WinLink Wednesdays working

WINLINK GLOBAL RADIO EMAIL®️… …is a network of amateur radio and authorized government stations that provide worldwide radio email using radio pathways where the internet is not present.

• Built, Operated, and Administrated Entirely by licensed “HAM” volunteers.

• Supports Email with attachments, position reporting, weather and information bulletins.

• Well known for its role in interoperable emergency and disaster relief communications.

• Capable of operating completely without the internet.

Who is using Winlink to Support Emergency Communications?

• Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARRL ARES)

• Military Auxiliary Radio System (DOD/MARS)

• Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES)

• National American Red Cross (ARC)

• Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

• Salvation Army

• US Coast Guard

• Many Federal, state, and local government agencies, world-wide

Why use Winlink?

• Reliability

• Over a 15 year period, it demonstrated 99.99% availability and 100% accuracy in message transmissions.

• Radio Connection Bridge to Internet e-mail.

• Messages sent via radio from a user without internet to a Winlink radio node that has internet connectivity to inject the message into the normal internet email system and conversely from internet back to radio.

• Standard email formats and Features

• ICS forms embedded within program; i.e., ICS 213 General Message Form, ICS 309 Communications Log, etc.

• Binary file attachments such as pictures, PDF’s, spreadsheets

• Automatic message compression/decompression to minimize message size

• Whitelist used to control SPAM.

Modes of Operation

• Normal Mode – stores in an internet connected E-mail server (Common Message Server)

• Peer-to-peer connections between radio end-users. Two operators using same frequency & same protocol to exchange traffic.

• Radio only store and forward without internet

Interoperability

• Winlink does not restrict users to a single communications protocol, RF frequency, or band. The system supports a constellation of RF gateway nodes that operate on a wide range of HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies. The system also supports wide range of communication protocols such as PACKET, VARA, ARDOP, and PACTOR.

Geographical Dispersion & Redundancy for Reliability

• Wide range of RF gateway nodes located in a variety of locations.

• If one gateway fails, other gateways are available (especially via HF).

How does Winlink work?

Email over RF

VHF/UHF – local line of sight

• Packet (core use – locally)

• Ability to Digipeat from RMS to RMS

• VARA FM (growing popularity)

HF –

•  Long distance, or regional using NVIS

• Several dozens of RMS gateways

• Various modes

• VARA HF (“fast” speeds)

• Free – limited speed

• $80 – Registered, “fast” speeds for HF

Telnet – Internet only

• No transceiver required

• Uses Winlink Common Message Servers

• Internet Connection Required

Requirements

 

Typical Winlink Station

• Basic Requirements

• Amateur Radio License

• Winlink.org registration + issue of ID AB5MC@winlink.org

• Winlink Express software (FREE)

• Telnet Station = computer + internet connection

• VHF/UHF station = Radio + TNC + computer + antenna

• Or Radio + soundcard + computer with TNC software + antenna

• HF station = Radio + soundcard + computer + antenna

Winlink Global Radio Mail

– What it isn’t and things to remember.

• It is not designed for:

• Daily personal email – Same as all amateur radio digital modes, messages are non-encrypted, in open.

• Large volume – keep traffic light / minimal for gateway sharing.

• Large attachments; photos, file sharing, etc. Larger file size, longer to send/receive over RF. •

Things to remember:

• Replies and email string history needs to be removed / minimalized to reduce file size.

• Don’t expect super high speeds

• Remember this over RF, speeds are similar to 90’s era slow dial up. Some modes are faster than others, but it’s still sending data over RF.

• Expect to encounter multiple attempts on some days with operation over RF

• Propagation varies and affects gateway communication. A certain station that worked yesterday may be difficult today.

• Stay in practice

• Winlink Wednesday Nets over RF is a very good way to stay familiar and in practice sending mail over RF.

• Winlink Wednesday Virginia – every Wednesday, large traffic, the original Winlink Wednesday; winlinkwednesday.net, KN4LQN@winlink.org

• North Texas Winlink Wednesday – local, good for capturing Grayson Co. traffic. 1 st & 3 rd Wednesdays; groups.io KF5VO@winlink.org

• Don’t get discouraged with initial set up. Station configuration can be a challenge at first.

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