I want to run winlink packet and vara fm on a D710 at the same time. I think it could be done and I am wondering if I would need to include RMS Relay ?
Can both RMS Packet and RMS Vara run on the same frequency? which program would have the priority if they were on the same frequency?
thanks for your help!
73 Ray WD4SEN

Jamie, thanks for that article I do believe it has what info I need to get this off the ground....

73 Ray WD4SEN

AF9W-10 is a D710 that uses the internal packet modem on the left side of the radio and VARA FM wide on the right (or B) side of the radio on a different frequency. Rarely get collisions between the two sides since most users around here use VARA FM.  You do have to out the internal packet modem into KISS mode. I use BPQ32 not RMS Relay. 

Bob,
I wonder if you could elaborate somewhat on the D10 radio with Packet on VFO A and VARA FM on VFO B?
I have the VARA side working just fine using the DRA-50 interface but can't seem to get the packet working.  I would like to use the internal TNC for Packet 1200 if possible.  I am using RMS Packet as a gateway for this setup.
Can you assist me by providing the proper Radio settings as well as the RMS Packet settings needed to make this happen?  I been expermenting but can't seem to get the Packet side to work.
Regards and Thanks
Robert

For using the internal TNC:

Make sure your cable to the computer is connected to the port on the back of the control head, NOT the one on the radio body.

In the AUX menu (930), ensure that your Internal TNC (packet Mode) is set to the A-Band (assuming your want to use VFO A for packet as you stated), and that the data speed is set properly (1200bps for VHF packet) (This is the over the air speed, NOT the speed of your connection to the computer).

Ensure that PC Port Speed (Menu AUX 929) matches the setting for the port you are using on your computer.

Those are the first things I'd look at and then go from there.

Hope this helps

73

Randy KA0AZS

In your settings,

Bob,
I wonder if you could elaborate somewhat on the D10 radio with Packet on VFO A and VARA FM on VFO B?
I have the VARA side working just fine using the DRA-50 interface but can't seem to get the packet working.  I would like to use the internal TNC for Packet 1200 if possible.  I am using RMS Packet as a gateway for this setup.
Can you assist me by providing the proper Radio settings as well as the RMS Packet settings needed to make this happen?  I been expermenting but can't seem to get the Packet side to work.
Regards and Thanks
Robert

_._,_._,_

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i am not at home right now so I can't check the exact settings but Randy's look right. I also don't run RMS Packet, I am using BPQ32 so I can run on Linux.  If RMS Packet requires it like BPQ32 does, you need to put the D710 A side into KISS mode. To do this, I open the A-side using PuTTY before I start BPQ32 and when you get the CMD: prompt from the radio, you use the commands:
KISS ON
RESTART

The radio should stay in KISS mode until you turn it off, then it will revert back to command mode.  

Bob AF98W

Bob reminded me of one setting I forgot to mention:  Ensure the TNC is set to TNC PKT mode.  You do  this by using the soft TNC key on the front panel to cycle through "APRS" "PKT" and "none".

Been a while since I've run Packet on that radio.  I was using Winlink Express for Packet Winlink.  I don't think I had to send any commands to the radio to put it in Kiss mode, but perhaps the software had that as part of it's start up script.

When the weather clears I'm going to have to drag the laptop back out to the truck and re-educate myself

73

Randy KA0AZS

i am not at home right now so I can't check the exact settings but Randy's look right. I also don't run RMS Packet, I am using BPQ32 so I can run on Linux.  If RMS Packet requires it like BPQ32 does, you need to put the D710 A side into KISS mode. To do this, I open the A-side using PuTTY before I start BPQ32 and when you get the CMD: prompt from the radio, you use the commands:
KISS ON
RESTART

The radio should stay in KISS mode until you turn it off, then it will revert back to command mode.  

Bob AF98W

_._,_._,_

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Robert,

Just off the top of my head, those look right.  Hopefully in the next couple of days I can drag my laptop out to the truck and double check.

Doing some digging through my notes, on the control head, check menu 601 and ensure the Data Speed is set to 1200BPS

I've never used the external device port, so can't address was to whether trying to use both of them is an issue.  Are you attempting to run packet while also having the DRA running VARA FM at the same time?  Or is it one or the other (i.e. only one port connected at a time). 

You say you cannot connect for message traffic.  Does the radio transmit?  Can you hear the packet go out if using another radio (such as an HT) tuned to that frequency?  Does the packet sound similar to other packets on the frequency?

73

Randy KA0AZS

Randy,

Thanks for the feedback.  Let me respond to each point you made:

Make sure your cable to the computer is connected to the port on the back of the control head, NOT the one on the radio body. 

