Ardop/Vara in Winlink Express (email by radio)

[Roberto]

A very interesting news for people using email by radio under a radioamateur licence: Winlink Express is being beta tested with two new protocols, Ardop and Vara; results are oustanding, transmissions speeds in the range of Pactor 3. A new stable Winlink express release should come soon, in the meantime should one wish to try it read here:

https://winlink.org/content/ardop_and_vara_now_beta_testing_winlink_software

Software is basically free, and very easy to use.
In plain words, if one holds an amateur licence, these systems allow to exchange email without a Pactor modem; this was already possible with Winmor, though with this update transmission speeds are a lot better.

Supposing one already has a pc, this means that by buying a secondhand hf transceiver, making a couple of dipoles, maybe adding an external soundcard, one can have an email capable radio station for around 5-600euro, no annual fees. Cost-wise, beat that

 

[GHA]

Great, thanks for the link!

One of the better kit updates I did onboard was get the ham advance license ( you need the top licence to allow for maritime mobile use) and fit an icom7000.
No more expensive sat airtime

Looks very interesting, even with winlink gribs were not a problem to download, just took a little while.

 

[Roberto]

An update to this few year old thread
Currently testing this VARA software (in port, so with relevant EM noise), a 50kb image file took about 8min to be transferred, the observed actual transmission speed is about 1/4 to 1/3 of the possible max speed (the software adjusts it up and down depending on conditions). Text bulletins like the Shipping forecast take 1-2min, as the files are smaller the software has not enough time to ramp up the speed.

 

[Bilgediver]

An update to this few year old thread
Currently testing this VARA software (in port, so with relevant EM noise), a 50kb image file took about 8min to be transferred, the observed actual transmission speed is about 1/4 to 1/3 of the possible max speed (the software adjusts it up and down depending on conditions). Text bulletins like the Shipping forecast take 1-2min, as the files are smaller the software has not enough time to ramp up the speed.

They are now moving to Vara and Ardop and retiring Winlink. I installed Vara here in the UK during the Pandemic and much to my surprise it actually worked immediately . I find that from Edinburgh area the most reliable station to link with is HB9AK who seems to monitor all bands and all modes . Mind you when it existed Radio Berne was always good for a connection when sailing from the UK to Port Said.

HB9AK has operated since the days of Aplink which predates the Invasion of Kuwait when an operator continued to operate during and following the invasion linking with a UK station in SW England and passing messages giving strategic details. All in plain text. There is a book telling his story.