What is WinLink 2000? Part 1 What is WinLink 2000? WinLink 2000 (WL2K) is a worldwide system of free resources to enable E-Mail by ham radio (and MARS). What is WinLink 2000? WinLink 2000 (WL2K) is a worldwide system of free resources to enable
E-Mail by ham radio (and MARS). It is useful for sending E-Mail by radio from remote areas or in emergency situations. How does it work? The TheInternet Internet CMS
CMS Wein CMS Perth CMS Halifax
San Diego Four computers are located around the world and function as Common Message Servers (or CMSs). They organize, synchronize and manage the WinLink e-mail traffic. All CMSs have the same (e.g. redundant) information. A CLIENT Station (Thats YOU!)
A typical ham radio e-mail station is composed of simple components. WinLink uses ham email addresses like [email protected] A Radio and a Good Antenna Radio Data Interface
A TNC or Soundcard Interface Laptop for a Portable Station Paclink software with E-Mail Program like Outlook Express Ham Computer RMS Express Software Windows Operating System
Paclink (TNC = Terminal Node Controller) or RMS Express The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS CMS
CMS The most direct way to use the WinLink system is with a TELNET connection Radio Data Interface Ham Computer
TELNET Paclink or RMS Express The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS
CMS CMS A radio Gateway to the Internet is called a Radio Message Server, or RMS. To send or receive e-mail, a station makes a connection with a radio message server which is always connected to
the Internet. Radio Radio Data Interface Data Interface
Ham Computer Paclink or RMS Express RMS The TheInternet
Internet CMS CMS CMS CMS The radio Gateway to the Internet is called a Radio Message Server, or RMS.
Up to 30 miles between stations we use VHF radios and the packet mode. VHF Radio VHF Radio Data Interface
Data Interface Ham Computer Paclink RMS Packet
The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS CMS CMS
WinLink uses regular e-mail You can send & receive radio e-mail directly to internet e-mail users and even cell phone text users. VHF Radio VHF Radio
Data Interface Data Interface Ham Computer Paclink
RMS Packet The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS CMS
CMS WinLink uses regular e-mail You can send & receive radio e-mail directly to internet e-mail users and even cell phone text users. It also works in REVERSE
VHF Radio VHF Radio Data Interface Data Interface
Ham Computer Paclink RMS Packet The TheInternet Internet
CMS CMS CMS CMS Packet Networks or digipeaters can be used if the nearest RMS Gateway has lost its Internet connection. NODE NODE
Packet Networks such as FPAC NET-ROM FLEX-NET VHF Radio VHF Radio VHF Radio
Data Interface Data Interface Data Interface RMS Packet
RMS Packet Ham Computer Paclink The TheInternet Internet
CMS CMS CMS CMS RMS Packet Gateway Stations in Florida RMS Packet Gateway Stations in Hillsborough
The 10 is called a Secondary Station IDentifier (SSID) and 10 is usually identified with an RMS Packet gateway station. Local VHF Winlink RMS Packet Stations KI4VAM-10 144.910 MHz - County Ctr, Tampa* KF4ATP-10 145.050 MHz Hillsborough EOC* W4BGH-10 145.030 MHz Riverview, FL* W1WAB-10 145.030 MHz Sun City Center, FL** W4ACS-10 145.010 MHz Pinellas EOC*** K4PPK-10 145.030 MHz Valrico, FL**** *Operate 24X7
**Currently down for repairs ***Not operational yet. ****Only available during emergency situations. HF Radios are used for RMS stations over long distances. For long distances and difficult terrain, Hams can use HF radios and the Pactor (1-3) modes and more recently WINMOR.
HF Radio VHF Radio Data Interface HF Radio Data Interface Data
Interface Ham Compute r RMS HF or RMS WinMOR Paclink or RMS Express
The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS CMS CMS
HF Radios are used for RMS stations over long distances. If local VHF RMS gateway stations have lost their Internet connection, then HF Pactor or WinMOR may be the best option VHF Radio Data Interface
VHF Radio HF Radio Data Interface Data Interface
HF Radio Data Interface Ham Compute r RMS Packet Paclink
RMS HF or RMS Express The TheInternet Internet CMS CMS
CMS CMS RMS HF Gateway Stations (Pactor) Typical RMS HF Station W9MR Keensburg, IL 7065.9 10141.2 10141.2 (p3) 10145.2
10145.2 (p3) 14069.0 14069.0 (p3) 14101.7 (p3) (p3) = Pactor 3 How do we send E-Mail using Paclink? First create E-Mail in an E-Mail Program such as Outlook or Outlook Express. Next send it to Paclink that behaves as a POP3 mail server.
