Here is my setup: I have an IC-705 that I have connected wirelessly to my MacBook using SDR-Control via my home network. This setup works very well for FT8/JS8Call. Using Crossover on my MacBook, I have installed VARA HF. I have connected RadioMail to both VARA and to my IC 705 using SDR-Control (using the manual setup). I have attempted to make contact with several stations. I continuously get the back and forth attempted communication, but I cannot get an actual handshake connection. Any ideas? It seems that I am so close!
Have you tried VARA HF with your 705 connected via USB? I tried to get your same setup working in the past without luck and will be curious if you find a solution. I couldn’t find a reliable way to connect wirelessly for that mode. I found some workarounds by managing sound inputs and outputs with Loopback, but then rig control became an issue. I use USB connection now without issue. Good luck!
I never did try VARA HF via USB. It is too late now. I was using Crossover's 14-day trial. My trial is now expired. At this point the cost of Crossover is more than I am willing to spend without certainly that I can actually get Winlink working (and working the way I want). I suppose there are too many hurdles trying to get something (Winlink) working that isn't intended for a MacOS. Maybe at some point programs will be developed for MacOS without any workarounds. Radiomail is certain a step in the right direction! Thank you!
If you are willing to spend the money once assured it all works, and the amount necessary to spend is immaterial, I can affirmatively state that I have Winlink Express, as well as RMS Trimode/RMS Packet/RMS Relay all working perfectly with VARA HF and VARA FM, all under Windows 11 on a MacBook Pro M1.
I have used Virtual Machine environment setups for many years, either Parallels (currently) or VMWare, switching when one hosting app or the other would gain an advantage.
This does require the purchase of Parallels and a copy of Window 11. I am a Tech Support member of the Winlink Development Team and use this daily for online support.
I have to say, don't bother with Crossover. It's horrible.. There are SO many bugs, the installer often fails, and you have to install extras to get the VB stuff to even load.
Do yourself a favor and get VMware Fusion, VirtualBox, or Parallels and install a windows environment into that.. You will be able to run everything you want and it's simple and solid.
FWIW, I never got VARA to run on Crossover. VARA would start and send audio/PTT to the radio, but for some reason it seems that it was failing to decode the received audio. I felt that perhaps something related to timing was creating problems. After many attempts I gave up.
I found the best option is to get an inexpensive intel computer like the BeeLink T4 and dedicate it to VARA and treat it like a headless blackbox. I do run VARA with wine on Linux fine on these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPDTH4L319Q
Dustin,
As I stated above, I use my ic705/Vara/Vara-fm/ Winlink Express on Windows11 hosted on Parallels 19. Must be the recent version of Parallels, and the Windows11 is for ARM architecture.
Feel free to ask questions here, or contact me directly.
KF7RSF tnoel At mac dot com
I wanted to report that I am using the 14 day trial version of Parallels. Thus far it has been a great success. Thank you all! It took a little bit of tinkering, but I've made everything work and it works very well. I've got 12 more days of trial, and if I continue to have success, I'll buy Parallels. I am doing everything wirelessly either via station or access point depending on whether I am out in the field or in my home. I've had one main hiccup: VARA FM (VARA HF wasn't a problem) was a little touchy until I turned down latency on WFVIEW. I still wish VARA/Winlink would work natively on MacOS, but this works. I guess this post ended up not being a resolution to RadioMail, but I'm up and running.