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    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06

    Do I have a Radio (receiver) Issue?

    in VarAC discussion forum

    Take a look at the picture below ...

    I am running a Yaesu FTdx3000 connected to my laptop with a licensed VARA modem ... I am also running WinLink, but not having real great success there either. The connections are 'hit and miss' most of the time and I know I have a good path ...

    Here's my story ...

    I installed VarAC a short week ago and had some success that evening (June 6th, I believe) ... I worked around 5-6 contacts ... some were 'not at home' and I just left a message as requested ... and I had a couple short conversations with users and one extended QSO with a gentleman from MN ...

    I went to bed with a satisfied feeling that I had just went back in time to the late 80's and early 90's when I used to enjoy keyboard chatting on VHF packet (and also HF packet) ...

    Anyway, I peered at the screen a few times during the day that day and didn't have any registered beacons or CQ's coming in ... I did notice however that I could hear signals ... and when I looked at VARA waterfall, I could see them ... but they were about half out of the 'passband' (what I call it for lack of a better term) between the 2 red lines ... I have had my beacon on constantly for the past few days and still nothing.

    I can send out CQ's ... but to no avail ... It just looks to me like the signal should be lining up in between the red lines and it does not as you can see ... I even tried manually tuning up about 330 hertz so it lines up in between the red lines, but I still am not copying anything ...

    Hopefully, someone on here can point me in the right direction ...

    I do have another radio (an ICOM IC-718), but haven't been able to interface it yet to be able to test it.

    Thanx in advance and let me know if anyone needs any other info ... I would be glad to provide ...

    73,

    AllaN0KFO


    15 comments
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    15 Comments
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    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 10

    I have some final comments on my 'issue' ...

    It appears that one does not want to use the USB-D setting in the rig control setup for VarAC on the Yaesu FTDX3000... I have found through experimentation that it does indeed add 1000 hz offset in the BFO throwing the recieve 'window' off on VARA HF.

    The settings I published earlier for the menu settings 067 and 070 can be disregarded. One thing I would add is that when setting the rig control to USB instead of USB-D has an effect on the TX in that the PTT is activated, but there is no power out registered. The way that I solved this was to set the menu 103 (SSB MIC SEL) to 'USB' instead of 'front' and you will have to remember to set it back again before using the microphone on SSB.

    Hope this makes sense to everyone ...

    I am really enjoying the mode now that things are working as they should ...

    Everyone have a great day and VarAC Away ... HIHI ...

    Like

    A
    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 07

    Edit:

    I think I got a little ahead of myself in posting the 'fix' for the problem ... I think it may have been even simpler than I thought in the first place ... I went back to the rig (that was working great...) and it was set to 'USB' instead of 'USB-D(ata)' and when I switched it to USB-D, the frequency display was way off again ... So I am thinking all I had to do in the first place was to change it to USB instead of USB-D to fix the issue ...

    I will experiment a little more and post back here ... I do apologize for that...

    End of Edit:


    Well, I fixed the problem ... All it took was a little research and problem solved ...

    I came across an article on MorseTutor.com ... and it was dealing with a different problem regarding the FTDX3000 Data Mode audio offset. Evidently, when the data mode is selected, the rig adds 1000 hz offset in the BFO and that was my problem.

    The solution was to change menu selection 067 to 'OTHERS' and menu selection 070 to '0 hz' ... and it fixed the problem for me working VarAC ...

    Now I am going to have to watch other modes and see if it affects any of those.

    Thank you to Gary N3CZ and htperry W4HTP for helping me sort it out.

    73,

    AllaN0KFO


    Like

    H
    htperry
    Jun 06

    Allan, I keep seeing you in my Beacon list, but I get no response when I call you. The SNR is weak -21, so you may not hear me. You briefly connected to me earlier and disconnected.

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    A
    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06
    Replying to

    I have made a few contacts today with the IC718, but I think my Vertical situation is keeping me from making more contacts. I have had probably 10-15% luck making QSOs today ... and I did try and connect to you a couple times after I saw you in the beacon list as well ...

    I'll keep working on it and I am sure we will work some time in the near future ...

    73 and thanx,

    AllaN0KFO

    Like

    NC3Z Gary
    Jun 06

    Just had a long QSO on 17M with K0SHD

    Like
    A
    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06
    Replying to

    I called CQ and was beaconing away on 17 for a while after I got my ICOM set up ...

    Using a SignaLink on my ICOM with the VARA modem and guess I still have some tinkering to do ... I'll keep persuing it ... and hopefully work you all later ...

    Thanx,

    AllaN0KFO

    Like

    H
    htperry
    Jun 06

    Allan, you connected to me for a moment. There's a 2k wide signal on there right now - probably Winlink. Wait until things clear and try again.

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    A
    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06
    Replying to

    I guess I still have some head scratching to do ... I have a SignaLink hooked up to my ICOM IC-718 and probably don't have it set quite right yet ...I will play with settings and try to connect as I go along ... Still not copying any beacons or CQ calls ...

    Like

    H
    htperry
    Jun 06

    I am on 20M. Look for Beacon W4HTP or call and I may answer.

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    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06

    I got my ICOM on the air and have called CQ a few times on 17m (18.106) , but no takers ... and have heard a few signals, but still not registering any beacons or CQ's from other users ... but maybe they are not calling CQ or beaconing and possibly in QSO with others ... I haven't found a way to monitor the frequency to copy other signals ... or maybe there is just no way to do that.

    Like

    NC3Z Gary
    Jun 06

    20, 17 and 15M are nicely open today, tons of activity. I am on all 3 bands right now.

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    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06

    I have those set now ... but I don't 'hear' any signals now to see if it is working ...

    I will play with those settings and see if I can get some relief ...

    Thanx,

    Allan

    Like

    NC3Z Gary
    Jun 06

    I just downloaded the manual to check. Look at menu items 68-70. Try 69 and 70 to 1500Hz, where the center freq is for VARA

    Like

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    AllaN0KFO
    Jun 06

    I can't find a PSK offset in the menu settings ... and I really don't see any setting that would do that ... There's some RTTY settings and DATA settings, but not sure if there is any kind of offset setting ... Maybe it's called something else ...

    Thanx,

    AllaN0KFO

    Like

    NC3Z Gary
    Jun 06

    I do not have a Yaesu but I believe there is a PSK Offset setting in the radio menu? You are certainly no aligned correctly.

    Like
    15 comments
     

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