Hi, 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(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

I have a major issue at the program start. A pop up indicating COM2 is not available appears even if this com is not used (previously I used it for PTT). Vara modem is closed a couple of time before having both Varac and vara available. I attach the log after the program start. I tried to reinstall Vara modem (latest version) but without improvement. I'm on Win7. 73 de Phil, iz1fks

Hi, I have started pinpoint after a while, but with new VarAC version it doesn't connect to VARA anymore. If I try to connect VARA from pinpoint it works, but if VarAC is open the connection fails. Is it related to broacast function implemented into VarAC using kiss? VARA 4.6.9 and VarAC6.3.3 here 73 de Phil

Now that slots have been introduced I think it will useful to modify the QSY button to qsy not only to a generic frequency to be entered but to qsy to a defined slot with the 10 slots available as defined in the CALL CQ. In this way if a connection has to be performed on the cq frequency for any particular reason it will be easy to qsy to a particular slot directly without manually entering the frequency. 73 de Phil

Hi everybody, I have a general question probably related more the vara modem itself then about VarAC. I have not fully understood the relationship between S/N and speed levels; indeed I had qso's with +10 dB and received +00 dB and maximum level at 88 bps, while sometimes even with S/N much lower i have seen up to 270bps. Can anybody tell me more about it? 73 de Phil, iz1fks

Hello, I have noticed that changing frequency from the drop menù will change frequency in both VFO A and B in my icom 756 pro2, while only the VFO A should be modified without affecting frequency and mode set in VFO B. 73 de Phil, iz1fks

I suggest to add the possibility to use an hardware PTT from a separate COM port using RTS or DTR line since this method is usually much more affordable than PTT using CAT command and permit to use older RTX that doesn't have a ptt CAT command, or CAT at all. Personally I have experienced troubles with CAT PTT from several SW with my Icom 756P2 expecially if a COM port splitter/shairng software is used. 73 de Phil,iz1fks

It looks like only US keyboard is usable, in fact my italian keyboard is not recognised while writing a message and this is annoying because you have to pay much attention to avoid errors. I think that software should recognise OS installed keyboard automatically, I don't know why this is not happening. Best 73 de Phil iz1fks