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  1. VARA-MODEM
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VARA-HF doesn't control IC-7610 on new laptop

 

I'm trying to set up a new laptop for remote emergency comms using Winlink with VARA HF.? I've run the same configuration in Windows 10 on my home station laptop for several years, first with an IC 7300 and recently with an IC-7610.? I've installed the latest versions of Winlink, VARA HF, WSJT-X, etc. on the new Win10 laptop and carefully checked that all xcvr and computer setings are the same. When I transfer the USB cable to the new computer, everything, including FT8 on WSJT-X, works as on the home station laptop EXCEPT - the VARA HF does not communicate with the 7610. The audio input does appear to come through ok on the VARA screen meters, but when I try to Open a Winlink VARA HF session, the transceiver does not change to the Winlink frequency and nothing happens when I try to Start the connection or change to a different channel.?
Since WSJT-X works ok, it appears that the VARA "Device in" and "Device out" settings - which are identical to those on the station computer - must not be working correctly. I tried using a different USB port on both machines, and the VARA Soundcard Setup "Device input" and "Device output" names change appropriately, but the new laptop still won't control the rig.?
I removed and re-installed VARA on the new laptop but, even after checking and re-entering all settings, VARA still won't communicate with the xcvr.?
I'll appreciate any suggestions about what to try next!?
73 es Aloha,
Tom AH6KW?
 

Hi Tom,

The devices chosen for ¡°Device input¡± and ¡°Device output¡± are the AUDIO path to and from the radio.

Your problem is related to the Serial Port control.

Thomas /WDT
KF7RSF/NNA0WL
 

Did you install the Icom drivers on the new PC?
 

Thanks for the clarification about the Device In/Out Ports, Tom.? I've checked (and re-checked!) all the serial port settings in both Winlink and VARA and in Device Manager on both laptops - both when VARA is running in a Winlink session and when it's running independently. Though all settings are the same on each machine, the rig control works fine on the old machine but doesn't work when I transfer the USB cable coming from the 7610 to the new laptop. I just spent a lot of time doing screenshots of all the settings screens in both programs on both machines and still can't find any differences.??
I could share the .pdf's of the screenshots, but it appears that will just confirm that I'm not looking at the right serial port setting on the new laptop.? Where do I set which of the two serial ports (Com6 and Com7 in my case) that the Silicon Labs Drivers have set up on both laptops is used by VARA??
Thanks again for your help!
Tom AH6KW
?
? ? ? ?
 

On Winlink, click on "Open Session:" near the upper right portion of the window which will open the Vara HF Winlink Session window.
?
Now, click on "Radio Setup" under the "Settings" menu.? This is where you assign the COM port for your radio along with the radio type, etc.??
 

Thanks for the suggestions, Stu et al.,
I tried to post a message just as yours came in, Stu, but it doesn't appear to have made it to the group.?
In any event, I finally got VARA HF working on the new laptop and did a couple of successful Winlink sessions with it just after I posted the previous message!!
The key was discovering that the Winlink Sessions Menu in the uppper right corner has an option for "VARA HF - Radio-only"!? That's where? the option for assigning the COM port showed up.? For whatever reason, that option does not appear in a regular VARA HF Winlink session - at least not in the versions of Winlink and VARA HF installed on this new computer.??
Anyway - Thanks again to all for your help solving this problem!
73 es Aloha,
Tom AH6KW
?
 

I might suggest you execute USBDeview which will tell you more that you ever want to know about any installed/uninstalled/connected USB device in your system. ?? I never recommend free shareware but this is one major exception.? USBDeview doesn't install, it is an executable, the well documented s/w is actually the help file, Windows only?? It runs on my big boy computer.
 

Final (I hope!) addendum on this subject of setting up VARA HF on a new laptop:

I realized, after finally getting Winlink working, that the reason the VARA setup had not worked earlier on the new laptop was that I had used the same serial port as had worked on the old computer.? The Winlink "VARA HF WINLINK Settings" indicated that COM6 (in my case) was the serial port - and it appeared to be grayed out, so I didn't realize it could be changed. It wasn't until I used the "VARA HF - Radio-only" mode that the serial port was blank - and when I clicked to set it, the only option was "COM7". As soon as I clicked that, the rig immediately changed frequency and the whole Winlink-VARA system began working correctly.?
I suppose that's because the COM6 port had already been used for the USB audio CODEC Inputs, but I saw no indication of that in the VARA Setup process - and COM 6 worked fine with the other computer..
Mahalo (Thank you) again for all the suggestions!
73, Tom AH6KW
 

Thanks for the suggestion Kenneth! That sounds like a useful tool. But ... when I tried to download it, I got a warning from Windows that it contains a virus and I shouldn't open it.? Not feeling brave, I didn't try it.? Should I open it anyway?? It'd be interesting to see data on the USB Ports - and the history especially.?

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