As a longtime user of many conversational digital modes, VarAC addresses many of the shortcomings of those other modes. For me, the single calling frequency per band now followed by an automatic QSY is a powerful feature of the system architecture. However, this unique feature brings with it a challenge.
I have been sitting here for an hour (maybe I need to get a life) watching the 20 meters VarAC calling frequency on my SDR radio. I am hoping to be able to either hear or send a CQ that will start a QSO. However, there is a 2 kHz wide digital signal running S9+ centered on 14.107 that obliterates the VarAC 500 Hz wide 20 meter calling frequency. There are lots of open frequencies above and below but a QSO can't be started because the calling frequency is clogged.
Maybe Irad or somebody smarter than me has a suggestion for a work around.
Larry
W6LVP
The majority of us have internet on the PC running our digimodes. How about a simple centralised server - could be a web api hosted here - that VaraC can query periodically to become aware of other temporary calling frequencies? Those that don't have internet will just use the default calling frequencies in the application and will be no worse off than they currently are...
Martin
Hi Larry...
Same thing that would would happen if someone clogged the 14.074 FT8 freq :) When the freq is clogged you can use other bands as Gary suggested. It usually happens during RTTY contests at least once a month.
I do not want to set a secondary 20M QRG as this will separate the group and will remove the chance for one to find QSO partners.
For good or for bad, Radio frequencies are a shared resource. If someone chose to run an Olivia QSO on top of our QRG then we would have to wait or move to other bands.
Try another band? 15-10M has been really active.