VIDEO (by KM4ACK)
MANUAL (By K7MHI @kellykeeton)
This is how it looks...
I assume this will work on 32bitDebian (had a report of no) I do run in 64bit mode bullseye RPi4 fully updated to the day of this post. the very nice Build-A-Pi project is also used to load ham software.
There are some nice tools for ham radio included in this project.
https://github.com/km4ack/pi-build
1. Install WineLink
WineLink deploys WINE with a full Winlink RMS version and VARA using this following project script. We only need the WINE and the VARA modem part of it but this installer simplifies the installation.
https://github.com/WheezyE/Winelink
2. Install WINE fonts that are needed by VarAC
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installerAlso follow the instructions here to install "Segoe UI Emoji" font which is also required by VarAC.
3. Download VarAC
Download, unzip and place the files in the ~/.wine/drive_c/VarAC directory
4. Launch VarAC
Using the following command. You can use in a menu.desktop object:
env WINEDEBUG=-all wine /home/pi/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.exeI had to launch a few times and get the settings saved and working but it did work with no major issues! using a IC-705.
5. Enable "Linux compatible mode" in VarAC settings
You can do it by directly editing the VarAC.ini file using the following command:
sed -i 's/LinuxCompatibleMode=OFF/LinuxCompatibleMode=ON/' ~/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.iniOr alternatively you can launch VarAC and do it through the settings menu:
Go to Settings --> Rig control & Vara configuration
Check the "Linux compatible mode" checkbox:
Click Save & Exit
After many attempts trying to get VarAC running on my Pi400 I gave up and went back to my windows laptop. Did get VarAC running fine under Linux Mint on my other laptop.
When I ran the install script, I got this warning :warning: You are using a 64-bit WINEPREFIX. Note that many verbs only install 32-bit versions of packages. If you encounter problems, please retest in a clean 32-bit WINEPREFIX before reporting a bug.
When I run varac I get the stuff below.
env WINEDEBUG=-all wine /home/js/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.exe
Unhandled Exception:
System.NotImplementedException: The method or operation is not implemented.
at System.Drawing.Font.FromLogFont (System.Object lf, System.IntPtr hdc) [0x0009c] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Drawing.Font.FromHfont (System.IntPtr hfont) [0x00029] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Drawing.SystemFonts.get_DefaultFont () [0x0009e] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_DefaultFont () [0x00007] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_Font () [0x00054] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_FontHeight () [0x00076] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase.get_PreferredHeight () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase.get_DefaultSize () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control..ctor (System.Boolean autoInstallSyncContext) [0x000cd] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control..ctor () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase..ctor () [0x00012] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBox..ctor () [0x0000b] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at (wrapper remoting-invoke-with-check) System.Windows.Forms.TextBox..ctor()
at VarAC.VarAC.InitializeComponent () [0x000a7] in <25a82340646d4f2fa5e9200edb4293ed>:0
at VarAC.VarAC..ctor (System.String[] args) [0x00869] in <25a82340646d4f2fa5e9200edb4293ed>:0
at (wrapper remoting-invoke-with-check) VarAC.VarAC..ctor(string[])
at VarAC.Program.Main (System.String[] args) [0x0000e] in <25a82340646d4f2fa5e9200edb4293ed>:0
[ERROR] FATAL UNHANDLED EXCEPTION: System.NotImplementedException: The method or operation is not implemented.
