WB4SON

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Winlink with Vara FM, TM-D710G & DRA-50

Posted: 28 May 2021 01:03 PM PDT
https://wb4son.com/wpblog/?p=4398


After getting my VHF antenna back up in the air, I was able to hook my
Kenwood TM-D-710G up via a DRA-50 Digital Radio Adapter to my PC.Â* I
downloaded a copy of VARA-FM, and used Winlink to receive my first message
via a VARA-FM station (N1ASA-10 on 145.050)

On the TM-D710G, I verified that my radio was setup for B-side external
data (Menu 918), which is the right-hand side of the display.Â* I then
changed to 9600 bps data speed (Menu 919).

On VARA-FM, under Settings/VARA Setup, I changed the FM System to WIDE
(Setup is also the menu where you put in the license key).

Under Settings/SoundCard, the Device Input was set to Microphone (USB PnP
Sound Device), and the Output was set to Speakers (USB PnP Sound Device).

Finally, under Settings/PTT, I selected PTT via RA-Board to match my DRA-50
board.

According to the log, with N1ASA in Narrow mode, and my system in Wide
mode, we transferred at almost 5600 bps.



And a Ping looks like this:



A Drive Level Calibration was run and produced the following: