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Vara dropping connection

Probably Windows 11 update related. Twice this morning my VarAC "froze" during a QSO, something that has never happened before.

Symptoms are the VARA HF audio input drops to zero and says disconnected.

The Windows 11 update is this one, updated today.

2023-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5025239)

Vara HF version 4.7.6

VarAC version 7.0.8

Anyone else suffering from a dropped connection and a frozen program?

73 Dave G4AON

11 comments

Comments (11)

G4AON Dave

Apr 24, 2023

To recap, my VarAC was locking up, or at least my Vara modem program was. It had been working perfectly until around 2 weeks ago.

My desktop PC is a Dell Optiplex running Windows 11 Pro, new in Jan 2023. My laptop is an Asus Vivobook also running Windows 11 Pro. Both had exactly the same Windows/VarAC/Vara software versions and exactly the same versions of sound card drivers (Windows generic).

The Dell had problems driving my Elecraft K4D, but the Asus didn't.

The Dell would drive my other radio, an Icom IC-7300 without a problem, as did the Asus.

The problem was eventually resolved by deleting the Dell Windows sound card driver and "updating it" with an identical replacement version. The current working version is 10.0.22621.608 from 27/09/2022 and is the same version on the laptop,

73 Dave

hb9brj

Apr 13, 2023

Dave, here are two ideas:

- inspect VARAHF.log

- Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application (scroll back to the time of the event)

You reported it happened while in a QSO, but your VARA status line indicates the connection has been lost and a reconnect is going on.

73, Markus HB9BRJ

G4AON Dave

Apr 13, 2023

Replying to

Hi Markus

I just managed to have it hang up again, the Windows Log shows the app svchost.exe_Audiosrv hanging up at the time of Vara.exe hanging. There is nothing of interest in the Vara log, except a lost connection. I have not got the log program (Log4OM) running and I was able to send a quite long email via Winlink Express (using Vara) before running VarAC. VarAC/Vara only seems to lock up when in a QSO, receiving, or sending a beacon doesn't appear to be a problem.

This is the xml view of the svchost lockup event:

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> - <System> <Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" Guid="{0ead09bd-2157-539a-8d6d-c87f95b64d70}" /> <EventID>1001</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>4</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-04-13T20:32:35.8937332Z" /> <EventRecordID>11013</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="4564" ThreadID="11836" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>New_Dell</Computer> <Security UserID="S-1-5-19" /> </System> - <EventData> <Data Name="Bucket" /> <Data Name="BucketType">0</Data> <Data Name="EventName">AppHangXProcB1</Data> <Data Name="Response">Not available</Data> <Data Name="CabId">0</Data> <Data Name="P1">svchost.exe_Audiosrv</Data> <Data Name="P2">10.0.22621.1</Data> <Data Name="P3">6dc5c2a5</Data> <Data Name="P4">0a58</Data> <Data Name="P5">64</Data> <Data Name="P6">audiodg.exe</Data> <Data Name="P7">10.0.22621.1344</Data> <Data Name="P8" /> <Data Name="P9" /> <Data Name="P10" /> <Data Name="AttachedFiles" /> <Data Name="StorePath">\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\AppHang_svchost.exe_Audi_40e1e972ce438fc9f7720c05a9d6e88a91be5ab_6e9b4276_c3713a3c-ccc2-4405-9a76-1adc01418980</Data> <Data Name="AnalysisSymbol" /> <Data Name="Rechecking">0</Data> <Data Name="ReportId">55725951-41cc-425b-9508-01ac21d9db57</Data> <Data Name="ReportStatus">100</Data> <Data Name="HashedBucket" /> <Data Name="CabGuid">0</Data> </EventData> </Event>

And this is the one for Vara:

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> - <System> <Provider Name="Application Hang" Guid="{c631c3dc-c676-59e4-2db3-5c0af00f9675}" /> <EventID>1002</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>2</Level> <Task>101</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-04-13T20:36:24.2225064Z" /> <EventRecordID>11017</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="16152" ThreadID="14408" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>New_Dell</Computer> <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" /> </System> - <EventData> <Data Name="AppName">VARA.exe</Data> <Data Name="AppVersion">4.7.0.6</Data> <Data Name="ProcessId">0x804</Data> <Data Name="StartTime">0x1d96e44a0db9a61</Data> <Data Name="TerminationTime">4</Data> <Data Name="ExeFileName">C:\VARA\VARA.exe</Data> <Data Name="ReportId">7bd92784-ab07-4002-8a76-75356189fef9</Data> <Data Name="PackageFullName" /> <Data Name="PackageRelativeAppId" /> <Data Name="HangType">Unknown</Data> </EventData> </Event>

73 Dave

Demetre - SV1UY (M0SUY)

Apr 13, 2023

Replying to

I think it is a combination of VARA with VarAC Dave. I've never had this happen when I use VAR with WINLINK despite having transfered pictures 120kBytes long numerous times, just to test this problem you are describing! It is a hard problem to solve I think!

hb9brj

Apr 15, 2023

Replying to

Hi Dave,

Please look at this case which was solved by changing driver versions:

https://www.dell.com/community/Latitude/new-Dell-9430-Win11-Audio-audiodg-exe-crashes-using-Microsoft/td-p/8232803

73, Markus HB9BRJ

G4AON Dave

Apr 13, 2023

Unfortunately the suggestions to stop the Waves Audio Services hasn't fixed the problem. To reiterate, the issue only seems to have started after the latest Windows update.

The problem is that VARA HF stops responding while in a QSO, it is not specifically audio that stops, but the program stops responding. Image attached. Also attached is an image showing the Waves Audio settings (now back to automatic).

73 Dave G4AON

G4AON Dave

Apr 12, 2023

Thanks Gary

My computer is a Dell Optiplex desktop, it had the Waves software running on Automatic, although I haven't changed the setting and did have audio enhancement turned off. I have set it to manual start and will see if all is well over the next couple of days.

73 Dave G4AON

NC3Z Gary

Apr 12, 2023

Replying to

Report back.

NC3Z Gary

Apr 12, 2023

If any of you are using a Dell check this out: https://groups.io/g/VARA-MODEM/topic/97231463

G4AON Dave

Apr 12, 2023

Hi Markus

Mine froze during a QSO, showed no audio input, couldn't do anything with it. I will leave it a while on RX only and see if it keeps working.

Thanks for the info. My Winver shows the same as yours.

73 Dave G4AON

hb9brj

Apr 12, 2023

Dave, got the same update yesterday. The "winver" cmd shows 22H2 build 22621.1555.

No problems so far.

What I experienced a few times over the last months is a link "deadlock": Good signals, data to send, but VARA modem remains inactive. Finally this leads to a timeout and disconnect. No crashed or frozen apps, only the data flow is stopped.

73, Markus HB9BRJ