.

The key radio setting for 9600 bps packet or VARA FM WIDE is having 'Connectors > 9600bps Mode' set to 'ON'

The IC-7100 Full Manual states:

9600bps Mode (Default: OFF)

Connectors > 9600bps Mode (9600bps Mode)

Select whether to allow data transmission at 9600 bps,

or not on the [DATA2] socket.

? OFF: Disables data transmission at 9600 bps on the

[DATA2] socket. This is used for regular audio or

slower data transmission only.

? ON: Enables data transmission at 9600 bps on the

[DATA2] socket.

Connectors Set mode (Continued)

Also, on my IC-7100, 'Connectors > DATA MOD' is set to 'ACC', and 'Connectors >?VSEND Select' is set to 'OFF'. My radio's 'Connectors > DATA MOD Level' setting is at the default '50%' value.

With the above settings,?your DRA-36 must be configured with the JU4 jumper in the 'B' (9600) position, so that the?audio input on the DRA-36 C-Media sound chip is connected to?receive audio delivered through the 9600 bps pin of the radio's DATA2 connector.

When you have your radio and DRA-36 properly configured, and adjusted, for 9600bps packet / VARA FM WIDE, you'll find you can leave the system in this configuration and make reliable connections with VARA FM NARROW (1200) gateways and P2P stations. However, you'll probably have problems using SoundModem to connect to 1200bps packet gateways and P2P stations.?

Unless you can find some reasonable compromise settings when leaving the radio in the 9600bps configuration, you'll probably need to change a couple of settings on the radio, and the JU4 position in the DRA-36, to switch back and forth between 1200bps packet and VARA FM modes. I've been experimenting with options in the SoundModem config file, which may help with this problem. I'll post another reply if I come up with anything.

73

Mark - AD7EF
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

The computer says it is using .ocx in other places so i guess i better keep it.
Maybe i can use Norton to 'Quarantine' it so i can proceed with loading the main program.
Does anyone know the frequencies used by the subcarriers on 2000 and 500 kHz VARA?

Paul? ?w0rw
Re: Audio Input Level

 

I was able to resolve the problem in windows 10 audio level settings under advanced settings. Took me awhile to find it. I sure wish windows would stop changing their settings menus. I just makes everything that much more difficult for everyone. Thanks again all for your help.

73.. de N3JUY
vARIM Messaging Program for VARA HF Modem - version 1.1

 

Hello,
?
Introducing version 1.1 of vARIM, a host program for message passing and file transfer using the VARA HF modem. Download links are here:
?
?
on the vARIM Documentation page.
?
Files are also available in the Files area at the arim-ham Groups.io group:
?
?
Changes include PTT improvements and correction of typos in the Help Doc:
?
v1.1? 02Jul2020
---------------
1. Do not attempt to open PTT serial device if mode is VOX. Send
? ?trace to debug log when opening a PTT serial device.
2. Implement PTT monitor. If PTT asserted longer than 20 seconds,
? ?drop PTT to protect transmitter and detach from port. vARIM
? ?keys the transmitter in response to PTT ON and PTT OFF commands
? ?from the VARA modem; this guards against loss of communication
? ?with the modem when the PTT state is ON.
3. Update Help document.
?
vARIM is a peer-to-peer messaging and file transfer for HF bands. It will run on Linux, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin/X on Windows and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 10. The VARA modem runs only on Windows computers, but vARIM can run in Cygwin/X or WSL on the Windows computer, which is convenient. Alternatively, you can run vARIM on a Linux or RPi computer and attach it to a VARA modem instance running on a Windows computer in the same local area network.
?
For Linux OS, the binary distributions are for Ubuntu 18.04 and derivatives like Linux Mint 19.x only. It's best to compile vARIM from source code to avoid library versioning problems. It's easy, instructions are found in the INSTALL file included in the source distribution (with instructions for Fedora 28 and derivatives, and for Cygwin/X too).
?
vARIM works with VARA HF version 4.0.x which introduces a robust 500Hz ARQ bandwidth option. vARIM allows you to specify which bandwidth to use in the .ini file, or as a choice in the "ARQ Connect" dialog (500 or 2300 Hz).
?
To key the rig, if VOX isn't suitable, vARIM supports hardware PTT using serial port RTS or DTR signals. This works on Linux, RPi, Cygwin/X and WSL using built in serial ports or USB-to-Serial converter cables. PTT setup details are found in the Help page.?
?
I have a station running VARA HF version 4.0.2 on (dial) 7.085 MHz that's available for testing. The station call sign is NW8L and it will be configured for ARQ using the 500Hz bandwidth. It might be QRT from time to time if thunderstorms are in the area (near Albuquerque, NM). At NW8L vARIM is running in WSL on the same Windows 10 laptop that hosts the VARA HF modem. The audio interface is a USB sound card connected to line in and line out jacks on the rig. The rig is keyed using vARIM's hardware PTT (DTS) over a USB-to-Serial converter cable between computer and rig.
?
If anyone using VARA HF has time to test vARIM I would be interested in your results and bug reports. If you install vARIM, try connecting to NW8L on (dial) 7.085MHz and sending me a message!
?
73,
Bob NW8L
?
Re: VARA FM and the Yaesu FT-991a sound card

 

Mark, thank you for all that information.? This confirms what others have said.??

Bryan, KF1D
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

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Thanks?John,
i think that? (.OCX) is Adobe ActiveX Shockwave that does things on web sites.
Still working on it.
Paul? ?w0rw
Re: VARA Start Up Error

 

OMI, very important you uninstall old versions and get newest program version. They change often.
FYI .OCX is old technology,??
New versions may fix that problem.
VARA Start Up Error

 

? ?i just got VARA going on my Win 7 PC using my K3s. Just sent my first HF test message. Worked great.
i am a registered user and have installed the registration code.
? ?During set up i got a tone that tripped my PTT for a second then
an error message "X Component MSWINSCK.OCX or one of its?
dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid" **? >> i? Pressed OK.
This eventually timed out or started working some how and my WIN 7 PC is now working OK.
i got the VARA main screen and sent my first message with 'VARA HF Winlink'.
All Norton 360 virus instructions set for me to allow this program this to run (with me as administrator).

? ?Now i am trying to set up the same program on my laptop (Thinkpad) using WIN 10.
i got the VARA setup wizard to load up OK.
But i get this same warning "X Component MSWINSCK.OCX or one of its?
dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid"?and can't get it to go away.
i can't get to the VARA Settings screen to enter my registration number again for this PC.

My Winlink screen says "Make sure the VARA TNC is running (it is, and i started the TNC before i loaded the Winlink and VARA programs.? i also restarted the PC to see if that would help). The Winlink program further? says "Failure to open Command Port 8300 to VARA TNC @ 127.0.0.1."
This Laptop is connected to a Signal Link USB Modem has been working with the Old Winlink programs.
i am a computer novice.
help.
Paul? w0rw
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