FT818nd

When configuring the FT818nd for Vara FM and HF, we need to change some parameters on the radio as well as on Vara itself.

Configuring the radio

The following menu items need to be changed from its default values to the ones below:

Menu Item	Function	Value
14	CAT RATE Set the transceiver’s circuitry for the CAT baud rate	38400
25	DIG MIC Adjust the audio input level from terminal equipment (such as a TNC or PSK-31 sound card) during DIG (Digital) mode operation	65
26	DIG MODE Select the mode and sideband (if applicable) in the DIG (Digital) mode	USER-U
39	PKT MIC Adjust the audio input level from the TNC during 1200 bps Packet operation	50
40	PKT RATE Set the transceiver’s circuitry for the Packet baud rate	9600 for Vara FM

Getting Vara FM configured for the FT-818nd

For Vara FM to work with the Yaesu FT-818nd we need to setup a few things.

VARA FM Setup

1. Open up Vara FM

   

2. Click on Settings->Vara Setup

   

3. The FT-818nd supports both, WIDE and NARROW modes. With that, you can choose whatever option fits your needs under the FM System. If you're in doubt of which mode you should use, always fallback into NARROW as the RMS, even if on WIDE, will go into NARROW mode once it detects that the transceiver is usint it.

   [!NOTE] More details on WIDE vs NARROW:

   To use the WIDE option you need to also enable 9600 baud rate under the Packet rate (see Menu 40 above). To use the WIDE mode, make sure your RMS also supports that.

   You can see that when using NARROW the DATA OUT pin will use 1200bps (max) whereas when using WIDE it will go with 9600bps. Not every transceiver will support this rate (e.g.: UV5R).

   

4. Leave the rest with their default values and close this window.

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PTT

1. Click on Settings->PTT

   

2. Since we are using rigctld to automate our CAT control, our PTT option here will be RA-Board-1

   

3. Click on Close.

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Sound Card

1. Click on Settings->SoundCard

   

2. Select the Digirig for both, the Device Input and Device Output. The drivel level can be set at 0 dB. PTT option here will be RA-Board-1

   

3. Click on Close.

Getting Vara HF configured for the FT-818nd

For HF operations we will be using Vara.

VARA Setup

1. Open up Vara

   

2. Click on Settings->Vara Setup

   

3. You can leave most the the default here in place. Add your callsign and registration key if you have one.

   

4. Close this window.

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Sound Card

1. Click on Settings->SoundCard

   

2. Select the Digirig for both, the Device Input and Device Output. The drivel level can be set at 0 dB.

   

3. Click on Close.

Operating the rig

Whether on the on VHF/UHF with Vara FM or on the HF bands using Vara, the main operation will be the same: We need 1) rigctld for CAT control of the transceiver AND Vara (or Vara FM) to serve as our modem.