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Re: Questions about VAR-AC and My Yaesu 991 A

KM4PVB Craig
 

Make sure your radio is in "USB-Data" [upper side band data] mode. That tells the 991A to look for audio input through the input set in the menu, its either rear using the Din connector, or USB [universal serial bus], and that there is no offset/split mode happening. That tends to get me from time to time.?


On Sun, Dec 1, 2024 at 2:53?PM Dave New, N8SBE via <n8sbe=[email protected]> wrote:

On a Windows PC, it is super important to only plug your USB cable(s) from the radio into the very same physical port, every time.? If you change to a different port, the assigned COM port will change, and the audio codec from the radio will be assigned by Windows to the default PC mic and speakers.

So, once your Elmer gets everything working again, make a note of which port(s) your radio is connected to on your PC, and NEVER move them elsewhere, or will find yourself once again at ground zero.

Hope that helps.

73,

-- Dave, N8SBE, Hamshack Hotline 590-0971, HamsOverIP 101018, AmateurWire 1348

On 2024-11-30 18:09, David Alan Tibbetts via wrote:

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 <cymru242002=[email protected]> 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.?
?


Re: Questions about VAR-AC and My Yaesu 991 A

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On a Windows PC, it is super important to only plug your USB cable(s) from the radio into the very same physical port, every time.? If you change to a different port, the assigned COM port will change, and the audio codec from the radio will be assigned by Windows to the default PC mic and speakers.

So, once your Elmer gets everything working again, make a note of which port(s) your radio is connected to on your PC, and NEVER move them elsewhere, or will find yourself once again at ground zero.

Hope that helps.

73,

-- Dave, N8SBE, Hamshack Hotline 590-0971, HamsOverIP 101018, AmateurWire 1348

On 2024-11-30 18:09, David Alan Tibbetts via groups.io wrote:

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.?
?


Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On 12/1/2024 8:27 AM, wa5luy wrote:
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
_._,_._,_


Addressed to WA5LUY.....

1)??? RSGB??? Have you not updated the symbol set for UIview??? Only the original un-updated version of the UIview? symbol set from years ago would show RSGB.?? [Note that G4IDE (UIview's author) passed away 20 years ago,? making UIview an unchanged software orphan for two decades now!? I have released several updated symbol sets since. ]

2)??? What kind of antenna are you using???????? I have been monitoring 30M AX.25 and Vara for years and have never heard the range of European stations shown in your UIview station list.? I am using a homebrew 30M magloop.??????? It may also be differences in propagation - you ARE about 600 miles (960 Km) south of me.
??? I have often noticed that as I get farther south on road trips that I hear more stuff on 30M from the mobile. ? And that I hear MORE on 30M during the years of the quiet sun than on solar maximums. ?? 20, 15, and 10 meters benefit from the solar max, but 30 gets worse. ?

G4HYG and I have been testing a new 30m channel for APRS-over-VARA? (the old APRS Messenger center freq of 10.149.700 MHz)? for the last week or so. Both he and I are beaconing on this frequency every 15 mins or so 24/7.?? [You do this channel by setting the radio dial freq to 10.148.200 USB and run VARA with it's normal 1500 Hz audio center tone.] ? ? I am copying him from the north of the UK, from my QTH here in central Michigan, quite consistently when the radio path crosses the grey line (day/night boundary) as shown on my GeoChron or (freeware Windows software model of the GeoChron).? When the path is all day, or all night, I don't hear him.

3)?? It appears you have the station expiration timing in UIview set to "Never" -- you seem to have stations heard over months rather than just the last hour or two, or so showing.?? (On my UIwebserver mapping displays, I have the expire set to 90 minutes because I am trying to show more-or-less current band conditions.)



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? --
??

?




Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!

 
Edited

[Sorry, I think I meant to reply to another thread in this forum.]

This is what is working for me, exceptionally well. I have hit many RMS stations all over the world.
?
?
--
**
Mark Weisenfeld
K7TUM
?(SW corner)
*


Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners

 

Thanks. I have already posted on the forum. There was a problem logging in yesterday, but it was ok today. Thanks for telling me about the manuals particularly.




On Sunday, December 1, 2024, 10:31 AM, Jim Ebner <n8je@...> wrote:

No, there is no Groups I/O for VarAC. There is the group forum on the VarAC website. . There you can ask questions and will get your answer.?
?
73,
Jim, N8JE


Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners

 

David,
I made 3 folders on my HP Win 11 CPU; VARAHF,? VARAVHF, and VARAC.
Using a powered USB 7 port device I named my Com ports for the interface for VARAHF, VARAVHF, PACKET.

Win updates now do not affect my interface with my DAR50 for HF .

I just have to click on the shortcuts for each application.

Hope this helps.
Greg
K7SDW
73



On Sun, Dec 1, 2024, 6:20 AM David Alan Tibbetts via <cymru242002=[email protected]> wrote:
Except that I was told by the software itself to go to Google I/O. There is apparently no google group for VAR AC. My main question actually involves how to switch between the two different modems, which would seem to fit with in this group. It seems to me that you¡¯re trying to divide a small number of users too discretely.




On Sunday, December 1, 2024, 7:55 AM, Jim Ebner <n8je@...> wrote:

This groups is for VARA and not VarAC, two different programs. Ask this question on the VarAC forums section on the VarAC website.?



Thanks and 73,
Jim, N8JE?



-------- Original message --------
From: "David Alan Tibbetts via " <cymru242002=[email protected]>
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 <cymru242002=[email protected]> 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.


Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners

 

No, there is no Groups I/O for VarAC. There is the group forum on the VarAC website. . There you can ask questions and will get your answer.?
?
73,
Jim, N8JE


Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners

 

Except that I was told by the software itself to go to Google I/O. There is apparently no google group for VAR AC. My main question actually involves how to switch between the two different modems, which would seem to fit with in this group. It seems to me that you¡¯re trying to divide a small number of users too discretely.




On Sunday, December 1, 2024, 7:55 AM, Jim Ebner <n8je@...> wrote:

This groups is for VARA and not VarAC, two different programs. Ask this question on the VarAC forums section on the VarAC website.?



Thanks and 73,
Jim, N8JE?



-------- 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.


Re: APRS-over-VARA crosses the Atlantic on 30 meters!

 

Sometime I use the 28.148 Mhz in VARA Aprs


El dom, 1 dic 2024, 13:27, wa5luy via <wa5luy=[email protected]> escribi¨®:
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


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


Re: Two miscellaneous Var AC configuration issues - frequency scheduling and antenna tuners

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

This groups is for VARA and not VarAC, two different programs. Ask this question on the VarAC forums section on the VarAC website.?



Thanks and 73,
Jim, N8JE?



-------- 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.


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


El dom, 1 dic 2024, 1:32, wa5luy via <wa5luy=[email protected]> escribi¨®:
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
?


Re: Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10

RICHARD PLOTKIN
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

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


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.


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.?


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


Re: Windows 11, vara hf and Yaesu FTdx10

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

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....


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
?


Re: 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.


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.?