VARA FM, Email Over VHF/UHF Ham Radio, Winlink Express ICOM 9700
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- A much faster way to send email of ham radio VHF/UHF over Winlink packet. Meet VARA FM! When all else fails, or just for fun, ham radio is there.
www.winlink.org Client software
rosmodem.wordp... TNC software
Check out my previous videos on the other different modes, links below:
• VARA HF, Email Over Ha... VARA HF
• How To Send/Receive Em... WINMOR
www.patreon.com/hamradioconcepts
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#hamradio #amateur radio #vara
Nice explanation! Will share with the club here. We just started using VARA FM here, we can send large files super fast, using it between shelters during events like Hurricanes here. Unlike Packet messaging you only need a sound card like the DRA-30 - cheaper and better than signalink. No need for a TNC. You can relay messages to anyone. Very useful. Best way to send long messages / email by radio IMO.
I believe data off mode is what the radio does when it leaves data mode. I always set that back to MIC ACC. Data mode should automatically select when the computer takes over, if the settings are correct. Thanks for the video, going from VARA-HF to VARA-FM
K6ORJ/M
Beyond emergency operations, I've supported several events in remote areas that have neither VHF/UHF repeater or cell phone coverage. Cell phones and repeaters don't cover everywhere. Such event support is great training for emergencies.
So yesterday I watched the video. Decided to put my 857 to work. C/c number to west mountain radio. I’ll give Vera a try. Thanks
This is great. I’d love to see a resurgence of BBS, FidoNet, door games (TW2002), and other pre-Internet dial-up culture as an emergency communications backup. Also, text modes from the Internet such as IRC and USENET would be great as well.
Check out my video on DRATS you would think thats cool its similar to IRC
@@HamRadioConcepts Up here in Lehigh County PA (Allentown) we use DStar and DRats as our default emcomm package. We have trained on FLDigi and all those add-ons (pictures, FLAMP, FLARQ, FLMsg, ANDFLmsg, etc. We are starting WInlink next week. Just so we know how to do it. I've been on HF WinLink for years, but not everyone has here. Red Cross likes WinLink. We're here to serve, and as they say at Faber College "Knowledge is Good". 73
@@mikemandell132 You win the award for most replies in a thread ever
Thank you for the assistance! I used this video to program my 705 and VARA FM! 73's Shane AH2EJ
I never thought much of AM ham radio but I've been watching your videos and I really want to get into it I'm an avid cber but there's so much more with ham oh nice Bob Ross t-shirt too thanks man
It took a pandemic to make them think about their Starbucks. It would be a big natural disaster (or WWIII) to get them to believe they loose email. I got Winlnk, but I just got the same ICOM and will do this ASAP!
Thanks Eric. Really nice video. I gotta check this out.
You can do that here in Huntsville on the W4HSV-10 WinLink system! :)
thanks for your great demo's
N8NSK
Hey eric you DA-Ham man,,great video on VARA-FM we are trying it know,I,m a ICOM sales store in Lander,WY,.. Lot,s of ICOM,s to try, Can,t wait 4the IC-905 Release, 73,s keep up good work DE N7HYF Eric-QTH Lander,Wy.
Thanks so much Eric :) N0VYE
Hey Eric, you got a hair cut. Cool.
Some disturbing info I was hoping you can clear up. Here in Washington State, the FCC is removing HAM radio repeaters. I'm hearing that HAM radio operator's are buying these repeators and installing them on private land.
Then I heard that HAM home based stations radio/transmitters by 3Com have repeater tech built into them making every home base station a repeater.
I am still studying for my license, and thank you for your advice as to what book(s) I should buy.
Peace...
Eric, a dumb question...as one of the commenters noted, you need a RMS gateway who is set up for VARA FM for this to work.
So here's my question (ok, two). Can VARA FM, which is a digital mode, go through a repeater/digipeater? If so, what kind? A digipeater would also have to be configured for VARA FM? If you do need a digipeater that is VARA FM capable, and there isn't one around, does this mean it's simplex only with a gateway that is VARA FM capable or no joy?
