Short Tutorial On Setting Up And Using VaraHF With Winlink Software

I've been getting questions from our local Amateur Radio Operators about VaraHF and how to use it. This video shows what I believe is the simplest way to send and receive your Winlink messages via VaraHF.

[@mcgrath16511]

I am just starting to utilize digital programs, and i just learned more about this in less than 20 minutes than i have in at least 3 hours of videos! great video! thanks/\..

[@AG6AG]

Glad it was helpful! Stu AG6AG

[@JonathanCreaser]

Stu, yet again, thanks for such a great instructional video. You've now got me up and running on VarA HF with Winlink Express. Much appreciated, 73 from M0XXJ in London.

[@AG6AG]

Fantastic! Stu AG6AG

[@lonewolfhamradio]

Great video, exactly what I needed to help me get this figured out.

[@AG6AG]

Cool, thanks

[@williamscott8397]

You got me up and running. Thanks for posting the video.

[@AG6AG]

Any time! Stu AG6AG

[@frankieaufhauser3023]

excellent. thank you for the service!

[@AG6AG]

Any time! Stu AG6AG

[@henfrilangy3842]

Thanks for the video. New to Winlink and VARA HF de KO4DFJ/MM7BFL

[@joewillj]

Great Video, you really helped me on my first time setup!

[@AG6AG]

Great to hear! Stu AG6AG

[@jimaguirre9001]

Good video Stu

[@DonzLockz]

Good info for a new guy like me. Cheers!🍻🤓

[@AG6AG]

Thanks! Stu AG6AG

[@DonaldChapman]

Great and helpful video! I subscribed but hesitant to give it a thumbs up since it was on 73! However somebody was going to have push it past. Keep up the great video! 74 de KD0NN

[@ronford8158]

Thanks for the helpful video. Can you please tell me what S/N gauge tells me and how to keep it in the green band?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Ron, It's the Signal to Noise ratio. The solution is to try to connect to a stronger signal... But we all know that if the connection you are working is all you can hear, then as long as you can move the data then go for it... Stu AG6AG

[@ronford8885]

@@AG6AG Thanks for the rely Stu.

[@billwoods8465]

Thanks Stu. I’ll definitely try best and next. Still wondering about the monitor function. Bill AB6BW

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bill, My understanding is that the monitor function shows commands between you and the connected station. I think this is for troubleshooting. It does not show all commands from all stations like Packet does. Hope that answers your question, Stu AG6AG

[@ChrisEdwardsk4pvz]

Hi Stu Love the video, GReat information. The question I have is not about VARA, but about your video production. I was wonder how you captured your desktop and you were working and used it as your backdrop? Im familiar with how green screen works and that side of it but was wondering what software you used for screen capture and so on. Thanks

[@AG6AG]

Hi Chris, I use OBS studio for the majority of the uncut production recording. Many times I am also capturing a full screen of a VM running on HyperV. If I need to actually access ports and other things to illustrate identifying and configuring devices and I don't want to mess with settings that work on my main system, I spin up a old laptop with NDI pumping the video out to OBS. And then I do all final editing in Open Shot. And yes, it's all free software (other then the Window Pro licenses). Hope that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@ChrisEdwardsk4pvz]

@@AG6AG I use a program that is similar to OBS called EVMUX. But capturing my screen I’m still trying to figure out. Evmux does allow shared screens. Which I think is how i have to do it. Thank you

[@patrickmccombs5669]

What do you need to do to your radio to get it to listen? I realize that the details are specific to each radio, but are there general concepts? For VARA FM and my FT-991A I tell it to listen to the USB port and turn on VOX. Is there anything special you did on your rig to get it to pay attention to VARA HF?

[@AG6AG]

Each radio is different, but for the 991a I use the USB audio that comes up when power is supplied to the radio (power button on radio doesn't matter on 991). And I setup CAT to the enhanced serial port that also IDs when the power source to the radio is provided. I do not use VOX. One last thing... Make sure you download and install the USB drivers from the Yaesu website! Hope this helped! Stu AG6AG

[@karimmanassa9634]

Great video, thank you. At 5:56 you go to Channel Selection > Update via Internet. If there's no internet, what happens if you choose Update via radio? Does Vara somehow figure out a frequency for your radio to capture the updates?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Karim, If you request an update via Radio, it will update the list of stations for that mode over the radio on your next connect. This does create a bit of a chicken/egg problem. The easiest solution is while you are downloading the software from Winlink, review the online list of stations in the modes you are looking at using and pick one or two to that are close. That way you can manually enter it and then download the rest of the list via radio. That list is here: winlink.org/RMSChannels Hope that makes sense... Stu AG6AG

[@karimmanassa9634]

@@AG6AG Makes total sense Stu. Thank you. 73 K4KXM

[@TXLorenzo]

After some practice connecting to stations in your area, you will develop a "go to" list that you can generally rely on most of the time.

