For anyone that might be searching for a solution, I have been able to get HRD to take care of rig control and logging while also allowing VarAC to do it's thing; the configuration works quite well and leads me to believe there is no need for any other changes to either HRD or VarAC to facilitate this - just add-in an additional piece of software to the mix and have fun!
The essential model for the below is described in this HRD knowledgebase/faq page: https://support.hamradiodeluxe.com/support/solutions/articles/51000052492-3rd-party-programs
Steps:
Get VSPE or some other virtual serial port emulator software to create a pair of connected virtual serial ports (I used COM10 and COM11). I used VSPE from https://eterlogic.com/Products.VSPE.html
2. Run HRD rig control and connect to your radio (my setup uses physical port COM1 for rig control).
3. Within HRD rig control, set up a port as shown in the HRD_Capture.png included below.
4. Image below: HRD rig control menu showing location of 3rd Party Serial Port menu item.
5. Within VarAC, setup frequency control via COM11 and use the same speed/parity/etc as for your physical radio connection/com port (for the KWD 570D it is 9600,8-N-2,HH
Hopefully the snapshots below will be helpful / intelligible for anyone trying to replicate it on their own system. I hope it works for you, or gets you closer to a solution. VarAC is a ton of fun once you get it running!
Image below: HRD, showing rig control menu item location
Image below: HRD, showing configuration settings within HRD
Image below: VSPE, starting point step of creation of 2 virtual paired serial ports
Image below: VSPE, naming of the two paired serial ports
Image below: VSPE, saving startup configuration for VSPE
Image below: VarAC, showing my initial config settings (***I eventually suceeded with using VOX for PTT***)
Image below: Reference, How to add an app to Windows startup sequence (put VSPE in startup)
Awesome, thanks, Irad. Your reply helps me better understand a possible reason that I was having trouble with CAT PTT control while using HRD. I have things configured now to use VOX for PTT and it is working flawlessly for me. One thing that I did within Windows that seemed to solve a frustrating problem that I was having, in which I would have no RF output during PTT/TX triggering, was that I revoked exclusive app-control of the sound device (in my case a Signalink USB interface), as well as ensuring I do not have HRD's DM780 running at the same time as VarAC. Image below shows the config setting within Windows Sound Control Panel for the device.
Station is: Kenwood TS-570D, Signalink USB, HRD 6.8.0.372, VSPE 1.3.6.970, VarAC 8.2.0, Windows 10 Pro.
Thanks for all of your excellent effort to make your awesome VarAC software available & creating a new fun mode of communication!
Now that I have v.8.2.0 working well for my station, I am going to try out the update. 73 de KG9NI