Technical deep dive

Irad Deutsch, 4Z1AC

Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z
Sep 21, 2022
Agenda

• What is VarAC? • QSO Loggings

• About the VARA protocol & Modem • Mailbox (VMails)
• Architecture • The QSY protocol
• Basic VarAC setup • Tags & Gestures
• VarAC Beacons • File transfer
• Pings • Live demo
• CQ & The slots system • Monitoring VarAC QSOs
• Calling frequencies • VarAC code of behavior
• Conducting a QSO • Additional useful features
• Callsign history • Community support & resource
• PSKReporter • VarAC hall of fame
• Q&A
About us

4Z1AC NC3Z
Irad Deutsch Gary Mitchelson
The rational behind VarAC
What is VarAC?

• VarAC is a point-to-point digital chat application the provides a modern

chat experience to the hamradio operator.
Demetre, M0SUY/P, doing portable VarAC operation

• VarAC uses the VARA protocol. Loss-less ARQ mode.

• Great speed under challenging SNR levels

• Ideal for QRP, Portable operations & EmCom

• VarAC can be used on HF, VHF/UHF (FM) and also Satellite (QQ-100)

• Over 6,000 registered users to date

Download link: https://www.varac-hamradio.com/download

What is VARA

• Created by Jose Alberto Nieto Ros, EA5HVK

• ARQ, error free protocol

• Available modems :
• VARA HF - Up to 1,543 BPS at 500Hz BW / 7,050 BPS at 2300Hz BW

• VARA SAT – Like HF but with additional latency handling

• VARA FM – Up to 12,750 BPS Narrow / 25,210 BPS Wide

• Free license version available with speed limit of 170 BPS

Download link: https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/

VarAC Basic Architecture

Loggers VarAC

TCP/UDP

TCP
VARA Modem (main) VARA Modem (Monitor)

PSK Reporter PTT &

Frequency control

Audio
RIG
Basic VarAC setup

Things you MUST config:

• VARA modem connectivity
• PTT configuration

Supported RIG control:

• CAT: Direct CAT or through OmniRig
• PTT: Direct CAT or RTS/DTR

Other important configuration:

• Frequency control
• Vara monitor
• Beacon interval
• QSO logger integration
• PSK Reporter

You can customize CAT commands in VarAC_cat_commands.ini

Beacons

• Letting people know you are “Online”

• Great for propagation analysis (Spots also uploaded to
PSK Reporter)
• Minimum beacon interval: 15 minutes
• Beacons fires only if the frequency is clear for at least
30 seconds
Ping

• Used to check connectivity with a station

• Exchanges SNRs so you know how you are being heard
• Disconnects immediately after SNR exchange.
CQ & The Slots system

Provides scale with a single calling frequency

• Main calling frequency (CF) per band
• 10 slots around it. 5 below and 5 above
• 750Hz steps each

CQ Flow:
1. Pick a slot
2. Making sure it’s free (using the slot sniffer)
3. Call CQ on the CF
4. VarAC will auto QSY to the slot
5. Double clicking a CQ automatically QSY to the slot
and connects
6. No answer? Your Rig will QSY back to the CF
Calling Frequencies (CF)

• Use the Drop down to move between CFs

• You can use the Slot slider / little arrows to sniff around it.
• Add your own frequencies in VarAC_frequencies.conf

20m - 14.105 MHz (Primary - day time)

40m - 7.105 MHz (Primary - night time)
80m - 3.595 MHz
30m - 10.133 MHz
17m - 18.106 MHz
15m - 21.105 MHz
12m - 24.927 MHz
10m - 28.105 MHz
6m - 50.330 MHz
Conducting a QSO

• IS TYPING indicator!
• Fully multilingual support! (even 4-bytes languages)
• Emoji support
• Incoming message will unfold as its being received.
• Message queue
• Called ID is sent periodically to comply with local regulations
• A status bar shows the progress of sending/receiving a message.
• Tags & gestures that will show symbols & play sounds
• All chat history is stored in a log file and can be viewed in the
“callsign history” screen.
• Bi directional SNR exchange
• Auto QSO logging
• And much more!
Callsign history

Aggregates all activity of a station including:

• History of logged QSOs
• Spotted Beacons & CQs
• Previous chats
PSK Reporter

• Every CQ and Beacon is reported to PSK Reporter

• Self reporting is also possible
• ~50,000 spots per day (to-date)
• Great tool to see how you are being heard
• You can customize your PSK reporter preferred view
QSO Logging

• VarAC has it’s own ADIF log file that can be scanned by 3rd party loggers
• ADIF standard now includes VARA as a sub-mode of DYNAMIC.
• LOTW recently adopted this as well
• VarAC can send Logs (Using TCP/UDP) to:
• DX Keeper
• HRD log
• Log4OM
• N1MM
• N3FJP
• Swisslog
• UcxLog
• Using those loggers you can automate uploads to
QRZ, LOTW, EQSL etc.
 Vmail Mailbox

• VarAC has an internal mailbox system

• Connecting an “AWAY” station will ask you to
leave a VMail
• You can relay a message to a 3rd party through a
mediator
• You can queue VMails in your Outbox. Those
VMails will be forwarded once connected
The QSY Protocol

VarAC provides seamless QSY mechanism while keeping an

ACTIVE LINK
• You can also QSY between bands during the QSO
• Mainly used when starting a QSO on the CF or in case of QRM
• Use the QSY sniffer prior to sending a QSY invitation.

