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Optimizing VARA FM and an ID-4100 with a Digirig

 

After a few false starts, I got this setup working following instructions here:
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Make sure you read the part about PTT settings. I missed that part initially and couldn't get the ID-4100 to key with PTT set to VOX.
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Now I'm looking to optimize my throughput but I'm not quite sure how to do that. Below are some excerpts from my VARA log (both HF and FM - the HF part was for RX comparison):
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==============================================
2025-03-20 16:38:52 ? ?Connecting to KG4MPU-10... 1/10
2025-03-20 16:38:54 ? ?Connected to KG4MPU-10
2025-03-20 16:39:23 ? ?KG4MPU-10 disconnected ? ? ?TX: 97 Bytes (Max: 566 bps) ? RX: 2764 Bytes (Max: 7087 bps) ? Session Time: 00:29
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2025-03-21 09:34:39 ? ?Connecting to KG4MPU-10... 1/10
2025-03-21 09:34:42 ? ?Connected to KG4MPU-10
2025-03-21 09:35:44 ? ?KG4MPU-10 disconnected ? ? ?TX: 2858 Bytes (Max: 566 bps) ? RX: 120 Bytes (Max: 566 bps) ?
==============================================
2025-03-21 09:29:35 ? ?Connecting to K4HVF... 1/15
2025-03-21 09:29:46 ? ?Connected to K4HVF ?VARA HF v4.8.9
2025-03-21 09:32:42 ? ?K4HVF Average S/N: 1.3 dB
2025-03-21 09:32:42 ? ?Disconnected ? ? ?TX: 93 Bytes (Max: 41 bps) ? RX: 3068 Bytes (Max: 922 bps) ? Session Time: 02:56
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Is it normal that VARA FM doesn't record S/N?
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We are literally across the street from each other so I am not sure if part of it is that we're saturating the other's front end or not.
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I do have at least one entry in the VARAHF log where HF Rx is 2682 bps. While that file doesn't record frequency, it does record S/N and 2682 bps was with an 8.2 dB S/N. So band conditions have to be just right to get 1/3 the throughput on HF that I get on VHF. It was probably also a SHARES HF frequency where there's just not a lot of noise.
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Is there anything I can do to optimize my VARA FM setup so I get a better throughput on my end?
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Regards,
Joel, W4JBB
 

Living in a valley within a larger valley, I've found, depending on the distance or obstacles between you and the gateway, you may need a different configuration of your sound settings for each of your gateways. ?I also operate two gateways a very close distance from my QTH and have very different settings when optimizing VARA FM for them from my shack. ??
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For my personal gateways, since they are about 300 feet away, I have my main dual bander on an antenna switch and going between my outside antenna, and a dummy load.? I use the dummy load to access my personal very nearby gateways. ?For all the other gateways, I use the outdoor antenna.? ?For all gateways I regularly access, have a log of my sound settings for each remote gateway.? I reference this list to adjust the sound levels prior to using that gateway.? To get the levels, I use VARA FM's Ping features SNR value. I will adjust my output levels to maximize the SNR of the particular gateway I am using, and use my microphone levels to maximize my receiver's SNR.? I keep this list of settings associated to the individual gateway next to my radio so I can reference it when I switch to a different gateway. ? For the remote gateways for which I'm the sysop, I use this technique to keep them optimized to work the best with the primary EOC that it is designated to serve following the sound levels adjustment I just discussed.
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Adjusting levels per gateway can be a bother, but I run a Winlink Net and usually download over 100 messages for it, so I prefer to be at the optimum for my chosen gateway. ?Doing this, I find I often find that with line of site gateways, I can periodically get VARA FM's speed level 13 (25210 bps) running on low or medium power settings.?
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Brian? - W7OWO
 

Joel;
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You're sending and/or receiving fairly small messages with VARA FM. For these small messages, negotiation takes up a substantial portion of the session time.
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Sending/receiving messages of 40 Kbytes or larger will provide more meaningful VARA FM throughput data.
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Mark - AD7EF
 

I appreciate the pointers. I¡¯ve not messed with VHF data since I had an APRS digipeater 15 - 20 years ago.
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I found this command to create a large .txt file in Linux:
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tr -dc "A-Za-z 0-9" < /dev/urandom | fold -w100|head -n 500 > bigfile.txt

This created a 50k text file. I didn¡¯t notice any change in my upload speed but the download speed did increase by about 1 Mbps.

I played around with the ping command and auto-tune which adjusted the output level and recommended I adjust my speaker level (which I did).

Still playing around with it but I think I¡¯m heading in the right direction.

73,
Joel, W4JBB

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