Finally, direct Paclink to connect to either an RMS Packet or an RMS HF gateway station and transfer the message. Creating E-Mail in Outlook Express Paclink sends the message Packet radio activity
E-Mail Post Office Lets Switch Gears How Do You Get Started 1. Download the software from: http://www.winlink.org/ClientSoftware 2. Install and setup a WinLink Client Program. (Your E-Mail address will be [email protected]) 3.
Send an E-Mail either by Radio or Telnet. 4. Establish an account on www.winlink.org (optional) The WinLink Client Programs Paclink VHF Packet
a) TNC b) Soundcard (AGWPE) HF Pactor a) TNC The WinLink Client Programs Paclink VHF Packet a) TNC
b) Soundcard (AGWPE) HF Pactor a) TNC RMS Express VHF Packet a) TNC HF Pactor a) TNC HF WinMOR
a) Soundcard The WinLink Client Programs Paclink RMS Express Both require Windows operating system Require installation of .NET Framework a) This may prevent the use of older
versions of Window OS The WinLink Client Programs Paclink RMS Express External E-Mail Program Internal E-Mail Program (e.g. Outlook Express) Both programs will merge at some point.
Some Features of the WinLink System Winlink maintains a White Page system to control SPAM. An E-Mail from [email protected] to [email protected] will not be delivered unless originator is in the users White Page. An E-Mail address is added to the White Page
when a WinLink user sends a message to that address (or is added by an E-Mail to [email protected] or logging in to web site). Any E-Mail with //WL2K at the beginning of the SUBJECT line will be delivered whether or not the address is in the White Page. Some Features of the WinLink System
Heres a problem we experienced during the 2008 MassCasualty drill. We sent E-Mail messages by Winlink 2000 to: [email protected] The messages were received with no problems, but the EOC replies were NEVER received. Why? The County IT Department was (is?) using a spam protection method called Bounce Address Tag Validation (BATV) which modified the FROM address in the reply to: [email protected] This wasnt in the Winlink white page and was blocked! Solution: Authorize the domain name hillsboroughcounty.org or
use //WL2K in the subject line. Some Features of the WinLink System Winlink maintains a White Page system to control SPAM. An E-Mail from [email protected] to [email protected] will not be delivered unless originator is in the users White Page.
An E-Mail address is added to the White Page when a WinLink user sends a message to that address (or is added by an E-Mail to [email protected] or logging in to web site). Any E-Mail with //WL2K at the beginning of the SUBJECT line will be delivered whether or not the address is in the White Page.
WinLink has a default message size maximum of 120k including attachments. A User may establish their own personal message size maximum. Time for a Quick Break Part 2 How to Setup Paclink and RMS Express 1. Paclink a) General Settings
b) Outlook Express E-Mail Client c) Telnet Channel d) TNC VHF Packet Channel e) TNC HF Pactor Channel f) Sound Card VHF Packet 2. RMS Express a) WinMOR WL2K Setting up Paclink File Menu Items Setting up Paclink Site Properties
Setting up Paclink Polling Interval Paclink will reconnect to the WinLink System every 30 Minutes to send and/or receive messages. Setting up Paclink Callsign Accounts The callsign is normally the base callsign without an SSID. A callsign with an SSID is considered a separate account from the base account.