2 Types of QSY:
• UP/DOWN QSY – moves 750Hz. (Right click to sniff)
• Free form QSY – select any frequency you want

Once you send a QSY invitation, both sides will have a popup
message asking for their acknowledge.
Both rigs will auto-QSY upon confirmation.
VarAC Tags & Gestures

Main VarAC tags. More are listed in the VarAC interface

Tag types:
Tag Operation
• Embedding my/your data
Sending my data tags
• Request data <NAME> Send your name
• Trigger events <QTH> Send your QTH

<LOC> Send your Location

Tags can be used to automate things when used in <RIG> Send your RIG info

predefined messages Request data tags

<LHR> Last heard peeking request – List of stations your partner recently spotted on this band

<FSR> Frequency scheduler peeking - know where your partner parks along the day
Gestures
<QSYU> Invite your partner to QSY UP 750hz
• Play sounds on the other side <QSYD> Invite your partner to QSY DOWN 750hz
• Sending Emojis <QSF>XXXXX</QSYF> Free form QSO invitation Example: <QSF>14105000</QSYF>

<VER> Ask for your partner VarAC version number

<INFO> Ask for your partner info (Name, QTH, LOC...)

Trigger events
<AWAY> Triggers "send message" at your partners side

<SND> Automatically click"enter" to queue a message

<DISC> automatically disconnect upon message delivery (usually used in final QSO message)
 File transfer

VarAC supports sending binary files of any kind

• Images (PNG/JPG/GIF) are shown in the chat stream
• Files are compressed before being sent
• You can limit incoming files size.
Live Demo
Monitoring VarAC QSOs

• Install a secondary VARA modem for monitoring

• VarAC will automatically configure and launch it
upon VarAC launch.
VarAC code of behavior

❌ Don't jam the Calling Frequency (CF). Don't hold it for more then a few minutes or more then necessary.

✅ Started a QSO on the CF? It's OK, but QSY as soon as possible. You have QSY UP/Down buttons or a free-
form QSY button where you can select your desired QSY frequency.

❌ Don't use the PING feature for DXCC/Grid hunting. This will jam the CF, and besides, upcoming versions will
limit the SNR exchange during PINGS so it will be useless for DXCC.

✅ Use PING only as tool to check propagation.

❌ Don't use 2300Hz BW on the VarAC CF or on any of the slots.

✅ Use Only 500Hz on VarAC CF and slots to avoid QRM-ing nearby VarAC QSOs. Use 2300Hz only outside of
the slot frequencies.
VarAC code of behavior – Cont.

❌ Don't QSY to a frequency without checking if it is free.

✅ VarAC provides you with Sniffers. Right-click on the QSY Up/Down buttons will temporarily QSY to the
destination frequency (without keying your PTT) so you can listen before QSY-ing. Same goes for calling CQs: Use
the CQ slot sniffer.

❌ Don't try to send large files over HF. And if the link is slow - don't send files at all. It will never end. And
PLEASE don't send files over the CF.

✅ Send files up to 5-10K in high speed and no more than 1-2K in low speed and always on non CF frequencies.
Additional useful features

• Frequency scheduler – Auto QSY based on pre-defined times

• Canned (predefined) messages with Quick access buttons
• Listening mode – Disable PTT
• Appearance customization (Font size and colors) including dark mode
• Block list
• Block incoming pings
• Set auto-away
• Showing distance and bearing
Community support & online resources

Super active Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/varahf
• 3.3K members to date.
• Hundreds of new discussions per month

VarAC forum:
https://www.varac-hamradio.com/forum
• Feature request submission
• Roadmap
• Bug reports
• Updated user manuals by Pat ON2AD
• Recent Rig control file
 The VarAC Hall of Fame
NC3Z - Gary Mitchelson
Gary stepped forward when I started VarAC. He is investing his precious time in
testing releases and advising on feature designs as well as supporting the VarAC
community.

ON2AD - Pat Patrick De Wever

Pat masters the art of writing user manuals in 3 languages. Pat volunteered to do
the hard work of documenting all VarAC features so you can have a smooth ride.

Our brave Beta Lab Team

The following brave hamradio operators have decided to risk their lives and rigs so
you can have a safe VarAC experience.
Thank you guys for your continues support in this project!

DM7RO - Malte Röwekamp

HB9AVK - Paul King
GW4OZU - Peter Hyams
K1DOW - Russ Tower
LA5XTA - Erik Dahl
MW0RUH - Dave Thomas
M0SUY - Dimitrios Valaris
N8SDR - Rick Langford
PE1LUP - Marcel Tuerlings
SM7DUZ - Ingvar Eriksson
VA7RBP - Rick Paynter
W1IZZ - Lawrence Gray
https://www.varac-hamradio.com/halloffame
W2JON - Jon Bruno
W3RED - Scott Redd
 Thank you
Q&A

https://www.varac-hamradio.com/