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Setting Bandwidth Automatically ~ W/N

Hi, I started a thread/post on FB with Gary, NC3Z,, But I think it maybe better here.?

Using FT-991A Currently run FT8 quite frequently, Bandwidth is set to 3200 Hz (per JT's "Wide as possible") When I Start VARAC the Bandwidth is still at 3200 HZ, I do see the "Red Tramlines" spaced 500 Hz

Gary sent some details and references about CAT commands

That could possibly be set in the config file when VARAC starts to set Bandwidth to 500 Hz

and then return to 3200 Hz on exiting VARACt.?? I download the FT-991A CAT Manual, looked at the commands Gary mentioned,

NA = NARROW on Pg: 13 and SH = WIDTH on Pg: 16 I'm not sure what and where to start, basically understand concept, clueless on the "How To.?"

Any guidance would be very welcome...

Cheers... Dave

14 comments

Comments (14)

Dave - G8LIY

Jan 03, 2023

Hi Folks, I'm back... Just a bad period of chronic fatigue, on a plus side,

I didn't have that much hair to loose because of Chemo... O.K, I want to try this alternate method of CAT, instead of OMNIRIG. First Challenge/Question... When I currently start VARAC, It automatically starts OMNIRIG If I now want to use CAT, Do I need to "kill" the OMNIRIG process 1st Then go into setting and reconfigure..?? Thanks... Dave

irad d

Jan 07, 2023

Replying to

VarAC only starts OmniRig if it is told to. If you change your CAT control under the VarAC settings from OmniRig to CAT, VarAC will not start OmniRig. Just make sure it is not already running from a previous session (kill it in the task manager)

Make sure of course to select the right rig, and the right Com port, speed etc. Use the same config you used in Omnirig.

Dave - G8LIY

Jan 07, 2023

Replying to

Hi Irad,

Many Thanks for confirmation... I will do this tomorrow. I called Yaesu Tech Support in the UK I asked about using CAT Commands to set "USB-D" & "Narrow" & "500Hz" You can do it manually on the Radio settings They are not sure if it is possible via CAT, CAT F/W Issue or Documentation Issue

They will get back to me.

73 Dave

irad d

Jan 07, 2023

Replying to

Dont do the 500hz filter. If someone is a bit off set you will not be able to decode.

Best practice is not to use filters at all (like with FT8). No real meanin of the filter. VARA will only decode whats between the 2 red lines.

Same goes for narrow. Stick to USB-D.

irad d

Dec 29, 2022

Hey Dave

Can you confirm if Garys' feedback on how to tweak the CAT command file did the trick ? I would like to add this to the CAT file that I share with the entire community.

Irad

Dave - G8LIY

Dec 29, 2022

Replying to

Irad...

Sorry not had a chance to test yet... Suffering from Fatigue after Chemotherapy. Maybe tomorrow. I will first need to re-configure, Currently I'm using OMNIRIG.

Dave

Dave - G8LIY

Dec 27, 2022

Hi Gary, Many thanks for this...

It's late, and I'm fatigued, Chemo side effects 😴 I will get on this tomorrow First I will create a copy of existing working OMNIRIG based ini file. Then take a look at the contents and compare with your entries.

But from what you said, I think I will need to drop OMNIRIG

and re-configure VARAC for direct CAT control of the FT-991A Cheers... Dave

NC3Z Gary

Dec 27, 2022

Replying to

I was not taking OmniRig into account. This is not possible with OmniRig which is very limiting. So my response is not valid then.

NC3Z Gary

Dec 27, 2022

Here is the 991A section to put in place of the exiting entries, only 2 lines are changed though. I dont have any Yaesu radios so you will need to tell me if it works as you want:

[Yaesu FT-991A]

CmdType=TEXT

PTTOn=TX1;

PTTOff=TX0;

ModeUSB=MD02;

#Below sets to USB Data,Narrow Filter,600Hz width

ModeUSB_D=MD0C;NA01;SH003;

ModeFM=MD04;

ModeFM_D=MD0A;

SetFreq_Data_method=TEXT

SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA{};

SetFreqVfoA_param_length=9

SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA;

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=TEXT

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=12

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=3

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=9

#Below sets to USB Data,Wide Filter and 3200Hz BW

VarACExitCmd=MD0C;NA00;SH021;

NC3Z Gary

Dec 30, 2022

Replying to

OK, as noted I have no Yaesu radios and was just going by the manual with no way to test, would need to rely on a 991 owner to do so.

I did notice a typo in the Yaesu manual for NA commands as they show the wrong syntax of MA 🤔

But if MD0C;NA00;SH011; is confirmed to be a workable solution let us know so we can update the CAT ini file.

Dave - G8LIY

Dec 30, 2022

Replying to

Hi Folks

Really sorry... Just be really fatigued/washed out... Matt, Thanks for your help/input/support... I did a Google, I found a post that showed MD with 1 character They had for example MD2 to change to USB, not MD02

Maybe..guessing??

MDC;NA1;SH03 I hope to get on this tomorrow...

Dave

NC3Z Gary

Dec 30, 2022

Replying to

Per the manual you have to have that leading 0 (zero)

NC3Z Gary

Dec 27, 2022

To eliminate QRM from the up 1 and down 1 slots I run 550-600Hz BW on my receive filters for VarAC, it can help dig out a few more dB of SNR.

I dont use any Yaesu radios but I downloaded the manual. If I give you the text are you comfortable editing the VarAC_cat_commands.ini file ?