IC-756PRO2 VFO A/B CAT frequency

problem solved thanks to Irad and some troubleshooting with packet CI-V sniffing. icom 756pro2 .ini file used by omnirig need to be modified:

[pmFreqA]

Command=FEFE64E0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE64E0050000000000FD.FEFEE064FBFD

[pmFreqB]

Command=FEFE64E0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE64E0050000000000FD.FEFEE064FBFD

direct single VFO command to set frequency is not supported with IC756pro2/3 but a selection of the VFO A or B is performed by VarAC, anyway it is necessary to modify [pmFreqA] ( and optionally [pmFreqB] sub vfo) in order to be able to use single VFO option in Varac setup window.

73 de Phil, iz1fks

Hi @irad d , I performed several tests with CAT on my IC-756P2 using sniffing on the CI-V bus and detected some behaviour I think could be impreved or fixed:

1.      COM port PTT (RTS) works fine, but the PTT Test (PTT ON -PTT OFF buttons in the setup window) don't work with COM port setting and "access COM port denied" is reported in CAT test error log.

2.      I have to use omnirig for other piece of software, but unfortunately I cannot use omnirig with Varac due to the VFO A/B issue reported here: https://www.varac-hamradio.com/forum/varac-hf-discussion-forum/ic-756pro2-vfo-a-b-cat-frequency

3.      I use VarAC native CAT interface to control rig and enabled"read freq. every 2 sec" too. Since I have also omnirig running on the same COM port shared, I have noticed that frequency in VarAC stop updating if Omnirig poll interval is set less than 2 seconds (I usually set it at 100ms) Only the freq polling is affected the frequency write to the rig is working fine. I have the possibility to use two physical com ports on the same CI-V bus but the behaviour is the same.

 I think it would be useful an option flag to disable VarAC CAT polling, but enabling frequency update only listening the packets on the bus polled by omnirig or other software (e.g. Omnirig, FLrig both using polling to update freq/mode). By the way with frequency reading from bus also Icom CI-V transceive function could be used alone with VarAC embedd CAT interface

73 de Phil,iz1fks

Hi Irad, thanks for replying

Native VarAC CAT works good, only VFO A is changed as should be. My question was about omnirig interfacing issue, but I see now that native interface can read frequency as well.

73 de Phil,iz1fks

Hi Phil

Are you referring to changing both VFOs ?

I believe that with the new feature of CAT Macros you can concatenate several commands together to make it work. Not sure though I understand what commands you are after. Can you try that ?

@irad d, any news on this issue?

best 73

Phil

Thank you Phil for reporting the bugs. Yes - the CAT cant read the current VFO frequency. only setting it. for now. In the future I will work on it.

I addressed the bugs your just mentioned. Can you please use this VarAC.exe to check if those bugs are gone ?

• the RTS/DTR Test button

• The gray out of the CAT when selecting only CAT freq.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ctOfnmgG2TQ9eG7l9jVmJYGminiZn4Ff/view?usp=sharing

I believe Shooting the same command twice is not the problem.

But on the other hand - I can't tell for sure why you experiencing this.

Next version will do direct can control (only for freq settings... not reading). And also wont fire twice the omnirig command. You will be able to track of the number of omnirig command fires on the VarAC. og both in file and on screen:

@iz1fks & @htperry

This is an Omnirig configuration.

If you know the right CAT command, you can manipulate this section in the "IC-756 Pro.ini" file under the omnirig directory.

[pmFreq]

;Set operating frequency

Command=FEFE5CE0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE5CE0050000000000FD.FEFEE05CFBFD

same here on a 756 Pro III