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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Hi Alex,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Though I don't speak for Stephen nor am I involved in his VARA work, I'll chime in as similar sentiments have been expressed in other projects I've been involved in, in the past. Several items come to mind.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">If one wants the largest possible audience for a product, they use the platform that the audience uses.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Proof-of-concept is done using the easiest platform for the developer to develop upon and transition to the largest possible audience.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Once proven, development spokes become easier for development partners to step forward and to work in partnership with the pioneering developer to assure cross-platform consistency.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Though Stephen is highly skilled, it sounds to me that you have the knowledge and resources to be a development partner. The question in return would be, "would you be willing to work with Stephen to advance the items you ask about?"</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Sincerely,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Ev, W2EV</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Monday, April 20, 2026 at 12:18:11 AM EDT, KF4LVZ <aprssigzbr6@acarver.net> wrote:
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<div><div dir="ltr">Given the increasingly hostile behavior of Microsoft against users of <br></div><div dir="ltr">Windows, why is this still a Windows-only capability?<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">What is special about the VARA protocol that is preventing its <br></div><div dir="ltr">conversion to something that could be run using Linux or other hardware <br></div><div dir="ltr">solution like an FPGA?<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">On 2026-04-18 12:54, Stephen H Smith via aprssig wrote:<br></div><div dir="ltr">> Several years and 15,000 miles of road-trip drive-testing, using the <br></div><div dir="ltr">> VARA high-performance HF modem alongside traditional AX.25 HF packet, <br></div><div dir="ltr">> has shown VARA to be orders of magnitude superior for reliably <br></div><div dir="ltr">> transmitting APRS position reports on HF.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> VARA exists exclusively as a Windows-based sound-card "soft modem" - <br></div><div dir="ltr">> the only way to do APRS-over-VARA has been to use a mobile laptop or <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Windows tablet in the vehicle. No simple hardware-only solution <br></div><div dir="ltr">> analogous to the Byonics TinyTrack for classic packet exists.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Recently, very inexpensive (starting at USD $139) tiny Windows-based <br></div><div dir="ltr">> ultra-compact computers known as "stick PCs" have become available. <br></div><div dir="ltr">> These devices are very small fully-functional 64-bit Intel-based quad- <br></div><div dir="ltr">> core PCs. They include 4 USB-C ports, 1GB Ethernet port, WiFi 5, <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Bluetooth 5, a Realtek HD sound system, and 4K-capable HDMI video. <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Further, these devices run directly from 12 VDC, making them ideal for <br></div><div dir="ltr">> mobile applications!<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> These devices are widely used to drive the 42" monitors displaying menus <br></div><div dir="ltr">> over the counter at fast-food places, and in airports for displaying <br></div><div dir="ltr">> incoming and outgoing flights. I have now one setup one to operate as a <br></div><div dir="ltr">> stand-alone APRS-over-VARA tracker.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Full details on the VARAtrack setup are on my website at:<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <<a href="http://WA8LMF.net/VARA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://WA8LMF.net/VARA</a>><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Scroll down the page and follow the link on that page for "The <br></div><div dir="ltr">> VARAtrack". Near the bottom of the VARAtrack page is a link to <br></div><div dir="ltr">> download a backup image file of my entire setup that can be used to <br></div><div dir="ltr">> restore the entire setup to another similar stick PC.<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> I will demonstrating the VARAtrack at the Dayton Hamvention at my radio <br></div><div dir="ltr">> trailer aka "Studio B" in the Emergency Comms Vehicles Expo.\<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> ------------------------------------------------------------------------<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]<br></div><div dir="ltr">> Home Page: <a href="http://wa8lmf.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://wa8lmf.net</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> Live APRS Mapping on HF & VHF<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <<a href="http://WA8LMF.net/map" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://WA8LMF.net/map</a>><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <<a href="http://WA8LMF.net/Aliner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://WA8LMF.net/Aliner</a>><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> -- APRS over VARA --<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <<a href="http://wa8lmf.net/VARA/APRSoverVARA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://wa8lmf.net/VARA/APRSoverVARA</a>><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> HF APRS-over-VARA<br></div><div dir="ltr">> 40M 7.083.5 USB 30M 10.148.2 USB<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> -<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> <br></div><div dir="ltr">> _______________________________________________<br></div><div dir="ltr">> aprssig mailing list<br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a href="mailto:aprssig@lists.tapr.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">aprssig@lists.tapr.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">> <a href="http://lists.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig_lists.tapr.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lists.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig_lists.tapr.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>_______________________________________________<br>aprssig mailing list<br><a href="mailto:aprssig@lists.tapr.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">aprssig@lists.tapr.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig_lists.tapr.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lists.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig_lists.tapr.org</a><br></div>
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