 

• Kenwood PG-5g cable attached to the Control Head 8 pin port.  That cable is then connected via the 9 pin d-sub connector to a 9 pin D-sub to USB cable and connected to my computer.  I downloaded the Kenwood USB driver for that support.

 

In the AUX menu (930), ensure that your Internal TNC (packet Mode) is set to the A-Band (assuming your want to use VFO A for packet as you stated), and that the data speed is set properly (1200bps for VHF packet) (This is the over the air speed, NOT the speed of your connection to the computer).

• Radio AUX Menu Settings:
• 930  Int Data Band Packet – set to A-Band
• 929 COM Port Baud rate – set to 9600 bps
• I have set the port speed on the computer to 9600 baud in Device Manager. 
• 920 PC Port Baud rate – set to 9600 bps
• 918 EXT Data Band – set to B-Band
• Goal – Use A Band as Packet at 1200 baud
• Goal – Use B Band as VARA FM WIDE
• ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
• The TNC soft key is set to PACKET12
• I use a DRA-50 sound interface card from Masters Communications, Inc. connected via a 6 pin mini-Din cable to the DATA port on the back of the radio body. This interface is set to 9600 bps and is connected to the computer via USB cable from the DRA-50 board.  VARA seems to be working just fine.  I am handling messages through this interface and passing along to RMS Relay.
• In Device Manager, the VFO connection uses COM 7
• PACKET TNC Settings (In RMS Express)
• In the PACKET Channels Menu
• TNC Type = Kenwood TN710-A Band
• Serial Port = COM 7  Baud Rate = 9600   
• TNC Configuration File = \RMS\RMS Packet\Data\ExampleKenwood.aps
• Enable This Port = checked

 

 

So, as noted earlier, the VARA FM (VFO B) seems to be working.  I just cannot connect with any message traffic from a a different computer to the Packet side.

Is there anything obvious that I am missing?

 

Thanks for your help on this.

Regards

Robert

 

 

From: TMD700A@groups.io <TMD700A@groups.io> On Behalf Of Randy Allen via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2023 7:37 PM
To: TMD700A@groups.io
Subject: Re: [TMD700A] D710 running Packet and Vara FM

 

For using the internal TNC:

Make sure your cable to the computer is connected to the port on the back of the control head, NOT the one on the radio body. 

In the AUX menu (930), ensure that your Internal TNC (packet Mode) is set to the A-Band (assuming your want to use VFO A for packet as you stated), and that the data speed is set properly (1200bps for VHF packet) (This is the over the air speed, NOT the speed of your connection to the computer).

Ensure that PC Port Speed (Menu AUX 929) matches the setting for the port you are using on your computer.

Those are the first things I'd look at and then go from there.

Hope this helps

73

Randy KA0AZS

In your settings,

On 1/29/2023 18:19, Robert Stroud wrote:

Bob,
I wonder if you could elaborate somewhat on the D10 radio with Packet on VFO A and VARA FM on VFO B?
I have the VARA side working just fine using the DRA-50 interface but can't seem to get the packet working.  I would like to use the internal TNC for Packet 1200 if possible.  I am using RMS Packet as a gateway for this setup.
Can you assist me by providing the proper Radio settings as well as the RMS Packet settings needed to make this happen?  I been expermenting but can't seem to get the Packet side to work.
Regards and Thanks
Robert

Robert

That sounds like it should work in theory.  But I've tried it myself (or talked to someone that has), so I don't know if the radio will support that configuration.

73

Randy KA0AZS

Randy

I’ll check Menu 601 and let you know how it is set tomorrow. 

Yes, I am plugging 2 USU cables to my computer. One for VARA FM on VFO B and the other is a usb to 8 pin cable connected to the back of the control head - this is Packet 1200 on VFO A

I want to run both simultaneously.  I realize that whichever VFO receives a connection will take precedence and the other VFO will be idle until the connection is released

See a problem with this expectation?

Robert

_________________

Robert Stroud

901 488-0460

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That should have been "not tried it myself"

Great!  Glad to hear it.

73

Randy KA0AZS

Well good news!   I reset the radio and reloaded all the soft

Ware associated with the RMS Packet gateway including VARA FM

I setup the entire thing again as per my emails and screenshots and it is now working

I was able to send 10 emails today from Winlink Express using an IV-9700.   Smooth as silk

Thank you and Bob for all your efforts and suggestions

I’ll document the setup in a final post to Groups.io as soon as I recover from the effort

Robert

_________________

Robert Stroud

901 488-0460

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