VARA compares to Pactor 3

[Hamsailor]

The new VARA sound card digital mode is very impressive.
Much faster and robust than Winmor and ARDOP.
Fully supported and incorporated into the latest Winmor Express Beta version for Winlink 2000.
Compares well with Pactor 3 at least.
World wide coverage.
Free demo version.
$69 for the unthrottled version.
GRIB files, sat pictures, etc. now viable via sound card only.

Download VARA here:

https://rosmodem.wordpress.com

Support group here:

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/varahfmodem

Hamsailor.

[belizesailor]

Interesting. Is the software to use VARA only available under Windows?

Is the protocol open so software could be developed on other platforms (like Linux or Android)?

[Hamsailor]

Open to a point.
See the support group.

Talk to the designer, Jose, via the support group, or direct.
A very knowledgeable engineer,

He is open to suggestions and requests.

Hamsailor.

[Hamsailor]

VARA vs Pactor 3 in Hawaii.
Island to island.
40 M skywave.
You decide.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...djI&authuser=0

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Hamsailor

VARA vs Pactor 3 in Hawaii.
Island to island.
40 M skywave.
You decide.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...djI&authuser=0

Can't open the document.

[Hamsailor]

WH6ECG to WH6FG 40m Winlink comparison 3/21/2018
Antenna: 20 ft fan dipole
40m
NVIS map: 9 MHz (good NVIS)
VARA drive level: 92-95 (no ALC)
Power: 30% (about 30 watts)
Start time: 1450 HST
End time: 1600 HST
VARA Test #1
Note: Attenuation was ON
*** Connected to Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 00:53:30 USB Dial: 7101.500
at 2018/03/22 00:53:30
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 112 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 64399313
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 57696431
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM J4UH2HB3E12G 28830 26864 0
F> 00
FS Y
*** Sending J4UH2HB3E12G.
FF
*** Completed send of message J4UH2HB3E12G
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27118, Time: 04:58, bytes/minute: 5460
FQ
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 00:59:01 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27118, Time: 05:31, bytes/minute: 4905
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 05:31,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
*** Disconnected from Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 00:59:08
*** Session: 5.6 min; Avg Thruput: 307390 Bytes/min; 1 Min Peak Thruput: 307390
Bytes/min
PACTOR Test #1
Note: Attenuation was ON

*** Winlink Pactor Connection to WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:04:29 USB Dial: 7101.500
wh6ecg
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 106 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 11795646
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 54326510
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM HTX6X9SPINTH 28830 26869 0
F> 63
*** Disconnected at 2018/03/22 01:05:34
VARA Test #2
Attenuation is OFF
VARA sound card drive set to 92, to avoid ALC at 30% output power.
*** Connected to Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:08:56 USB Dial: 7101.500
at 2018/03/22 01:08:56
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 104 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 01322234
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 51783587
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM HTX6X9SPINTH 28830 26869 0
F> 63
FS Y
*** Sending HTX6X9SPINTH.
FF
*** Completed send of message HTX6X9SPINTH
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27123, Time: 03:03, bytes/minute: 8870
FQ
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:12:33 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27123, Time: 03:36, bytes/minute: 7500
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 03:36,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting

*** Disconnected from Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:12:39
*** Session: 3.7 min; Avg Thruput: 100279 Bytes/min; 1 Min Peak Thruput: 100279
Bytes/min
PACTOR Test #2
Attenuation is OFF
*** Winlink Pactor Connection to WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:17:08 USB Dial: 7101.500
wh6ecg
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 100 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 39619438
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 06052406
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM QG639AFRR4VX 28830 26868 0
F> AE
FS Y
*** Sending QG639AFRR4VX.
FF
*** Completed send of message QG639AFRR4VX
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27122, Time: 04:31, bytes/minute: 6005
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:22:16 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27122, Time: 05:08, bytes/minute: 5280
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 05:08,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
FQ
*** Disconnected at 2018/03/22 01:22:22
VARA TEST #3
Attenuator is OFF
VARA sound card drive = 92 to avoid ALC.
*** Connected to Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:25:31 USB Dial: 7101.500
at 2018/03/22 01:25:31
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 94 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 17093321

CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 59649077
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM ZZIHM0U271FQ 28830 26866 0
F> AF
FS Y
*** Sending ZZIHM0U271FQ.
FF
*** Completed send of message ZZIHM0U271FQ
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27120, Time: 03:07, bytes/minute: 8668
FQ
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:29:07 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27120, Time: 03:35, bytes/minute: 7541
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 03:35,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
*** Disconnected from Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:29:14
*** Session: 3.7 min; Avg Thruput: 99968 Bytes/min; 1 Min Peak Thruput: 99968
Bytes/min
PACTOR TEST #3
Attenuation is OFF
*** Winlink Pactor Connection to WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:32:05 USB Dial: 7101.500
wh6ecg
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 90 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 50987225
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 42940382
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM LDTW59EDPIG1 28830 26867 0
F> B3
FS Y
*** Sending LDTW59EDPIG1.
FF
*** Completed send of message LDTW59EDPIG1
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27121, Time: 04:05, bytes/minute: 6634
FQ
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:36:32 ---

*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27121, Time: 04:27, bytes/minute: 6091
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 04:27,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
*** Disconnected at 2018/03/22 01:36:37
VARA TEST #4
Attenuator is OFF
VARA drive set to 92 to avoid ALC.
*** Connected to Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:44:36 USB Dial: 7101.500
at 2018/03/22 01:44:36
RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 85 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 48935548
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 72488942
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM GJWIWLNDJR28 28830 26864 0
F> 8D
FS Y
*** Sending GJWIWLNDJR28.
FF
*** Completed send of message GJWIWLNDJR28
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27118, Time: 03:30, bytes/minute: 7718
FQ
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:48:40 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27118, Time: 04:04, bytes/minute: 6654
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 04:04,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
*** Disconnected from Winlink RMS: WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:48:47
*** Session: 4.2 min; Avg Thruput: 92969 Bytes/min; 1 Min Peak Thruput: 92969
Bytes/min
PACTOR TEST #4
Attenuation is OFF
*** Winlink Pactor Connection to WH6FG @ 2018/03/22 01:51:08 USB Dial: 7101.500
wh6ecg

RMS Trimode 1.3.18.5
WH6ECG has 80 minutes remaining with WH6FG
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 13765349
CMS via WH6FG >
;FW: WH6ECG
[RMS Express-1.5.11.3-B2FHM$]
;PR: 65110785
; WH6FG DE WH6ECG (BL11CK)
FC EM IEEZ1MGGN9SF 28830 26868 0
F> 9C
FS Y
*** Sending IEEZ1MGGN9SF.
FF
*** Completed send of message IEEZ1MGGN9SF
*** Sent 1 message. Bytes: 27122, Time: 05:19, bytes/minute: 5095
*** --- End of session at 2018/03/22 01:56:49 ---
*** Messages sent: 1. Total bytes sent: 27122, Time: 05:41, bytes/minute: 4771
*** Messages Received: 0. Total bytes received: 0, Total session time: 05:41,
bytes/minute: 0
*** Disconnecting
FQ
*** Disconnected at 2018/03/22 01:56:55

[hellosailor]

Hamsailor-
I'm not sure I'm reading those results right. They are all from VARA mode? As opposed to Winmore or other modes?

I am not familiar with the current state of progress in Winmore and totally uninformed on VARA, but my prior impression had been that Pactor4 was still the speed king "but" Winmore was competitive given that HF transmissions usually resulting in a 300-1200bps data rate, that being bits not Bytes.

Which doesn't jibe with "...5460...bytes/minute: 4905; Thruput: 307390..."
Tremendously higher Bytes compared to the bits usually reported for throughput at sea.

So what am I not seeing in this picture? I know many years of many folks pooling their heads brought us Winmore, has anyone gotten numbers "at sea" for VARA and Winmore and Pactor4 recently to compare? Numbers such as 100k to 300k BYTES per minute seem like a whole order of magnitude greater than even Pactor4 should be getting. Which means I'm probably not reading something correctly?