Setting up Outlook Express for Paclink Setting up Outlook Express for Paclink Setting up Outlook Express for Paclink Password must match the password in Paclink. Outgoing Mail Server requires authentication. Setting up Outlook Express for Paclink
Setting up Paclink Telnet Channels Setting up a VHF Packet TNC Channel Channel Priority: 1 High; 5 Low During automatic connection, Paclink will start at highest priority and continue to lower priorities until it has a successful connection. Setting up Paclink TNC Channels Note - Paclink has files to set up parameters for the TNC:
e.g. C:\Paclink\Data\ExampleKPC3+.aps These can be edited with Notepad. Setting up a Packet TNC Channels It is important to adjust the TX Audio from the TNC to the radio to prevent over-modulating the transceiver. If a deviation meter is available, set the deviation to slightly less than 3 kHz. Some TNCs have a potentiometer for adjusting the TX Audio. Some Kantronics models use a software command
e.g. xmitlvl (range from 0 to 502) Setting up a Packet TNC Channels Many TNCs have three operating modes. a. Terminal normal for keyboard-to-keyboard. b. Host for computer interfacing. c. KISS also for computer interfacing. Some older TNCs dont have the Host mode. a. Can be used with AGWPE in KISS mode. Paclink normally puts the TNC into the Host mode and returns it to the Terminal mode when the program
exits. New Native KISS drivers are available for radios with internal TNCs like the Kenwood TM-D710a. Sending an E-Mail Create message in Outlook Express Tell Paclink to Connect to a Channel Note: If Autoconnect is chosen the Priorities will determine which Channel
will be used. E-Mail Post Office Paclink sends the message Packet radio activity E-Mail
Post Office Setting up Paclink for HF Pactor Autoforward Enabled is normally left unchecked. A Pactor connection then requires manual initiation to insure a clear frequency. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Requires computer sound card and simple radio interface. Donner Digital Interface for Alinco DR-135T
Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Requires computer sound card and simple radio interface. A third-party program called AGW Packet Engine creates a virtual TNC using a Sound Card that can be used by Paclink. (http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/default.htm) AGW Packet Engine is free, and an enhanced version called Packet Engine Pro is available for a small fee. This software also allows multiple programs to use a single hardware TNC. Some problems have been reported with AGW Packet Engine and Windows 7 and external USB sound cards. Operation
with the computers primary sound card seems OK. Hopefully AGW Packet Engine updates will solve the problems. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Important note: Sound Card interfaces are susceptible to RF feedback, and ferrite materials should be liberally used to minimize the negative effects of this feedback. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet The first requirement in AGW Packet Engine is to create a Radio Port.
Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet The first requirement in AGW Packet Engine is to create a Radio Port. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Use the AGWPE Tuning Aid to set the RX audio level using the transceivers volume control in conjuction with the computers audio mixer. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet
Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Now open Paclinks File AGW Engine Properties and create and Browse to AGWPEs file location. Paclink will start AGWPE when required. Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Setting up Paclink Sound Card Packet Now open Paclinks File Packet AGW Channels and create a new channel.
You are now ready to connect using an AGW Channel. Pause for Questions Now - RMS Express for HF WinMOR WinMOR is an Sound Card protocol that is an alternative to TNC-based Pactor with speeds approaching Pactor 2. The application program is RMS Express which utilizes a virtual WinMOR TNC. There is a small registration fee to offset the development
costs of the Winlink development team. RMS Express uses a free propagation predicting program called voacapx that must be installed on the C-drive in a folder c:\itshfbc Like Paclink, RMS Express may be downloaded from the Winlink web site: http://www.winlink.org/ClientSoftware Setting Up RMS Express Start out with the Files RMS Express Setup menu Setting Up RMS Express The Winlink developers recommend the use of an external
sound card to make sure the timing circuits are sufficiently stable for the WinMOR decoder. An example is the Tigertronics Signalink with a USB connection. Retail price is $100 including a cable for a specific transceiver. It includes a VOX circuit for automatically enabling the rigs PTT circuit. The computer usually identifies an external sound card as USB Audio CODEC.
Setting Up RMS Express Setting Up RMS Express Setting Up RMS Express A test result less than 50 can be a problem. Setting Audio Levels Receive audio should be in the green region.
Transmit audio should small enough to avoid generating any ALC indication in the transceiver. The transceiver should be in the USB mode regardless of the band. Now, Create a New Message Start Session & Select Channel Start the Connection to the WinMOR Server
Read the Received E-Mail Lets take another short break And well have some demonstrations.
