Installing VarAC on Linux/raspberry64 using WINE

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-installer

Also 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.exe

I 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.ini

Or 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

27 comments

Comments (27)

mbsalty1

Sep 04

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.