To test this feature, visit your live site.

IC-756PRO2 VFO A/B CAT frequency

Hello, I have noticed that changing frequency from the drop menù will change frequency in both VFO A and B in my icom 756 pro2, while only the VFO A should be modified without affecting frequency and mode set in VFO B.

73 de Phil, iz1fks

15 comments

Comments (15)

iz1fks

Oct 19, 2023

problem solved thanks to Irad and some troubleshooting with packet CI-V sniffing. icom 756pro2 .ini file used by omnirig need to be modified:

[pmFreqA]

Command=FEFE64E0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE64E0050000000000FD.FEFEE064FBFD

[pmFreqB]

Command=FEFE64E0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE64E0050000000000FD.FEFEE064FBFD

direct single VFO command to set frequency is not supported with IC756pro2/3 but a selection of the VFO A or B is performed by VarAC, anyway it is necessary to modify [pmFreqA] ( and optionally [pmFreqB] sub vfo) in order to be able to use single VFO option in Varac setup window.

73 de Phil, iz1fks

iz1fks

Aug 27, 2023

Hi @irad d , I performed several tests with CAT on my IC-756P2 using sniffing on the CI-V bus and detected some behaviour I think could be impreved or fixed:

1. COM port PTT (RTS) works fine, but the PTT Test (PTT ON -PTT OFF buttons in the setup window) don't work with COM port setting and "access COM port denied" is reported in CAT test error log.

2. I have to use omnirig for other piece of software, but unfortunately I cannot use omnirig with Varac due to the VFO A/B issue reported here: https://www.varac-hamradio.com/forum/varac-hf-discussion-forum/ic-756pro2-vfo-a-b-cat-frequency

3. I use VarAC native CAT interface to control rig and enabled"read freq. every 2 sec" too. Since I have also omnirig running on the same COM port shared, I have noticed that frequency in VarAC stop updating if Omnirig poll interval is set less than 2 seconds (I usually set it at 100ms) Only the freq polling is affected the frequency write to the rig is working fine. I have the possibility to use two physical com ports on the same CI-V bus but the behaviour is the same.

I think it would be useful an option flag to disable VarAC CAT polling, but enabling frequency update only listening the packets on the bus polled by omnirig or other software (e.g. Omnirig, FLrig both using polling to update freq/mode). By the way with frequency reading from bus also Icom CI-V transceive function could be used alone with VarAC embedd CAT interface

73 de Phil,iz1fks

iz1fks

Jun 26, 2022

Hi Irad, thanks for replying

Native VarAC CAT works good, only VFO A is changed as should be. My question was about omnirig interfacing issue, but I see now that native interface can read frequency as well.

73 de Phil,iz1fks

irad d

Jun 26, 2022

Hi Phil

Are you referring to changing both VFOs ?

I believe that with the new feature of CAT Macros you can concatenate several commands together to make it work. Not sure though I understand what commands you are after. Can you try that ?

iz1fks

Jun 24, 2022

@irad d, any news on this issue?

best 73

Phil

irad d

Mar 30, 2022

Thank you Phil for reporting the bugs. Yes - the CAT cant read the current VFO frequency. only setting it. for now. In the future I will work on it.

I addressed the bugs your just mentioned. Can you please use this VarAC.exe to check if those bugs are gone ?

the RTS/DTR Test button
The gray out of the CAT when selecting only CAT freq.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ctOfnmgG2TQ9eG7l9jVmJYGminiZn4Ff/view?usp=sharing

iz1fks

Mar 31, 2022

Replying to

@irad d Hi Irad, just tested the posted VarAC.exe, it solves both bugs! About my previuos post, I see the direct cat set the frequency only but I was not addressing that but I was trying to describe that Direct CAT is correctly setting only the active VFO in ic-756p2 as it should, while using omnirig both vfo are changed. I've did some sniffing again to verify what is the difference between VarAC direct CAT and VarAC+Omnirig commands on the bus and thanks to the nice DF4OR website (and k9jm CIVsniffing sw) I was able to understood that Omnirig select sub vfo before changing frequency, modify that VFO freq and then select main Vfo and change again the freq. the CIV command for VFO selection is $07, you can see in the attached file. I think that probably there is something to modify in the VarAC interface with omnirig telling it to change freq in both vfo, I don't know how omnirig is called by external sw so can't say anything more. thank you vy much and 73.

irad d

Mar 19, 2022

I believe Shooting the same command twice is not the problem.

But on the other hand - I can't tell for sure why you experiencing this.

Next version will do direct can control (only for freq settings... not reading). And also wont fire twice the omnirig command. You will be able to track of the number of omnirig command fires on the VarAC. og both in file and on screen:

iz1fks

Mar 20, 2022

Replying to

thanks Irad, I'll try next version to see what will happen both with omnirig and direct command way and I'll report you. If you have a beta version to share I could try it even before next release. 73 de Phil, iz1fks

irad d

Mar 29, 2022

Replying to

@iz1fks Hi Phil. did you check the latest version 3.4 and see if it solves your issues with CAT commands ?

iz1fks

Mar 30, 2022

Replying to

Hi Irad, I've just installed the new version, from first tests this is the situation:

Frequency control -> OmniRig : no changes from previous version behaviour

Frequency control -> CAT: it looks working fine !! only the active VFO is updated as it should.

there is a small bug about "CAT Configuration" settings (at least with Win7); the settings remain not active (in grey) until selection of CAT option in PTT Configuration, only after this selection CAT Configuration can be modified, but changing to CAT only in Frequency Control is not enabling "CAT Configuration".

I have tested also COM RTS PTT, it seems it's working fine but the PTT ON button test does set the rtx in ptt on just for few milliseconds and then switching off without can use ptt off button. this not happen using cat or omnirig for ptt where the two test pushbutton are working well. thank you and 73

irad d

Mar 10, 2022

@iz1fks & @htperry

This is an Omnirig configuration.

If you know the right CAT command, you can manipulate this section in the "IC-756 Pro.ini" file under the omnirig directory.

[pmFreq]

;Set operating frequency

Command=FEFE5CE0.05.0000000000.FD

Value=5|5|vfBcdLU|1|0

ReplyLength=17

Validate=FEFE5CE0050000000000FD.FEFEE05CFBFD

iz1fks

Mar 11, 2022

Replying to

Hi Irad, I'm using OmniRig with other software (i.e. JS8CALL and Log4OM) but this issue doesn't appear there, only the active VFO is set to the required frequency. I checked about it in the CI-V command manual but there is no a specific command for setting VFO A or B in these rigs, just the single command you have posted, but it should set only the active VFO, I have not understood why these issue happen only with VarAC. I had perfomred some sniffing with both js8call and VarAC changing frequency once after opening sniffing sw, and detected that the set frequency command is invoked twice using VaraAC while just one using Js8call. I attached both sniffing files, hope this can help. 73 de Phil

htperry

Mar 03, 2022

same here on a 756 Pro III

iz1fks

Mar 04, 2022

Replying to

Thanks for the info about pro III; it's really strange because there is not a CAT CI-V command for vfo A or B for these TRX, but just one command and the frequency of the selected VFO only should be changed