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Hello VarAC chatters!

In the past few months, we have been super busy with the development of the new slot-based mechanism that broke the glass ceiling of QSO concurrency.

Your adoption to the new game play was phenomenal! Thank you for your support.

Today's version is what I call a "feature requests backlog version". Besides some bug fixes and

improvements to the slot mechanism, we have address many of your feature requests...

So this version has over 20 new features and enhancements plus 6 bug fixes. You can see some of them in the attached screenshots.

Have fun!

Irad 4Z1AC and the VarAC team

(Download links are included down below after the new feature list)

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Important note: if you upgrade from an older version then:

1. Download the VarAC Zip file.

2. Unpack to a temporary directory.

3. Copy ONLY the VarAC.exe file to your existing VarAC installation directory.

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New features

Slot slider - scan all slots easily
Manual settings of QSO start & end times
QRZ lookup of your QSO partner while in QSO.
Time limit (5 min) for AWAY links on a calling frequency.
Replace "0" with "Ø" in the data stream (customized under appearance settings)
Show distance based on locators (Km/mi)
Additional gestures: FB! / COOL! / BYE! and 2 Easter eggs sound based gestures I'll let you all find on your own 😉😉
Supporting Swisslog logger (The supported Swisslog version 5.104 will be released later this week)
Shortcut F-keys for canned messages (F1, F2, F3...)
CQ/Beacon through one or more digipeaters (for VARA-FM)
New tags to be used on canned messages. your partner (his/her) info : <HNAME> / <HQTH> / <HLOC>
Adding antenna description to the user profile. Adding <ANT> tag and also reporting it to PSK Reporter.

Enhancements

When trying to connect someone on a slot, if it fails, a QSY back popup will appear.
Increased send file size limit to 1M for 2300Hz bandwidth links
Providing sound alert for incoming connection request.
Allow VARA-FM users to disable the Slot-based CQ mechanism.
When the link is corrupted - providing the user with a reason.
UTC Time more readable
Convenient ADIF directory selector
If frequencies list file does not exists, recreate with default frequencies
Adding CB Calling frequency (27.195.000) to the hard-coded CF lists for the "QSY reminder" feature.
Faster loading of callsign history
Remove BW column from the last heard lists when using VaraFM/VaraSAT

Bug Fixes

QSY Reminder stopped working in 5.0.2. now fixed.
Pinging 7 characters callsigns (mostly CBiers) will result with an extra T in the callsign.
When standing by on a slot and double clicking a CQ call without a slot, VarAC did not move to the CF.
Double clicking a CQ/Beacon on a different band than where you are now, tried it connect it on the wrong band.
While on a slot, if changing frequency from the drop down menu, it reset back to the slot frequency.
Frequency scheduler switch did not reset the selected slot (if there was one).
On the mailbox, right clicking on email for qrz lookup - the FROM and TO were swapped.

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