• [WB4SON] Winlink with Vara FM, TM-D710G & DRA-50

    From WB4SON via rec.radio.amateur.modera@21:1/5 to All on Sat May 29 11:57:39 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.equipment

    WB4SON

    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Winlink with Vara FM, TM-D710G & DRA-50

    Posted: 28 May 2021 01:03 PM PDT
    https://wb4son.com/wpblog/?p=4398


    After getting my VHF antenna back up in the air, I was able to hook my
    Kenwood TM-D-710G up via a DRA-50 Digital Radio Adapter to my PC.  I downloaded a copy of VARA-FM, and used Winlink to receive my first message
    via a VARA-FM station (N1ASA-10 on 145.050)

    On the TM-D710G, I verified that my radio was setup for B-side external
    data (Menu 918), which is the right-hand side of the display.  I then
    changed to 9600 bps data speed (Menu 919).

    On VARA-FM, under Settings/VARA Setup, I changed the FM System to WIDE
    (Setup is also the menu where you put in the license key).

    Under Settings/SoundCard, the Device Input was set to Microphone (USB PnP
    Sound Device), and the Output was set to Speakers (USB PnP Sound Device).

    Finally, under Settings/PTT, I selected PTT via RA-Board to match my DRA-50 board.

    According to the log, with N1ASA in Narrow mode, and my system in Wide
    mode, we transferred at almost 5600 bps.



    And a Ping looks like this:



    A Drive Level Calibration was run and produced the following:

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