The problem with FM is that packet has set frequencies by region primarily for Winlink. Here in Illinois we are looking at setting up specific Vara FM frequencies for Winlink and a separate one for VarAC so that when ARES activates we'll have VarAC on a clear and hopefully wide frequency.

This would be a good feature. Should this be moved to feature requests?

Maybe where you are but that is not the case here in Central Illinois. Between Peoria and McLean Counties I'd say 80% of the Winlink traffic (weekly tests primarily) are on VHF FM. 20% of us also have HF Winlink. Illinois is also looking at a separate frequency for Vara FM Winlink so Packet and Vara FM are not interfering with each other. Illinois is also looking at a separate VarAC calling frequency only for Emcomm purposes both VHF and HF preferably to also use wide bandwidth as none of us should be unmanned nodes during an Emcomm event. These are all in the planning stages.

Vmails are a whole other ballgame I do not completely understand myself. We are all learning.

" I perceive it as someone targeting to log a VarAC contact as a Data- QSO in an easy fashion." It appears DG9RAB is not differentiating between a beaconing station and one calling CQ. DG9RAB. Most beacons are for propagation measurements and not QSOs. Like 10M beacons (I'm on the list to get one up this spring on 28.201). Most beacons are unmanned and run automatically. The fact VarAC lets you connect to the beacon helps you understand if your signal is getting out to the beacon or not and what the beacon sees your signal strength at. Not for the beacon station to get a QSO.

In playing around with this when one fills out a form in Winlink and posts it to the outbox it creates a mime file containing the form data. The key to the mime file is the RMS "Message ID" in the outbox. It could be easier to just create files in Winlink and if no Winlink nodes are available to send the file via VarAC. Easier than trying to maintain the forms and the, what seems to be, frequent changes in Winlink forms.

There are some things VarAC can still help fill the gaps with. For one, broadcasting callsign and frequency for Winlink P2P stations. A little harder with HF as it would require another rig and antenna. But for those of us that can swing it very handy. It would be nice if there was a standard format in VarAC to have a specific Winlink P2P tag for broadcasts.

It would be better if there was some backend integration with the winlink ecosystem and have mails pushed back and forth. Though Winlink may not be able to deal with a new application accessing their system. But Varac makes so much more sense than Winlink P2P which has too many variables to reliably send P2P traffic.