at System.Drawing.Font.FromLogFont (System.Object lf, System.IntPtr hdc) [0x0009c] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Drawing.Font.FromHfont (System.IntPtr hfont) [0x00029] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Drawing.SystemFonts.get_DefaultFont () [0x0009e] in <bfeb5fdca71942e18134223465f4f838>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_DefaultFont () [0x00007] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_Font () [0x00054] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.get_FontHeight () [0x00076] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase.get_PreferredHeight () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase.get_DefaultSize () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control..ctor (System.Boolean autoInstallSyncContext) [0x000cd] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.Control..ctor () [0x00000] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase..ctor () [0x00012] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBox..ctor () [0x0000b] in <462e49eb7aa34bdea8cf98f8bc777938>:0
at (wrapper remoting-invoke-with-check) System.Windows.Forms.TextBox..ctor()
at VarAC.VarAC.InitializeComponent () [0x000a7] in <25a82340646d4f2fa5e9200edb4293ed>:0
at VarAC.VarAC..ctor (System.String[] args) [0x00869] in <25a82340646d4f2fa5e9200edb4293ed>:0
at (wrapper remoting-invoke-with-check) VarAC.VarAC..ctor(string[])
Jason km4ack was kind enough to make a video for getting vara working in 2023 which is step one and varac is getting more and more stable on wine! https://youtu.be/aOnXCiIp4XM
I have followed these instructions 3-4 times with absolutely no luck installing VarAC on my Pi400. Vara HF starts up ok but after a few seconds totally locks up the Pi and have to restart the Pi.
Also no ~.wine/pi/c: is created so I am unable to install VarAC.
What am I doing wrong? Or is the Pi400 able to run VarAC?
I am having one other issue that I can't seem to figure out. That is running VarAC from a menu.desktop object. The file is in the /usr/local/share/applications folder and contains this;
[Desktop Entry] Name=VarAC Comment=VarAC Chat application Exec=env WINEDEBUG=-all wine /home/n3dlu/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.exe Icon=/home/n3dlu/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.png Type=Application Terminal=false
When I try to start VarAC with it I get a couple of errors.
First this one.
If I click continue I get this:
VarAC will open but all settings are blank, like it is not reading my .ini file. Also since it can't find the Cat commands file the rig dropdowns are empty. I can run VarAC by double clicking the VarAC.exe file directly from file explorer. Both VaraHF and VarAC open this way and full rig control with PTT function. I have tried running env WINEDEBUG=-all wine /home/n3dlu/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.exe In a Terminal window with the same 2 errors. It's like the .desktop execution is running as a different user and starting over or is missing some of the Wine windows components
Warren
Looks like I have it working!!
Initially I used Jason's KM4ACK's procedure to install Vara, VaraFM and Pat winlink (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YfSvSZdjuI). After I installed it I could use Vara HF to send and receive emails with Pat Winlink. It seems that my VarAC issue was the version of Wine that was used. I initially had Wine 6.0.3 installed. I uninstalled that then installed the newer version listed for Linux Mint 21, which is 7.0.1.
After that VarAC opened fine and I could update the settings for Vara file path, Linux Compatibility Mode and save it. After restarting VarAC, Vara automatically started (both Vara regular and Monitor instance) then VarAC started.
I sure appreciate everyone's help with getting this working. Now to go through the manual and figure out how it all works.
Thanks,
Warren
I cannot get it to run, I assume I have missed something but don't know what ?
Richard G7OED
Still no go for me. Updated VARA,VaraFM and VarAC. Vara runs on its own. Same as before trying VarAC. Firewall is in-active. Matched settings with a working Windows version And manually set up a Vara Monitor instance.
warren
Ok great, I’ll give it a try. Saw the email for update but making thanksgiving rounds. Haha. I’m ru. Ing linux mint on a Microsoft Surcace Pro 2 as well as on two Pi 4, 4gb. I’ll try them also.
This was the last part I was missing from my Linux/Raspberry Pi setups.
I already have Vara installed and working on my Linux Mint, using Jason's (KM4ACK) scripts/instruction. I can use Pat Winlink to send and receive emails with VaraHF currently.
For VarAC, I downloaded the new version and unzipped it. I copied the unzipped VarAC folder to my .wine/drive_c folder. Trying to run VarAC with env WINEDEBUG=-all wine /home/pi/.wine/drive_c/VarAC/VarAC.exe in a Terminal window just went to a new home directory prompt line with no errors. VarAC did not start. I tried this several times waiting between tries. I even opened the ini file and changed the Linux Compatibility Mode to ON manually. Restarted and still no go. I also tried from a menu desktop item with the same results. Starting Vara first then trying to start VarAC, no go.
Any ideas what to check or try next?
Thanks,
Warren
N3DLU