Holy FTM-500DR Digirig Batman! I have a lot to get through and appreciate everyones responses. I’ll get back in the AM! Same Bat time and same bat place!
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
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Thanks so much. I have successfully performed the loopback test, headphone tests. I did it both with VaraFM and WSJTX. This is pretty significant. While i used the headphones from the Digirig I think this demonstrates that I’m delivering both the PTT activation and signal to the tranceiver terminal. I also see VARA FM receiving from the transceiver correctly, I was even able to adjust the VU appropriately. So I’m pretty confident, my window sound devices, VaraFM and Digirig are working properly. I’m going to go through the rest of the entries below and if necessary get back to Yaesu. Thanks so much for your help.
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
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Thanks for the settings for Sound Modem. This was a great opportunity for me to familiarize myself with UZYHO Packet Soundmodem, download and install it. Opening up more options to me. I have it u up and running, and working with Winlink. I have a question may not be important, but do I need to have the same setting for TX Delay in WinLink and Soundmodem. I changed them to what you had in your screen shot. Again, it’s working (through the headphones) but I was curious if this was the case. I’m using the 1200 Buad TNC settings
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Can you confirm your firmware?
Can you confirm which cables you are using? I’m using the Yaesu CT-164 10 to 6 pin, combined with the digirg 6 pin to TRRS (1200 baud configuration i.e., 1200 buad pin). So I can’t test with the the 9600 baud.
Consequently, I’m using Narrow Bandwidth (RX Menu #15). I’ve tried it both ways.
Also, I have set your settings #69 and #71 which I have been using and seeing consistently.
One interesting research I came across from youtube was someone with a FTM-300 indicated that Data SQL - TX needed to be be off so that the internal TNC wasn’t mistaken for the external. FTM-500DR manual states:
Menu #72 Data SQL - TX ON: “When set to “ON”, transmission from an external device such as a TNC may be suppressed while this unit is transmitting in the data band”… Interesting. Seems a bit circular I’m using my external TNC to transmit on. Off it goes.
Still no sound from my radio. I do see my Windows digirig Playback device modulate a signal - the green bar pulsates to about 40 to 50%. I just noticed this for the first time. Maybe i overlooked this, but this is intersting - the radio seems to be sending an audio signal back to my digirig. I see my Recording modulated green signal drop in unison - squelch off/on in cordination with the PTT activation.
POST EDIT: I UPDATED MY LAPTOP DEFAULT SOUND DEVICE TO SEE IF I COULD HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE SIGNAL - ITS A DEAD SILENCE I THINK THE RADIO SEND NO SIGNAL AND THE DIGIRIG IS PICKING A DEAD SIGNAL.
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
Have you used another radio, like a HT, to listen to the FTM-500 transmitted audio when using the DR to PTT?
That will prove out if PTT is in fact working, and what if any audio is transmitted. This will help us focus on the cause.
I own the Yaesu FT5DR and about a year back purchased the digirig cable for that too at the time.
I wasn’t able to get it to work, but it wasn’t as important to me - I was focusing heavily on HF.
I tried over the weekend with the Digirig unsuccessfully, but I’ll try again later today. I’ll do a factory reset, and with the progress I’ve made since then maybe I’ll achieve different results. I looked for FT5DR settings for this online, but didn’t see anything. I didn’t bring it up because I didn’t want to confuse people. But you are right. It could be helpful.
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Which device(s)/software(s) FW are you interested in?
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I’m using the 9600 baud DR cable currently, but have run 1200 baud previously on the FTM-500.
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You may be confusing FM bandwidth with 1200/9600 baud data rates… Most if not all packet/VARA FM VHF/UHF stations are using “normal” FM deviation, same as when using the radio in phone mode.
The FM bandwidth/deviation is not tied to the software/hardware data rates per se, only the amount of deviation of the transmitted RF. Unless you’re trying to connect to a node running “Narrow” FM, you will want to change the setting in the radio to “Wide” - it’s not related the narrow or wide settings in the software.
This is a side issue I think however, and won’t be a factor until there is confirmed audio on the transmitted RF.
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In the Windows’ mixer/terminal software, “Recording” is the audio received from the DR by the computer, while “Speaker” is the audio sent to the DR to be transmitted by the radio. I used to struggle with this aspect for some reason…
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I’d like to confirm if the DR is triggering the PTT, and if there is audio on the transmitted signal, or just a dead carrier. This can be done for example, with a HT set to receive the same frequency as the FTM-500 is transmitting on.
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Based on your previous testing as suggested by @K0TX I believe you’ve proven the data cable to the DR and the DR itself is handling the tx/rx audio properly, if I’ve followed along correctly. If this is the case, then the issue lays with either the radio, or audio settings in Windows.
I don’t mean to offend you by providing info that may be obvious to you, but better to state it just in case so there’s nothing missed.
Steve VE7IIF
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Eureka!! I tuned my FT5DR to the FTM500DR transmitting frequency. I CAN hear both the Winlink Vara FM session connection signals and I can hear the Vara Tune and Vara Auto Tune signals on my HT. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this. This great!! Thanks so much. Now should I be able to hear it on my FTM500DR? BTW, I set my 500 #15 FM Bandwidth back to WIDE and the Vara FM Settings to WIDE and it works. I guess your point is it depends on the node I want to conncect to. I thought maybe it was a limiter on radio side.
Great news, and you’re welcome.
You can hear received packet data on the FTM-500, but you won’t hear your own transmissions. The volume and squelch levels on the radio are just for your listening pleasure; they have no affect on the packet data levels because you’re using the data cable vs. connecting to the speaker and microphone.
Just as a note; if both of the receivers in the FTM-500 are set the same band, the FTM-500 will mute the other receiver when you’re transmitting packet data, to protect it from overload.
You won’t get any benefit of the VARA FM settings being set to WIDE, unless you have a 9600 bps DR cable, and are connected to a node offering VARA FM Wide. However, you can still make 1200 connections regardless.
There is no relationship between the radio being set to FM Wide/Narrow, and the WIDE/NARROW settings in the VARA FM software. I’ve never seen a node set to FM Narrow, so stick with menu #15 being set to Wide.
If you’re making connections to a node(s), then you’re all set. It can be very easy to overdrive the transmitted signal if the audio levels are set too high - more is not always better 
From here on it’s just a matter of getting your audio levels in the software set to the ideal levels. Auto Tune doesn’t always pick the best levels unless the node is set-up properly for it, but no harm in trying it.
Recognize the Windows mixer levels will affect the required VARA FM Drive Level settings.
Have fun!
Steve VE7IIF
Steve, so if I’m reading this correctly I not be able to hear the FTM500DR transmitted signal during the course of this procedure. So anti climatic! Thanks again, off to perfect the sound leveling.
73,
Derrick, K6SPX
Post Edit: During this entire time I was connected to a dummy load - thank goodness.