Not sure if VARA modem supports connections with multiple stations simultaneously but if it does, a group chat would be a fantastic addition to PtP chats! This would mean joining all stations within coverage and who hear each other (or a master station) to chat together similar to IRC channel, for example.
If not all stations hear eac other, other stations could relay the messages onwards. Maybe this needs a solution of TDMA of some sort then?
Identification of membership to a certain group chat could be similar to a service ID used in WinLink.
73
Erik OH2LAK
VARA is only P2P protocol.
I have explored numerous times the possibilities for a STAR type group chat even even a Circular token approach.
As VARA-HF takes quite some time for link establishment, and as conditions in HF varies. it can be very slow to have a single user who act as the manager, get all messages and distribute to all.
Therefore there is not real way to "fake" a group chat in an acceptable latency. As VarAC is trying to provide a modern chat experience, taking it to the JS8CALL type speeds is not something I would like to pursue.