Love the concept, and I am interested in seeing what VARA 4.0 can do.
Your videos are terrific.
'73 Leland AA3YB
I'll have to look if there are any VHF in my area, but I will be trying the HF version here as soon as I get my HF antenna up.
hello , i started watching your ch. about 3 or 4 months ago ,
back story : lost interest in the hobby about 8 years ago ,
and am pleased to let you know you helped rekindle my interest.
Just ordered a DB18 from steppIR yesterday but wont ship for 4-6 weeks.
sounds as if the bands have been dead anyway.. due to solar cycle.
im old school ... CW OR PHONE dont like to contest, just rag chew and get to talk DX.
might look at Satellites at some point.. just not interested in Digital stuff at all.
so just a quick thanks for the inspiration, 73 steve KE6DOA
Eric,
Should I be able to do the very same thing for FM VARA on an IC-7100? I have it working fine on HF in the 7100 and I do have PTT control and all on the FM VARA side. I do not have auto Freq selection as I have in VARA HF . Maybe I just don't have it completely configured? I bought the IC-7100 cause I wanted an all mode emergency go kit radio. Hope I didn't make a mistake. That said, love that 9700! - Mike AJ6GK
7100 works fine. I have one, use it with WinLink. Look on the WinLink site...there is a document on the 7100 with VARA.
Like other VHF (UHF) stuff you need to be in "FM-D" mode for it to key the transmitter (similar to 9700). You bought the right radio. Best emcomm radio I've seen. We got one for our EOC (govt paid for it) and got American Red Cross to buy one. Now if they let us back in those buildings after corona-fest, we can actually use it.
@@mikemandell132 Hi Mike - Yes - I just figured it all out. I have it setup with VARA and it works great on HF AND also VHF. Only minor issue is FM VARA doesn't set itself up with the frequency or FM-D mode automatically as it does in HF. But as I said that's a minor complaint. Getting very happy with my purchase of the 7100. Thanks for your reply. 73 - Mike
what do you think is the speed of it..you said its more than 1200.. you think it is capable of doing 9600? how much is the HF and VHF/U VARA?
You should really grow a fro Eric like bob Ross
Vara is way too over priced for me to buy. If it was $35, I'd consider it, but for the amount of time it would be used, IF I could even get a connection, $70 is absurd. I want to try the FM connection. Hurricane Irma taught me this would be incredibly helpful, and I've only known about this capability since you posted about it, now if only I could get it to work.
Hi, thanks so much for posting! I have an IC-9700, using Winlink/VARA FM. I got more out of this video than 2 calls to Icom! I'm so close, but not there yet. I got the TX light and seemed to transmit 4 times when I plug in the USB cable, but not transmitting when I hit "START!" I did everything you said in the video. PLEASE HELP! Using Windows 8.1, making sure I have the correct sound card and set the PTT.
Thank you so much!
Doesn't the radio on the other end also have to support VARA (transmission speeds)? Are there many VARA equipped stations out there?
Great video, but as a new Ham, on a budget. Can you do similar videos with less expensive equipment?
VARA FM is a sound-card mode. Signalink, FM radio and WIndows PC is about as cheap as you can go with this. You can send digital messages (not WinLink) to another ham over a repeater or simplex using a 30 buck BaoFeng and an Android phone (ANDFLmsg--sideload the apk). 30 bucks---cheap enough?
Good video. "Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, be true to yourself and your country. Don't be a scope head...call CQ. Be a real American"
How about doing this same video on the IC-705. Can't get mine to work. Shows that it is transmitting but the receiving station using peer to peer about 15 miles away isn't hearing or seeing me transmit.
Data off mod should not be usb if you want to use it only through the computer. To talk with the mic if needs to be one of the data is fed mod selections
Internet just “does not fail”. It’s big complex multi node clusterf. If internet “fails” for whatever mega reason, your little gadgets will also be fried. In that case your tools will be shovel, rake and bicycle.
And yes: if we are taking about basic emergency comms, voice seems faster, more reliable and easier to set up. If you want to send an image or encrypted text, it might. Idk. Expected more from this tech, I suppose.
