Setting Up A VARA FM and Packet Winlink Gateway - WaveTalkers LIVE 58

This week the WaveTalkers Crews dives into the details of setting a VHF/UHF Winlink Gateway for VARA FM and Packet. We will assume you already have Winlink operating with your ham radio and your Windows PC with either VARA FM and/or Packet with UZ7HO SoundModem. We will thus begin with a basic configuration of RMS Packet, the key application that you will need to operate a VHF/UHF Winlink Gateway.
The basic VHF Winlink Gateway hardware we will begin with includes:
- Radio: Alinco DR-135TMKIII
- SoundCard Interface: RIM-Alinco 9600 by Repeater Builder
- Computer: BeeLink Windows 10 PC
- Antenna: N9TAX Slim Jim
Very simple hardware configuration and none of this equipment is sponsored.
After getting a base configuration up and running we will look at other hardware configurations and explore various configuration scenarios such as: running both VARA FM and Packet on the same gateway, operating VARA FM on 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm bands all on the same gateway, and more.
If you missed Episode 57, please check it out on our KZbin Channel as we will be building on the information we walked through last week.
We will wrap up Episode 58 with an after party for all of those joining us in the Zoom. We would love hear about your Winlink Gateway Plans.
Thank you for joining us our this journey into ham radio and emergency communications.
73!
Chris Mattia de W6AH
Website: wavetalkers.com
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[@user-gi7cz2on5g]

Ok, This is the 4th time I have watched this and I am finally getting to understand how to setup my Gateway. The -10, -4, -6 in our area. I am excited to have this up and running and to be a digipeater. Thks

[@rolandhaas6404]

Thanks for the exclusive instruction on the winlinks system, VARA FM and Packet Winlink Gateway, the videos are always great, with lots of information. greet Roland DG1GHR 73

[@WaveTalkers]

Our pleasure DG1GHR, we are always thrilled to have you learning with us! 73 Chris W6AH

[@TyWooly42]

Chris, your voice volume varies wildly. So, I'm constantly adjusting my volume control. This detracts from what you're actually saying. (but not the case for Dan & David)

[@WaveTalkers]

Thanks for the feedback. 73 W6AH

[@yv6eda]

Thanks for the tutorial. I miss the setup of SoundModem. Did you cover it on another video?

[@WaveTalkers]

We covered sound modem back in episode 2. You may also want to check out our winlink resources page where we have a downloadable PDF guide to setting up SoundModem and other winlink components.

[@PatrickDickey52761]

Question At the @1:05:15 mark, you're talking about setting up telnet connections to your gateway. Can you use that to send their traffic over the air, as opposed to over the Internet to the CMS? In short, Station 1 is connected to a radio that can hit a CMS. Stations 2 through 5 use Telnet to connect to RMS Relay on Station 1 to send their traffic.

[@WaveTalkers]

Yes, an RMS operates just fine without a connection to the internet. It can forward mail via Pactor or VARA HF. Your gateway needs to be running RMS Relay and RMS trimode to do this. Traffic can come in telnet (LAN or MESH), VHF/iHF or HF and it could go out HF.

[@minibikemadman]

I am in the process of setting up a varafm gateway and using my starlink for the INet. I have a kpc3+ to I don't know what I'll use that for...can you find a list of gateways near you?

[@markusberg2770]

Is the sound modem software necessary for radios that have a proprietary sound card?

[@WaveTalkers]

For packet, yes. For testing and troubleshooting, yes it is helpful. For VARA FM no. 73, Chris W6AH

[@siddharth4662]

Hi... Great presentation... But as I don't plan to use the VARA FM... is it possible to run Winlink RMS with any other option?

[@WaveTalkers]

Hi @siddharth4662, absolutely. Winlink RMS can support Packet on the UHF/VHF frequencies in addition to VARA FM. On the HF side Winlink RMS can support Pactor, VARA HF, Robust Packet, and ARDOP. Check out the next few episodes 59-62 for some of the other options.

[@siddharth4662]

@@WaveTalkers thank you very much for the insights!

[@SteveFox-ci7gh]

Do you have to run soundmodem with a VARA Fm gateway? (No packet).

[@WaveTalkers]

SoundModem is needed if you plan to run Packet and also for testing purposes. But if you are only running a VARA FM gateway then no, SoundModem is not absolutely required to do that. We do suggest having it installed for testing and troubleshooting but it doesn't need to run all the time.

[@SteveFox-ci7gh]

@@WaveTalkers Tnx.

[@Dennis-tf2cs]

So regarding the coordination. There is another gateway located about 35 miles from my location on 145.080. Do I want to contact that station and will I want to be on the same frequency as that station? (It is a VaraFM and Packet Gateway on 145.080).

[@WaveTalkers]

Often there is an advantage to operating on the same frequency as other VHF/UHF gateways in an area. It allows operators to use the Digipeater features we talked about in this episode using the exact scenario we discussed. Contacting the other Gateway owner and talking with the local ham EmComm group(s) to develop a coordinated comms plan is always a good idea. 73 Chris W6AH