The VE6HRD repeater maintenance has been completed and the original repeater has been returned to service.
As per normal, it is permanently linked to the FARS Network.
The VE6HRD repeater maintenance has been completed and the original repeater has been returned to service.
As per normal, it is permanently linked to the FARS Network.
As of the time of this post, the VE6FAR Winlink node has had an exciting new upgrade.
Several folks have inquired about this; the node now supports VARA FM. And it still supports packet. This upgrade allows continued 1200 baud AX.25 packet connections, and adds VARA FM in wide mode, allowing much higher speed than before.
If you currently use packet, nothing changes from the way you have been accessing the node. The node ID remains VE6FAR-10. The three digipeaters, VE6HRA-8, VE6HRB-8, and VA6HRH-8, continue to support the large coverage footprint for Winlink packet.
If you’re a VARA FM user, you can enjoy the high speed connection provided by the node.
To use VARA FM, download and install the VARA software from https://rosmodem.wordpress.com, configure it for your sound card and radio, then in Winlink Express, select ‘VARA FM Winlink’ for the session type.
The frequency remains on 431.000MHz.
If you’re new to VARA FM, these next few paragraphs will help get you started.
VARA FM is a ‘sound card’ mode, which does not require a TNC. It can use an external sound card, or a built-in sound card if your radio has one. Your PC or laptop’s built-in sound card is not a good option, by the way, if you’re hoping to get good connection speeds.
Have your manuals handy to help get this running.
Initial VARA FM setup:
The first time you start a Winlink VARA FM session, you’ll need to configure the path to the VARA FM software, and you want it to start automatically when you launch a session.
In VARA FM setup, select ‘WIDE’ as the FM System if your radio and sound card support it, otherwise leave is as ‘NARROW.’
Under Settings->PTT, select the PTT method for your radio. Note that VOX is typically used for many sound card types.
Under Settings -> Sound Card, select the appropriate sound card for both the input and output devices.
Setting audio levels:
Now the cool part. It is crucial to set your audio levels correctly for VARA FM to achieve maximum throughput. This is easily done with the ‘auto-tune’ button. In the ‘Calibrate with’ box, enter VE6FAR, then click the plug icon to start the calibration. It will transmit a series of 10 tones with increasing levels, and the Winlink node will respond with the suggested setting adjustments for your sound card.
Adjust your sound card levels as indicated, then do another calibration. Repeat until you get the ‘stamp of approval.’
Make note of these settings, in case you need to set them back, such as if you connect to some other node. The settings you arrive at are unique to this node.
At this point, doing a VARA ping is not a bad idea. In ‘Ping to’, type in VE6FAR, and click the plug icon. You’ll see the results, including S/N values. Since you were able to successfully auto-tune, this ping should work as expected.
Starting a Winlink session:
Now, in the VARA FM Winlink Session box, select connection type as Direct, and enter VE6FAR.
Note that there is no ‘dash-something’ sub ID for the connection to the VARA FM node.
Then click start. Winlink Express will connect, and collect and/or send your Winlink messages.
If you’ve been using packet in the past, the first thing you’ll notice is the higher speed of this connection. As an example, checking for messages when there are none waiting for you using packet can take 45 seconds or more. With VARA FM, you will see this message check session typically complete in less than 12 seconds.
VARA Licensing:
Does VARA FM need to be licensed? It’s up to you. You can use it without buying a license, but a nag screen pops up when using it, and your throughput speed is limited to 1188 bps.
In our early testing, we routinely saw 12000 to 22000 bps speeds with a licensed version of VARA FM.
Digipeaters:
If you are outside the direct coverage area of the VE6FAR VARA FM node, sadly, our packet digipeaters will not help you. These digipeaters are packet-only, and they do not understand VARA data streams. Their behaviour is to ignore those transmissions, as if they are noise. There are no current plans to deploy VARA FM digipeaters at this time.
Settings Summary:
Frequency: 431.000
Packet node ID: VE6FAR-10
VARA node id: VE6FAR
If you are interested in using VARA FM, set it up, then send a Winlink message to VE6TD telling me you were successful, what sort of throughput you are experiencing, and whether you licensed VARA or not. I’m eager to see how many local amateurs adopt this digital mode for regular and frequent use.
Enjoy.
73
>>Dann – VE6TD
The VE6HRB hub repeater upgrade was completed July 25.
The upgrade brings some improvements to the network, most notably better receive sensitivity, and higher transmit power for better link performance to all VHF repeaters. We also have better voice announcements and remote manageability.
Another round of small enhancements is planned, but with minimal service interruptions.
Many thanks to the technical members who assisted on site:
VE6QLT, VA6IAB, VE6LK, VE6AZX, VE6TD
The FARS Technical Team will be performing an upgrade to the UHF hub repeater on Sunday July 25 between 10AM and 4PM.
This will affect the entire network where all repeater links will be disabled.
There will be an outage to the VE6HRB VHF repeater.
All other FARS VHF repeaters will continue to operate in standalone mode.
The node no longer has internet connectivity over the AREDN mesh network to reach the Winlink CMS servers, so it returns a “no CMS available” error when connecting. The RF portion remains functional, but it can not be used to send or receive messages.
The VE6FAR-10 node in Calgary remains fully operational.
FARS’ IRLP Node 1483 has been successfully moved to its new home at the VA6CTV repeater site.
It is now on 446.150MHz with a 110.9Hz tone.
The coverage is expected be similar to the voice repeater, but with slightly reduced distance.
FARS has stood up another Winlink node, this time in Calgary, to enhance our growing Winlink network and add to our coverage area.
Node ID : VE6FAR-10
Freq: 431.000 MHz
Baud: 1200
Protocol: Packet Winlink (AX.25)
In addition, the High River node has been renamed
Node ID : VE6FAR-11
Freq: 431.000 MHz
Baud: 1200
Protocol: Packet Winlink (AX.25)
To provide a better coverage footprint, we’ve added a digipeater at the Aldersyde repeater site southeast of Calgary in the MD of Foothills, also on 431.000MHz. It is named VE6HRA-8.
This digipeater allows Winlink users to access either node.
The combined coverage area is
Joel VE6EI and Dann VE6TD recently presented an introduction to Winlink and a live demo to the SASTAR group. The slide deck is available here: Winlink Intro and Demo
FARS’ IRLP Node 1483 is in the process of being moved to its new home at the VA6CTV repeater site.
Along with the move comes a new frequency assignment and an improved coverage area.
It is presently off the air – stay tuned to this page for updates.
FARS’ UHF repeater VE6FIL has been upgraded with new hardware, and now includes the Wires-X capability locally.
The repeater remains in C4FM (Fusion) mode exclusively.
Users are able to connect the repeater to various rooms and other Wires-X nodes using the Wires-X key on their radios. These connections time out after 1 hour if there is no local RF traffic.
FARS wishes to thank Greg and the team at GPS Central for the donation of the Wires-X HRI-200 interface that made this part of the project possible. We want to further acknowledge Steven, VA6DWF, who has provided Wires-X connectivity on this repeater in the past.
FARS now has a Winlink node in High River, co-located with the VA6HRH repeater.
This relay node interfaces with the Winlink CMS nodes on the Internet using the AREDN mesh network, relaying your messages originating over RF to the Winlink servers.
Node ID : VE6OKT-10
Freq: 431.000 MHz
Baud: 1200
Protocol: Connect via Packet Winlink
The radio and TNC part of the system is battery powered, and the server is powered by a monitored UPS.