The FM nodes that support Vara what protocol are they using?
Hi: Have this problem, WinLink works nicely with the IC-9700 BUT... now I am unable to use FM PPT altough seems to work not going out. At least nobody come backs to me. I read and have similar problem with VAR HF and my Kenwood 590SG (VAR changes menu 69). Was hoping to be able to use VARA FM but similar situation.
Love your videos. I want to try it winlink but I can’t get my signal link working with my 857 :( I just get a lot of spatter.
Can you use a Kenwood Tm-71a with a mobilinkd 3 with vara? Or picket rms so far I watch all videos about winlink and so far it don't work . I bought a new tmv71a a new mobilinkd tnc3 a new antenna. Then set it all up tryed and tryed fail fail so far it been wast of money any help please I am in a place nobody know anything about this I need help on this .
Good stuff, thanks Eric....73 KT3LZY
can this work with beofeng uv5r?
you can use varafm with a kpc3+?
Not with the KP33+ All you need is a PC
I have followed the video to the letter (well, there is a 9700 entry to select on new software instead of 7300) but can't make my 9700 to connect to distant station (simplex) . I am thinking that it might be that the stations on the Channel List are located too far away from my QTH (20-30 Km / 12-18miles). I am using my satellite antennas to point to their bearing....btw, I have tried the same configuring FT-857D with US Navigator...nada....I am dropping this project...there are no stations, I think, doing this on FM-D in my area.
More a comment on ... / request to those that do... the thumbs down.
Tell us why. All the comments on this thread are positive comments or questions but (at time of writing this) there are three thumbs down.
Whilst I got something positive from this video there are obviously at least three people out there that thought
- it could be improved; or
- could give more; or
- maybe you disagree with the information Eric gave
Yeah you could just thumbs down, but you could also make life better by saying why. You could make life even "betterer" by saying what you would have liked to have been done differently.
I'm very new to amateur radio and find Eric's videos interesting, but if there's something wrong or sub optimal (I love that term) in there then I have nothing to compare it to.
If you tell us what you don't like then it helps all of us. Eric can post follow-up videos to correct or clarify. We all learn something more.
Everyone wins.
If you just give an anonymous thumbs down nobody learns anything other than there were three people that either missed the thumbs up (I'm defaulting to that as the most likely option 😁) or couldn't be bothered to express an opinion other than "meh".
If you care enough to thumbs down then care enough to say why.
Imho 😁
Well said.. Can I use this comment right here in an experiment and show it in my next video??
Go for it 😁
Would be interested how the terminal station handles WINLINK messages, via internet or other radio link.
Internet, now via AWS. There is an RF-only store and forward system but this is so clunky and impractical it is only there for appearances.
Thanks Eric, I do Winmore but this would be cool for local stuff. 73 Doug/kb8dnq
Has anyone got FM VARA to work with the ICOM 5100? I've been trying for months and still haven't got it to work.
Would this work with Mobilinkd tnc3? I see you have 19200 baud, and tnc3 can only go up to 9600 baud.
Thats the baud rate from PC to radio, not the data transfer rate from radio to tower
Yes and no. VARA FM does not use a TNC. It uses a sound card only. Winlink Packet will use your TNC. VARA is way faster.
I'll be honest, the main thing putting me off from winlink is that it seems like it is a pain to get running on Linux, and I'm not sure if half of those modes are available at all that way.
In concept it seems great. It just seems a bit odd to do something like this on Windows and non-FOSS.
Let us know if you find something I am also anti micro-shit user as well and need to know other ways to run this
I like the concept of winlink, but to use windows as the only platform is a killer for emergency comm. Linux and Android can have smaller energy footprints are more flexible.
I think having VARA on Android would be great.
What cha gonna Doooo 😆
Thanks Eric great video !!VE2DPY
starlink will change things
Dont kid yourself, fool
Never heard of VARA FM or HF. So many modes........
VARA is relatively new. It's like Pactor for guys like me who won't spend 1500 bucks on a Pactor modem.