After getting my VHF antenna back up in the air, I was able to hook my Kenwood TM-D-710G up via a DRA-50 Digital Radio Adapter to my PC. I downloaded a copy of VARA-FM, and used Winlink to receive my first message via a VARA-FM station (N1ASA-10 on 145.050)
On the TM-D710G, I verified that my radio was setup for B-side external data (Menu 918), which is the right-hand side of the display. I then changed to 9600 bps data speed (Menu 919).
On VARA-FM, under Settings/VARA Setup, I changed the FM System to “WIDE” (Setup is also the menu where you put in the license key).
Under Settings/SoundCard, the Device Input was set to “Microphone (USB PnP Sound Device)”, and the Output was set to “Speakers (USB PnP Sound Device)”.
Finally, under Settings/PTT, I selected PTT via “RA-Board” to match my DRA-50 board.
According to the log, with N1ASA in Narrow mode, and my system in Wide mode, we transferred at almost 5600 bps.
And a “Ping” looks like this:
A Drive Level Calibration was run and produced the following:
Sir,
Any reason why the TM-271a with Signalink and VARA FM would not work?
Thanks
73’s
Ed kb4vwa
Hi Ed,
Good question, and the answer depends on what your objectives are. There are two potential problems with your idea. The first is the Signalink which uses an isolation transformer (a good thing). Unfortunately that original design of the Signalink had a bandwidth limitation through that transformer, and it won’t support higher speeds. If you have purchased the Signalink in the last year or two you will be all set.
The second is with the TM-271a itself. Like many of the current generation rigs, the manufacturer has given up on the idea of having a connector in the rear of the radio that will support high speed data communication (9600 baud). Maybe they did that to save a buck, maybe they figured Packet radio was dead, who knows. The bottom line is the rig will only support slower speed communication. Another minor nit is that the audio connection comes from the speaker jack in the rear which means you can’t hear anything, but more importantly the audio level is dependent on the volume control. Move that accidentally and you won’t be decoding anything.
The rig I was suggesting is one of the few that has an external DIN connector and allows high speed modes. It is not dependent on the volume knob (and you can listen on the radio’s speaker if you want to).
Nothing wrong with the Signalink as long as it is new, but it is designed to plug-n-play with a radio with a DIN connector.
Hope that helps!
73, Bob, WB4SON
This helped a lot. Quickly got me up and running in minutes.
Glad it helped!