[@karimmanassa9634]

@@TXLorenzo Yes. As I practice with it, I'm saving any station I successfully transmitted and received from into Favorites.

[@kd5you1]

One thing to remember is that just because you do not connect to a specific gateway, doesn't mean that you can't. In some instances the gateway might be busy on another band and therefore can't respond until the currently connected station is finished and the gateway starts cycling through its preset list of frequencies again.

[@timlillard390]

Hello Mr. Sheldon. Thank you so much for this video. I will need to return to it after I get everything set up properly, but I noticed you said your FT connects to your computer via USB. My FT3DR has a data port, so I'm assuming I can connect via USB with it as well. My question is: What data cable do you use to connect your radio to your computer? I have googled and searched KZbin but have been unable to come up with a definitive answer. I have been a ham since 1979 but am just now wading into Winlink. Thank you for any assistance you can give. - Tim AI6TL

[@AG6AG]

Hi Tim, Sadly, I think the FT3DR only has a TNC for use by the radio for APRS. You will need something like a Signalink and a custom cable to hook to the external mic / speaker plug to make it all work. Check out the manual, but I think that's the only way. Stu AG6AG

[@timlillard390]

@@AG6AG - Thanks so much for your quick reply. I actually did some experimenting, and with a complete lack of information concerning the USB data connection, I used an adapter I already had on hand and connected the audio ports on the computer to the audio input on the Yaesu. After some fine tuning, it works perfectly. Now I can go back and really absorb your great video. Thanks again.

[@wildbill1]

just to add to this video your comand and data ports may need to be changed. i had to move mine multiple times till it worked.mostly up, when you change one it does the other automatically

[@AG6AG]

Rarely you have cases where the ports are already in use by other software. They also can get confused by the Windows Firewall and blocked that way. Nice point though, glad you got it worked out! Stu AG6AG

[@kenjacoby1343]

Hi Stu, I have a FTdx3000, and the cat seems to only control vfo A, even when I have vfo B selected. I try to do all my data communications on vfo B, so that is a problem. I have tried to manually input frequency on vfo B, both center freq and dial freq, with no luck on either. The gateway is one that is used regularly by hams in this area. I saw a suggestion to set menu #69 to 1000, but that did not work either. Any information that you could give me to head me in the right direction will be appreciated.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Ken, This is because there are two completely different CAT commands to change frequency on your FTdx3000. One command for VFO A and one for VFO B. To change to 7.100Mhz the command for VFO A would be "FA7100000"; and for VFO B you would send "FB7100000;". The VFO selected has nothing to do with which frequency is set. When Winlink changes the frequency on the FTdx3000, it sends a FA command, thus only changing VFO A. Sadly, I don't think the software can do what you would like it to do. As with many programs, sometimes the CAT controls are limited to what the developer things you need... Hope that answers your question (even though it's probably not the answer you want...), Stu AG6AG

[@Malibyte56]

Hi, Stu - I've got everything set up and registered, the radio (FT-DX3000) keys up and transmits (output set to about 50W), but I have had no luck making a connection (have tried at least 50 times) even to stations on frequencies where I can easily hear R2-D2 chirping away. Any clue as to what might be the reason? Thanks. Also, how are you using your CAT control app along with VARA HF? SDRUno won't play well with it because of COM port conflicts. Am looking into com0com virtual port driver but it's not obvious how I can link one of the virtual COM ports it creates with the Yaesu driver on COM5 (in my machine - either in a VM or actual Win10). Great video!

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bob! You are dealing with the craziness of trying to share a com port with multiple programs. I have a video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHazmWyEprKMr8k. This talks about your options for that. I strongly recommend you purchase Win4Yaesu to do this, but there are free solutions discussed in the video as well. You might want to confirm that you have your rig set for USB-Data when you are sending? Hope that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@Malibyte56]

Hi, Stu - Yes, it's definitely set to USB-DATA. If it's not, it keys up but doesn't transmit with any power. Have continued to try, and hear activity on the channels I've selected, but can't seem to get through.

