Winlink wont connect to server

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1

I just received my digirig today and set it up with a Btech UV50x2 1st gen. I tested the cable to a previous posts instructions and everything seems to be working. When I try to use Vara FM or packet (via SoundModem) I don’t get connections. In packet mode, I get a response but I"m not getting a handshake. I’m assuming this is more of a soundmodem or winlink problem, but given the device, I thought there would be a good amount of knowledge on here.

Here is a snipet from SoundModem:
1:Fm KE8ZVX To W8CMN-14 [16:09:32T]
1:Fm W8CMN-14 To KE8ZVX [16:09:37R] [+++]
1:Fm KE8ZVX To W8CMN-14 [16:09:38T]
1:Fm W8CMN-14 To KE8ZVX [16:09:41R] [+++]
1:Fm KE8ZVX To W8CMN-14 [16:09:44T]
1:Fm W8CMN-14 To KE8ZVX [16:09:48R] [+++]
1:Fm KE8ZVX To W8CMN-14 [16:09:48T]
1:Fm W8CMN-14 To KE8ZVX [16:09:52R] [+++]
1:Fm KE8ZVX To W8CMN-14 [16:09:53T]
1:Fm W8CMN-14 To KE8ZVX [16:09:55R] [+++]

Thanks in advance,

KE8ZVX

2

Congratulations, you are getting your signal on the air and getting responses with best readability [+++].

Maybe show us some configuration screens for packet Winlink and soundmodem.

73 Constrainted

3

Thank you.

I’ve attached screenshots of the various settings.

Screenshot 2024-07-17 171537
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Screenshot 2024-07-17 171546
Screenshot 2024-07-17 171555
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4

Thanks for posting those. Please try TX rotation unset and AGWPE set in the soundmodem settings.

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73 Constrainted

5

Thanks for the suggestion. Didn’t seem to help my cause. I’m kinda stumped here as the other station is calling back, so I know I’m getting out and PTT/sound is working. I can hear their response, which means that’s working. What would cause the lack of connection? Would I be better off trying another software TNC?

6

You can adjust TX delay to be a little smaller. If that does not work, consider trying Vara FM, which has some diagnostic capability like Ping and AutoTune.

73 Constrainted

7

i’m thinking it is “STE” in the btech radio?

so, the china imports have a ‘squelch tail eliminator’ usually enabled by default.

this ‘holds’ the transmitter up a fraction of second while ‘cutting off’ tx audio.
like a hang time.

what happens is the station/gateway you’re connecting to is replying to you before your radio is ‘ready’ or has actually unkeyed.

long ago we had to deal with turn around time or key/unkey speed of the radio.
now, it is built in ‘hang time’ on the china sdr radios.

i have a uv98 that has no ability to turn off the ste.
my uv-5r radios have a STE entry in the menu.
when turned off, the radio unkeys immediately.

good luck

kb0wlf

8

I thought this too - I have STE, RP-STE, RPT-DL all set to off.

9

In SoundModem, winlink or both?

10

qsl.
was my first thought when good signal in/out was present
:slight_smile:

11

Both soundmodem and Vara FM need the squelches off or set to 0. The radio should be running in simplex mode, with no offset, no PL tone.

73 Constrainted

12

I have my squelch set to 0. I tried messing with the delay. Shortening delay made it worse - no comeback from the station. I lengthened the delay and I started sending a challenge response but the other station didn’t acknowledge - no handshake was completed.

I’m thinking it has to do with the radio and it’s ptt delay. I’ll hook a handheld up to my house antenna and try on that too see if that is any better.

13

Let us know how it works out.

73 Constrainted

14

So I believe its the radio. I was able to hook up my TIDRADIO H8 and make connections very easily to the same station. I’d rather use the mobile but atleast I have a means of connecting. Thanks to both of you for you suggestions and help.

1 Like
15

Thanks for getting back to the forum with your news. I and others have gotten Baofeng UV-xx HTs to work with Digirig. Are the Btech HT’s clones of Baofeng or rebranded Baofeng?

There is plenty of APRS traffic around me. I tuned up my soundmodem delays for the Baofeng HTs by setting up APRS and adjusting up and down.

73 Constrainted

16

So the radio I was trying to get to work was a 50 watt mobile. It’s more like the qyt 8900 / radioddity qb25. The second generation has audio out over the rj45 connection. First gen (mine) has a TS out of the back. I think it’s the transceiver switching speed on mine not necessarily the series. In normal usage, I have to hit the ptt and wait maybe .5 to 1 sec before speaking. If I quick key, I won’t trigger a repeaters tone. If I do the simple kerchunk on my handheld, it will trigger the repeaters tone.