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Can't connect consistently using VARA FM And IC-705 - weak signal detected

 

Hi,
?
I am having problems with connecting consistently to Winlink Gateways and digipeaters using VARA FM and the IC-705. In times that I am able to connect, the session will time-out 75% of the time. Auto-tuning with these stations return all-green results.
?
I checked with the sysop of a gateway less than 100 meters from my QTH, and he told me that whenever I tried to connect his gateway, VARA reports "weak signal detected". The SWR reading on the 705 is 1:1, and 10 watts is surely enough for me to connect to his gateway given the short distance between us. It is probably the same issue with other gateways/digipeaters I tried to connect to.??
?
My setup:
Laptop with Windows 10 OS
IC-705 connected to an omni antenna 40 feet up
Icom Remote Utility for connecting the laptop and the 705 via local network
Latest VARA FM version (registered)
?
Please let me know where I should look into to correct the issue. Thank you.
?
73,
Boyet 4F3BZ
 

Boyet 4F3BZ

The only difference I have is the Icom Remote Utility and 40 ft external?antenna.
I run my IC 705 on the ground floor and a Yagi pointing?southwest.

I'm able to connect to VHF gateways about 60 km out between Vancouver Island and the Mainland of Vancouver, British Columbia.

73

Don Poaps
New Westminster, BC
VA7DGP DATA
VA7QU ? VOICE


Winlink:?va7dgp@...
Subject://wl2k ? ? ? ? ?

ALLSTAR ?530780
Hamshack Hotline
5971
Mid-Island Phone Mesh
2210
2232

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?


On Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 1:07?PM Boyet Lorenzo via <boyet401=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi,
?
I am having problems with connecting consistently to Winlink Gateways and digipeaters using VARA FM and the IC-705. In times that I am able to connect, the session will time-out 75% of the time. Auto-tuning with these stations return all-green results.
?
I checked with the sysop of a gateway less than 100 meters from my QTH, and he told me that whenever I tried to connect his gateway, VARA reports "weak signal detected". The SWR reading on the 705 is 1:1, and 10 watts is surely enough for me to connect to his gateway given the short distance between us. It is probably the same issue with other gateways/digipeaters I tried to connect to.??
?
My setup:
Laptop with Windows 10 OS
IC-705 connected to an omni antenna 40 feet up
Icom Remote Utility for connecting the laptop and the 705 via local network
Latest VARA FM version (registered)
?
Please let me know where I should look into to correct the issue. Thank you.
?
73,
Boyet 4F3BZ
 

Check your audio settings...mute all but and make sure your alc is at? least 50$
greg

On Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 1:07?PM Boyet Lorenzo via <boyet401=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi,
?
I am having problems with connecting consistently to Winlink Gateways and digipeaters using VARA FM and the IC-705. In times that I am able to connect, the session will time-out 75% of the time. Auto-tuning with these stations return all-green results.
?
I checked with the sysop of a gateway less than 100 meters from my QTH, and he told me that whenever I tried to connect his gateway, VARA reports "weak signal detected". The SWR reading on the 705 is 1:1, and 10 watts is surely enough for me to connect to his gateway given the short distance between us. It is probably the same issue with other gateways/digipeaters I tried to connect to.??
?
My setup:
Laptop with Windows 10 OS
IC-705 connected to an omni antenna 40 feet up
Icom Remote Utility for connecting the laptop and the 705 via local network
Latest VARA FM version (registered)
?
Please let me know where I should look into to correct the issue. Thank you.
?
73,
Boyet 4F3BZ
 

if you downloaded the rms list and have the?right?vhf bw selected?it should?be a quick ping to see if they hear you


On Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 1:07?PM Boyet Lorenzo via <boyet401=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi,
?
I am having problems with connecting consistently to Winlink Gateways and digipeaters using VARA FM and the IC-705. In times that I am able to connect, the session will time-out 75% of the time. Auto-tuning with these stations return all-green results.
?
I checked with the sysop of a gateway less than 100 meters from my QTH, and he told me that whenever I tried to connect his gateway, VARA reports "weak signal detected". The SWR reading on the 705 is 1:1, and 10 watts is surely enough for me to connect to his gateway given the short distance between us. It is probably the same issue with other gateways/digipeaters I tried to connect to.??
?
My setup:
Laptop with Windows 10 OS
IC-705 connected to an omni antenna 40 feet up
Icom Remote Utility for connecting the laptop and the 705 via local network
Latest VARA FM version (registered)
?
Please let me know where I should look into to correct the issue. Thank you.
?
73,
Boyet 4F3BZ
 

I have a 705 and am able to connect via vara fm. This may be a dumb question but are you entering the frequency of the gateway on the 705 because VARA FM won't do it as it does on HF. AND are you in FM mode on the 705?
?
Brian VE3GMZ?
 

You might work through these recommendations:
?
?
good luck!
?
73, Ken NB6S?
 

On Fri, Oct 18, 2024 at 04:52 AM, Brian Chapnick wrote:
are you entering the frequency of the gateway on the 705 because VARA FM won't do it as it does on HF
Please note that the HF rig-control functionality is implemented in Winlink Express... not in the VARA HF software modem.
?
Rig-control isn¡¯t available when using VARA FM Winlink because that functionality isn¡¯t available in the Winlink ¡°session¡± for any VHF / UHF FM mode (ex. Packet).
?
Mark - AD7EF
 

Thanks for the clarification. I'm learning along the way and the more I learn the more I realize? don't know or understand.

Brian VE3GMZ


On Fri, Oct 18, 2024, 3:33?p.m. Mark Davis via <markad7ef=[email protected]> wrote:
On Fri, Oct 18, 2024 at 04:52 AM, Brian Chapnick wrote:
are you entering the frequency of the gateway on the 705 because VARA FM won't do it as it does on HF
Please note that the HF rig-control functionality is implemented in Winlink Express... not in the VARA HF software modem.
?
Rig-control isn¡¯t available when using VARA FM Winlink because that functionality isn¡¯t available in the Winlink ¡°session¡± for any VHF / UHF FM mode (ex. Packet).
?
Mark - AD7EF
 

However, if you just open the vara fm window you can ping or calibrate your signal with another station. That helps in assisting your level settings, be it in the auto calibration mode or manual ping to set the ALC levels of some of the external sound card interfaces.

If you are having issues with the ic705 in vara fm you might want to join one of the user groups or read through the details of interfacing you ic705 for vara fm.

Greg?


On Fri, Oct 18, 2024, 12:58 PM Brian Chapnick via <chapnickbrian=[email protected]> wrote:

Thanks for the clarification. I'm learning along the way and the more I learn the more I realize? don't know or understand.

Brian VE3GMZ


On Fri, Oct 18, 2024, 3:33?p.m. Mark Davis via <markad7ef=[email protected]> wrote:
On Fri, Oct 18, 2024 at 04:52 AM, Brian Chapnick wrote:
are you entering the frequency of the gateway on the 705 because VARA FM won't do it as it does on HF
Please note that the HF rig-control functionality is implemented in Winlink Express... not in the VARA HF software modem.
?
Rig-control isn¡¯t available when using VARA FM Winlink because that functionality isn¡¯t available in the Winlink ¡°session¡± for any VHF / UHF FM mode (ex. Packet).
?
Mark - AD7EF

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