[@Malibyte56]

Hi, Stu - Still trying to get through with VARA-HF. Rig is set to USB-DATA when on 20 meters and LSB-DATA on 40 and 80. It keys up, xmits (I have it set for 30-50W using the Sound Card setup ); it's chirping away while transmitting (radio MONI on). Can't figure out why I can't make a connection. Have tried at least 150 times with different stations and bands; yes, I update the list of channels at least once per day. ???

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bob, You want to be on USB-DATA regardless of the band. Verify that your audio levels are set correctly and if you can, try to monitor what you are sending from another radio. The levels are visible in the Vara interface so you should be able to confirm them there. Hope that helps, Stu AG6AG

[@Malibyte56]

Thanks, Stu - I finally figured that out by listening when the channels were busy. So yes, now USB-DATA on all bands - 20, 30, 40 and 80 meters. ALC is set as recommended. Radio with MONI function on appears to be sending. Unfortunately, I don't have another HF rig to listen on. Still no connections. :-/

[@brucebigam8693]

You did a good job explaining this mode, but I don't get it. Lots of other modes already out there. I will stick to cw, ssb and fldigi digital modes.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bruce, If you're using Winlink and want to get good performance, VaraHF is a good choice. As far as the point of Winlink? Well the real advantage is getting health and welfare messages directly into internet email during a large disaster. Winlink is excellent at doing just that. Stu AG6AG

[@daniellehrer8716]

I have the Icom 7300. Is it "normal" to see the red transmit light on as soon as I click "open session" and it stays on transmitting throughout? Also, Every station says "busy" no matter how many channels I try. Please, any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Daniel, No... It is not normal for the radio to go into transmit when you launch the protocol. This sounds like a config issue under the radio configuration menu in the main Winlink Vara HF window. The screen can be a bit confusing. The PTT settings in the lower half should probably be set to external. Hope that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@rorybowers6476]

Thanks for the Great Video Stu! I followed along until it came time to transmit. No Go here and I am not sure why. Is registration required for VARA HF to transmit?? Thanks! Rory Bowers, K5CKS

[@AG6AG]

Hi Rory, Registration is not required to configure and transmit. Stu AG6AG

[@ernierader9314]

In a VARA HF Winlink session, when I hit "Channel Selection", the "Update Via Internet" option is grayed out. I know I'm connected to the Internet as I can run a speed test. Is there a setting in the Winlink program that needs to be changed to allow the Internet update?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Ernie, If you have an Internet connection then this should not be an issue. I'll run some test and see if I can duplicate it. Just a note, the fact that you are able to run a speed check does not prove you can reach the winlink update servers (which may have been having issues in your region). I'll see if I can come up with a scenario that has a grayed out button. Stu AG6AG

[@AG6AG]

Update to Ernie, I've looked at this 10 ways from Sunday and I can not find any other reason for the "Update Via Internet" to be grayed out other then an inability to reach the servers that feed the RMS info. If you have internet available on the system, you may need to add the Winlink Express to the windows firewall as an 'allowed app' Keep us informed as you work through this! Stu AG6AG

[@52Warlock]

Please tell us what the application is that you are using to display the "Front Panel" of your Yaesu? Thanks. K7AOZ

[@AG6AG]

Hi Al, I'm using Win4Yaesu. It is a great program and solved my sharing COM port problems. Stu AG6AG

[@yungerallenelectricalcontr6415]

What software are you using to record both you and the PC?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Yunger, I use OBS (Open Broadcast Studio) to shoot the PC and me. I edit them with OpenShot. Graphics are edited using GIMP. This software is Open Source and available for free. Stu AG6AG

[@dannelson8556]

APRS messaging is far more robust and reliable not to mention faster

[@jaywardjulian6163]

Very good tutorial video, can I ask for the link to download the winlink software thank you 73 de KH2ZZ

[@AG6AG]

Hi Jayward, you can find downloads at: downloads.winlink.org/. Stu AG6AG

[@NotGonnaSayFO]

I am dropping you. Not because of you, but because I will not support KZbin and its fascist policies. Thank you for your content I have enjoyed.