Hello,
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Introducing version 1.1 of vARIM, a host program for message passing and file transfer using the VARA HF modem. Download links are here:
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on the vARIM Documentation page.
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Files are also available in the Files area at the arim-ham Groups.io group:
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Changes include PTT improvements and correction of typos in the Help Doc:
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v1.1? 02Jul2020
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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).
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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.?
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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.
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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!
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73,
Bob NW8L
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