Recent VARA FM Connection Issues

1

Hello, I’m a SYSOP for a VARA FM RMS. I’ve had three users report issues with VARA suddenly not connecting as expected. Those three users (myself included) noticed that their Digirig interfaces, which had been working flawlessly for months, suddenly stopped functioning. We typically get 40–60 connections per week at that station (so it’s working), and the problems reported all have the Digirig in common.

Has anybody else experienced this recently with the Digirig? All the affected operators are using Windows 10 machines.

One user mentioned a recent Windows audio driver update that occurred on January 22, 2025, but I’ve had success making connections up until about two weeks ago with this particular station. The odd thing is that I can still connect to a distant station, although the connection quality is poor.

The equipment owners of the VARA RMS performed a full check on the hardware, network, and software side, and it’s definitely not an issue with the RMS. Any suggestions or similar experiences?

Thanks in Advance,
Jay

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2

See if you can narrow issue to a specific function:

  • do you get inbound audio from radio into the software?
  • does Digirig key up the transceiver?
  • does the outbound audio get on the air?
3

Thanks for coming back so fast. You’re always very helpful. Yes to all the questions. I can hear the TX go out (on a second radio) with a slight hum at the end (which I had not noticed before). PTT/TX is good and RX is good to my QTH. I’m using all DigiRig cables with a TYT-9800D and its worked great for months. I can find out what other radios are in play if needed.

4

Can you try some other mode to another remote station?
If you have a transceiver with native APRS support, that would be an easy test.

5

I use a Yaesu FTM-6000R, Digirig 1.9, Windows 11, Winlink, Vara FM, 1/4 wave antenna.

I just checked my setup for Winlink Vara FM. When I checked Settings → Soundcard I found I had to change from defaults to Microphone (USB PnP Sound Device) and Speaker (USB PnP Sound Device). After I made that change, everything worked to connect with local RMS. Maybe the OS made an unexpected change on me. That’s strange, too, because I did not see that on fldigi when I was running last evening and this morning on VHF FM.

73 Constrainted

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6

I just had to do the same thing for Winlink Packet. So I guess renaming by the OS.

73 Constrainted

7

I’ve been running Direwolf with it as well for several weeks. No issues. I always check the audio out with a second radio. I’ve pulled the DigiRig from my shack. I’m going to see if I can do some test with my mobile setup to see what happens. I have a DigiRig Lite as well. I’ll report back.

8

Did some more testing today. I checked both the DigiRig and DigiRig Lite (v1) using VARA FM and SSTV apps. I’m seeing low, muffled audio signals from two different computers—barely enough to get a clean transmission. This issue happens with both DigiRig devices.

I did notice that a recent Microsoft update was installed around the same time I started seeing problems. They acknowledged some USB audio issues in the changelog, which they claimed to have fixed, but that timing seems suspicious.

Here’s the update I’m referring to:

:link: January 28, 2025—KB5050081 (OS Build 19045.5440) Preview - Microsoft Support

[Digital/Analog converter (DAC) (known issue)]

Fixed: You might experience issues with USB audio devices. This is more likely when you use a DAC audio driver based on USB 1.0. USB audio devices might stop working, which stops playback.

I’m not super technical, but I do know audio plays fine through my speakers when using VARA and SSTV. However, when selecting the DigiRig USB devices, the audio quality is very poor.

Here are my system specs:

• Windows 10 Pro – OS Build 19045.5679 (one machine)

• Windows 10 Pro – OS Build 19045.5608 (second machine)

• AGC is off, and all enhancements are disabled in the audio settings

• Audio driver version: 10.0.19041.1 (dated 12/6/2019)

• Radios: TYT-9800 with DigiRig, and VX-6 with DigiRig Lite and purchased cables.

Any suggestions for cleaning up the audio or improving performance? Any other reports of issues recently? Two other users in my local area are having the same problem. Thanks!

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9

Are you referring to the transmit audio you monitor with another radio on the frequency?
Do you also hear the distorted audio when plugging headphones directly into Digirig’s audio socket as demonstrated here:

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10

Yes, I use a second radio (HT) and dial in the frequency to listen to what’s being transmitted. When I connect directly to the DigiRigs with headphones, the signal cleans up — no more popping — but the audio is still low. So, it seems like the devices are working… it’s just that Windows USB Audio has changed.

I’ve been using the DigiRigs for over a year without any issues, and then all of a sudden, this popped for four of us in my area.

11

Digirig’s output is not specifically designed for headphones so low volume is not indicative of the issue. You can just confirm that the volume changes as you move the playback audio level slider.

The fact that the audio at the Digirig’s output is clear suggests that whatever the noise that is present in the transmitted audio is picked up somewhere in radio.

12

I agree…the DigiRig is working as it should. It’s something Windows is doing to the audio output over USB.

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