Hello! I’ve gotten my Digirig Mobile to work with a Elecraft KX3 but I now want to go one step further and get it to work with Winlink. If you have, could you tell me what settings you use to get it work with Winlink/VARA HF.
Thank you.
Dave
WD0HHU
Congratulations on getting this far. I do not have a KX3, but Denis K0TX has a thread with some good information:
More threads here:
https://forum.digirig.net/tag/elecraft-kx3/36
73 Constrainted
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Can you tell us more about the setup that you’re using?
- Operating System
- Version of Winlink
- Firmware of KX3
- Cables Used
- Between Digi Rig Mobile
- Between Digi Rig and Computer
I have a digirig mobile and have been using my KX3 for winlink for a while.
To the “Forum” I’ll make sure to read through the comments on the linked page above, also I’ll write windows 11 functional documentation that I’ve been using with some basic photos.
Hello! Thank you! I am using a Windows 11 Beelink mini-computer with the latest Winlink Express. I always keep Winlink updated to the latest version. The F/W on my KX3 is also the latest. Elecraft hasn’t updated the KX3 F/W in several years. As far as the cables go, I am using the cable set that Denis sells on his website. I seem to be able to get Winlink to acknowledge the KX3 and transmit VARA HF signals but the RMS station is not responding back. The RMS station I am trying to hit is only 7 miles from my QTH so it should respond. I have another radio, FT-991A, and it almost always responds when I use VARA HF & Winlink Express together. The local RMS station is a good test to see if the whole system is working: FT-991A/Winlink/VARA HF. I want to be able to get it to work with my KX3 so that I can build up a GO-KIT. I have decided to take a break with using Winlink & VARA HF with the KX3 for a few days. If you have a working KX3 with VARA HF and Winlink Express, I would be very interested in talking to you about it.
Thank you.
Dave Cowdin
WD0HHU
Dave,
Do you get a response from the local RMS with your FT-991A at the same power level and with the same antenna you are using with your Elecraft?
Hi Dennis! I will check that tomorrow! I hope you have had a good “Spring” break! I have been to Grand Junction on numerous occasions as I lived 35 years in Littleton, Colorado but now I live in Denton, TX.
73s
Dave
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Was able to get all of the settings worked out and connect to a local gateway, about 5 miles away. I’ll post them as soon as I get them into a document/post. I’m still collecting screenshots.
Hello! Congratulations on getting the KX3 to work with a Digirig Mobile and connect to a RMS using Winlink & VARA HF. I have a Yaesu 991A and as a test, I was able to connect to my local RMS with Winlink and VARA HF. One of the things I discovered about the RMS is that it scans several frequencies and since I was on 40m, it took it a few seconds to get around to listening to the 40m frequency. That will throw you for a loop because most hams think that it should be an instantaneous connection. Also, for mine, KD5EOC, there is another RMS “way-out-there” that is also using the same frequency!! And further, there is some phone operators I hear on 7.10150MHz sometimes. So even though you think you should have a good shot at hitting a RMS with Winlink and VARA FM, it is not always the case. So naturally you blame the radio, etc. So when I try other RMS further away, say 150-300 miles, even propagation can start to be the problem. Winlink will give you a measure of whether you got a chance to hit a RMS and it says your are below “50”, you are probably not going to hit it. This is what I have learned from using my Yaesu 991A. So if you are QRP with a Digirig/Winlink/VARA HF with a KX3, keep this in mind. Also, QRN, QSB can also affect your ability to hit RMS also.
Here’s my documented working KX3/W11/Winlink/VARA HF settings.