Connecting to Winlink via VHF

,
1

I’m trying to setup a 2M radio via digirig mobile to connect to a VARA-FM RMS. This is what I have:

Radio - Yaesu FTM-6000
Digirig mobile - with yaesu cable (all new)
Computer - Windows 11
WinLink Gateways - wa6bgs, w6rdx, w6im (all within simplex distance)

With audio settings per numerous tutorials, my rig ptt will transmit, I can hear the packet on a separate receiver, and I can see the VU meter on VARA FM responding at -11db. However, VARA FM is reporting NO SIGNAL, and Winlik Express reports no connects. Same thing happens on all 3 gateways. Any ideas? Hints? Been working on this 2 days!

Thanks,
Jim

2

i don’t have your rig but i’d turn the squelch off and if the cable uses the spk jack, turn up the radio volume on the radio itself.

good luck

:slight_smile:

kb0wlf

3

Thanks, yea squelch is off and have tried adjusting the volume in software. The radio has a 10-pin din connector with spk, mic, and ptt, and the volume level is fixed there. Just really puzzling why it’s not working.

Edit: Just checked and from rear panel, squelch setting does not affect rear panel output - it’s always sql 0.

4

yes, a dedicated pkt/acc jack would have unsquelched fixed audio.

i don’t have that radio but now i know :slight_smile:

is there a physical break in the audio path either lifted jack on the digirig or plug not fully inserted.

i’m sure you’ve triple checked that the correct input source is selected in vara-fm as well as the sound control panel ‘mic’ properties.

sorry i couldn’t be any help

kb0wlf

5

Appreciate you trying. The frustrating thing is I can hear my own signal going out on a handheld, and it sounds just like what I’m hearing on the gateway frequency. But nothing comes back from the gateway. At least I’m well with the return window for the digirig. :joy:

6

Jim,

If you hear your own signal while monitoring with another radio on the frequency, then you ruled out audio out and PTT issues. Other possibilities include remote station not hearing your signal, you not hearing the response from the remote station, remote station uses different protocol (e.g. vara vs packet), or some other issue.

Do you hear the static and traffic from other stations received by your radio?

You can patch the received audio through to the computer’s speaker for monitoring by enabling “listen” function in the control panel as demonstrated here:

7

Hi Denis; Yes, I can hear traffic from from the other station (s9), but your comment about the protocol got me thinking it might be packet, while I’m trying to use VARA FM. Here is the gateway information:

WA6BGS-10 (from WINLINK) · [center](javascript:track_jump_hipop(8140378)) · [zoom](javascript:track_jump_hipop(8140378, 15)) · info

2024-03-13 00:22:49 - 2026-02-14 17:26:24
145.070MHz Winlink Packet Gateway
[APWL2K via TCPIP*,qAS,WLNK-1]
being tracked · [stop tracking](javascript:track_stop(8140378):wink:

which does say packet. So, I guess I need different modem software?

Jim

8

For packet you can use something like soundmodem software instead of VaraFM.

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