VARA FM on FT991a -- Narrow via USB
|
I have been able to get VARA HF to work consistently on my Dx10. I'm comfortable with most aspects of the program.
However, I've been trying for weeks to get VARA FM to work on my FT991a. I've read a dozen whitepapers, posts, and watched several videos--many with contradictory advice. Yes, I know the 991a cannot do Wide (9600 bps) connections without building a special cable. I went down that rabbit hole but gave up as nothing was working. I decided to just get the Narrow mode working as it can (in theory) be done with just a USB cable. I've programmed the 991a for years with a good USB cable, so I don't think that's the issue. The VHF/UHF JPole antenna on this rig works great as I can simplex for 20 miles or more.? Yes, unlike VARA HF, I know I have to set the frequency manually and use another radio to monitor what the FT991 is transmitting. However, the sound of the VARA FM query is different than what I'm used to hearing on VARA HF. When I try to connect, the 991a transmits several times but the Narrow station does not respond. I know it's a good station because I occasionally hear other stations connecting, shaking hands, and completing a message session. When I try "Ping" the VARA reports: NO SIGNAL.? ?
I thought I had it working when I connected Peer-to-peer with another ham about 5 miles away. That worked consistently, but I can't get the local KE7ARH-11 station to connect. It's the only Narrow station within range (12 km). ?
I would greatly appreciate any advice. I work with the local ARES Emergency Management team and we plan to use my HF station to retransmit Winlink messages gathered from local neighborhoods which don't have HF capability. I have done that successfully several times, but the VARA FM link to local stations is not. ?
I hate to give up on something this important given the 50+ hours I've put into trying to get this to work. Why so important? Our ARES team wants to be able to gather Winlink wellness messages from the surrounding neighborhoods and send them peer-to-peer to my HF system to be retransmitted over VARA HF. I would really appreciate any help you experts can supply.
Thanks ?
 |
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýYour FM has to be rear, its set on mike. If you use VARAFM then rear if you use the hand mike set to mike. ? ? Larry KF5MLP ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bill Vaughn Kj7BIH
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 2:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [VARA-MODEM] VARA FM on FT991a -- Narrow via USB ? I have been able to get VARA HF to work consistently on my Dx10. I'm comfortable with most aspects of the program.
? ? ? I hate to give up on something this important given the 50+ hours I've put into trying to get this to work. Why so important? Our ARES team wants to be able to gather Winlink wellness messages from the surrounding neighborhoods and send them peer-to-peer to my HF system to be retransmitted over VARA HF. I would really appreciate any help you experts can supply.
?
-- Marvin L. Penepent |
|
Bill;
?
I have a FT-991A, and I have used it on many occasions to do VARA FM operation with both gateway and P2P stations. I have done so both using the internal USB sound card system for VARA FM NARROW operation, and a couple of different external Masters Communications DRA- devices for VARA FM WIDE.
?
I've helped a couple members in our local (Clackamas Co, OR) ARES group get their FT-991A / ?VARA FM setups working, as well as many more here on VARA-MODEM and on the FT-991A .
?
How old is your FT-991A? Does it have recent firmware installed? Yaesu has made revisions in the firmware that result in changes in the menu numbers, ?invalidating some setup guides.
?
If you have any issues with the signal-level or audio fidelity of your transmit signal, the VARA FM (gateway or P@P) station you're trying to connect to simply won't respond in any way. Once you've got your radio outputting a VARA FM tx signal, the VARA FM modem 'Auto Tune' feature is an immensely useful tool for getting your tx signal "right", particularly if you can monitor your tx signal on a separate hand-held.
?
You should also know that with your VARA FM system configured and set to 'NARROW' mode, the other station will automatically "negotiate" a NARROW connection with you regardless of of whether that station is configured for WIDE or NARROW mode operation.
?
If you're interested in setting up a ZOOM session, with the computer you're using for VARA FM, I can probably help you out with some hands-on assistance.
?
Mark - AD7EF |
|
I got it to work!
I had to assume the radio and VARA FM settings were right so I just pinged each of the gateway stations one at a time. After about nine "NO SIGNAL" responses, I got one that worked. I then ran Drive Level Calibrate against that station and got "APPROVED."?
?
Now I can move forward.
Thanks for the encouragement.
--
William (Bill) Vaughn
Kj7BIH AE/VE
Redmond, WA USA
Dx10, FT991a? |
|
Bill;
?
I'm glad to see you got the VARA FM / FT-991A system working.?
?
I haven't had my FT-991A hooked up for over a month, and I wanted to confirm it still was properly configured for VARA FM (through the built-in USB soundcard system) before hooking up with you on ZOOM.
?
Let me know if you're interested in getting set up for full-throughput VARA FM WIDE operation. In most circumstances, VARA FM WIDE throughput is about twice what you'll be seeing with VARA FM NARROW (with a VARA license, 22kbps vs. 11kbps over optimal radio circuits). For many, that's a worthwhile improvement, but, you should keep in mind that (at 11kbps) full-throughput VARA FM NARROW is more than 30 times faster than 1200bps PACKET.
?
To run full-throughput VARA FM WIDE with the FT-991A, you must use an external rig-interface device (such as the Masters Communication DRA- series devices, or the Digirig Mobile device), connected to the mini-DIN6 "RTTY/DATA" jack on the back of the radio.
?
Mark - AD7EF
|
Bill Vaughn Kj7BIH
Mark Davis
Scott Currie