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Problems - Vara Modem and Winlink Express #icom #newuser #varahf


 

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Thanks for the heads-up. I did see that earlier today and from it got an idea of what it does. In my case the antenna situation is in a bit of a limbo. I stepped away from the hobby for about 10 years and got into it again about 2 years ago. The difference from now and back then was, earlier I had a good assortment of dipole antennas plus more room.? For the last year I¡¯ve been operating solely on 20M and more recently played with a 10 M dipole.

I¡¯m in the process of changing that with the purchase of an end-fed 40 M to 10 M. I got mine from HFkits in Holland. It¡¯s the same one being sold by ARRL. I can¡¯t use 80 M anymore because, in this location, I just don¡¯t have the room (Trees/lot size/wires. I¡¯m trying to get my hands on a couple of parts to use in a small circuit as described by WA7ARK. He did extensive work to see if the ARRL kit did what they said it could do. Seems it didn¡¯t quite live up to the promotion.

I¡¯m also planning a vertical. It¡¯s all a great bit of fun and good to be back..

While the FT8 and a couple of its buddy modes are now working fine for me, the VARA/WinLink is proving more challenging. I appreciate the help fellow HAMs have given me. In the meantime, I will certainly wean out the frequencies, as you described.

73s for now.

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[email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Brian - W7OWO
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2024 1:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [VARA-MODEM] Problems - Vara Modem and Winlink Express #icom #newuser #varahf

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The Winlink Express in a VARA HF session mode has an Auto-connect feature that is great for finding a workable frequency.? ? ?Within the VARA HF session window Settings, you can modify the Auto-Connect Settings to tailor it to your wants.? ?I usually try for stations in the 17 meter to 10 meter frequencies as they usually aren't as busy.? To ensure a good connection limit the Maximum VARA SNR to -9.? Make sure you also have a minimum bandwidth for VARA at 500.? There are other parameters such as minimum distance if you wish for a station further away, though that may limit you success.??

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Expect to find HF frequencies busy.? FCC rules and regulations pertaining to amateur radio, Part 97, limits the HF operations of automatically controlled Stations? (a station that can transmit with no human intervention) to a small subset of the digital frequencies.? This only applies to automatically controlled stations that have a bandwidth > 500 Hz.

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Band

Start Freq

End Freq

80

3.585000

3.600000

40

7.100000

7.105000

30

10.140000

10.150000

20

14.095000

14.099500

20

14.100500

14.112000

17

18.105000

18.110000

15

21.090000

21.100000

12

24.925000

24.930000

10

28.120000

28.189000

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Considering that the standard bandwidth of a VARA transmission is 2300 Hz and on 40 meters the whole allowed bandwidth is 5000 Hz, only two connections in propagation distance to each other can operate.? If a 2750 bandwidth Vara session is chosen, only one can operate if one was trying not to impact another connection.? Fortunately VARA HF also has a narrow mode (500 Hz) that can operate most anywhere digital modes can operate.?

Since there are many other digital modes that have standard locations or watering holes that like transmissions can be found, so prior to? attempting a connection.? ?WSJTX modes all have a short period of quiescence within their timed signal periods or other modes may be communicating with a station you can't hear, so listen for a period before attempting a connection on what at first listening sounds like an open band.?

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While a VARA 500 connection is a bit slower,? I find the time waiting for a clear frequency for those using wider modes usually take way more time and usually use VARA 500 for most of my contacts.? ?Also on some digital contest weekends, you may find it is best to use Winlink on the WARC bands or VARA FM on UHF/VHF FM gateways.? I am often surprised how well a connection I can get with a some of the gateways on the higher frequencies and will use them during busy periods.?

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Brian - W7OWO?


 

DX Engineering sells a two coil kit that can be used with four 17' wires as an inverted V dipole & be used on 80 meters. Of course most of the band would need a tuner, but I got mine resonant right in the middle of the 75/80 meter band.
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73
John Denison
KD5YOU


 

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Go to Wavetalkers.com and watch the first handful of videos on setting up Winlink.

It's amazing how much information is contained in those videos.

73,

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

On 2024-11-16 20:34, KeithP via groups.io wrote:

Thanks Don. Didn't notice that 94 was omitted. Done now. Will work on it again tomorrow.

Learning a lot!

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Don Poaps via groups.io
Sent: November 16, 2024 6:08 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [VARA-MODEM] Problems - Vara Modem and Winlink Express #icom #newuser #varahf

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Keith

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You forgot to add the CIV. 94 is the number unless it is changed in the set>connector CIV settings

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73

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Don Poaps
New Westminster, BC
VA7DGP DATA
VA7QU ? VOICE


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

ALLSTAR ?530780
Hamshack Hotline

5971

Mid-Island Phone Mesh

2210

2232


? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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On Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 9:33?AM KeithP via <salmo=[email protected]> wrote:

Another advancement:

In VARA HF WinLink Settings I changed the "PTT Serial Port To Use" from CI-V to ICOM7300

Next, I need to figure out how to get the message in my outbox to its destination. Wonder why it doesn't call for the internal sound card?

Totally new at this, so seeing just about everything for the first time.

De Keith

The link to that Video I mentioned (for setting up VARA and IC-7300) is:

(might be an ad at the beginning before it starts.

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of KeithP via
Sent: November 16, 2024 12:55 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [VARA-MODEM] Problems - Vara Modem and Winlink Express #icom #newuser #varahf

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Tnx!

Found a video on setting up the IC-7300 and VARA/Winlink. FINALLY got things running, with one glitch.

When I run the Test in Vara Setup I still get the red box.

Other than that, the laptop is communicating with the rig so if I change frequency in Winlink Express the freq. follows on the rig.?

Back to the drawing board tomorrow.

Getting there....getting there.

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On Nov 15, 2024, at 23:58, Bob W0EG via <morrisnc7@...> wrote:

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Winlink Express is free (recommended).

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On Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 9:43?PM KeithP via <salmo=[email protected]> wrote:

Before I go any further, do I need to purchase Winlink or Winlink Express??

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of John Denison via
Sent: November 15, 2024 6:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [VARA-MODEM] Problems - Vara Modem and Winlink Express #icom #newuser #varahf

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You would need to make sure the TCP or Virtual Command Port is the same for VARA HF and in the Winlink Express VARA TNC setup. Mine is 8300 but 8310 should work as well.

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73

John Denison

KD5YOU

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