Winlink 2000

1
Winlink 2000

• An Introduction to
• eMail over Ham Radio
• Presented by
• Bud Semon N7CW

2
Contributors

• Steve Waterman, K4CJX
• Scott Pederson, KI5DR
• Alex Kelly, WU2W
• Bill Gerth, W4RK
• Howard White, KY6LA
• Victor Poor, W5SMM
• Rick Meuthing, KN6KB
• Alan Jorgenson, KE6SQS

3
Why eMail?

• Using e-mail is universal.
• Minimum training required.
• Large amounts of data/information may be
  exchanged, accurately
• Detailed damage or status reports.
• Detailed work assignments shift changes.
• Lists of equipment and supplies needed.
• Graphic or text-based Medical information.
• Anything else that may be handled routinely by
  e-mail, including attachments.
• Every transfer is a permanently stored record.
• Data/information is secure from casual monitoring.

4
For complex messages, voice, Morse code,
Radiograms, wont do
WHY?

• text only
• very slow
• translation required
• inflexible, prone to error
• no permanent record
• not self-originating
• not reliably point-to-multipoint

5
Why Winlink?

• July, 2003 In cooperation with its partnership
  with the Department of Homeland Security, and at
  their recommendation, the ARRL Board has agreed
  to provide a nationwide digital system to enhance
  the communications capability of the Amateur
  Radio Emergency Service (ARES).
• There are situations, the Board said, when
• ARES "must have the capability to pass digital
  traffic across the nation quickly and accurately.

6

• Purpose of Winlink 2000 in the ARES
  Environment
• To supply de facto e-mail for served agencies
• from inside a disaster area
• without normal e-mail servers or Internet
  connections being available within the last
  mile affected area.

7

• 
  What is it?
• Winlink is basically an improvement to packet
  radio.
• It uses message drafting software similar in
  appearance to standard e-mail handling
  applications and transmits them in various
  digital modes
• VHF/UHF Packet (using Airmail or Paclink
  freeware)
• HF Pactor (using Airmail freeware)
• and Telnet (from a normal Internet connection).
• At the receiving end of VHF/UHF and HF
  transmissions, it is either held for other
  participating stations or it enters the Internet
  for further transmission anywhere as normal
  e-mail.

8
Winlink 2000 Today

• Created seven years ago for open water boaters
  and RV users
• Approximately 150,000 radio message/260,000
  minutes through system, monthly.
• Over 7,200 weekly users to over 85,000 e-mail
  recipients.
• Over 50 standard participating locations (PMBOs)
  with 25 in USA. Many locations contain both VHF
  Telpac and HF Winlink capabilities.
• HF radio access, VHF/UHF radio access, Telnet
  internet access, WEB browser access.
• 2.1 minute average delivery time
• Endorsed by the ARRL as a viable emergency
  digital communication system

9
Benefits to Served Agencies

• Backup, radio SMTP e-mail until last mile is
  restored
• VHF/UHF for local area connection to Internet
• HF for distant connection to Internet
• Familiar e-mail interface
• Local Hubbing even with no Internet access
• No software or hardware necessary behind Firewall
• Control operator need not be present for
  third-party digital traffic. (97.109 Station
  control, for 3rd Party traffic rules) Not
  directly accountable for content (97.219(c.)

10
How is it done? By connecting to stations that
run Participating Mail Box Operations (PMBOs)
24/7.
The PMBO is connected to the internet at all
times. There are over 300 VHF Telpac PMBOs and 25
HF PMBOs in the USA. There are more than 50 HF
PMBOs worldwide.
PMBO
Remote Station
Computer
The Internet
11
VHF PMBOs with internet gateways are called
TELPAC stations a combination of the Telnet
internet connection and Paclink.
W6IM-1
W6IM
TELPAC stations may be associated with an HF PMBO
using a substation ID (-1, -2) from the the PMBO
or stand alone and connect to the Internet via
any TCP/IP link, including ICOMs D-Star or
WiFi 802-11b.
Computer
Telnet via ISP
D-Star
802-11b
The Internet
12
The Network
Other computers, or Central Mail Box Operations
(CMBOs), organize and manage the network traffic.
There are only two, one in Ohio, and one in
California.
Computer
CMBOs are transparent to users. They are
redundant, and you never know they are there.
The Internet
CMBO
CMBO
CMBO
13
Winlink allows you to transmit standard e-mail
directly to all Internet e-mail users worldwide,
as if you were using your home or office
computer. Likewise anyone anywhere can send you
an e-mail back through the same system.
Computer
The Internet
CMBO
14
Adding a Local Area Network (LAN) to the PACLINK
computer permits multiple individuals within the
served agency to send and receive radio e-mail.
PACLINK is now an e-mail server.
PACLINK may be placed in the DMZ zone in front
of the firewall.
The Internet
SERVED AGENCY LAN
15
And you can send radio e-mail to other amateur
stations via Paclink (VHF) or Airmail (HF/VHF)
without the Internet. The PMBO will hold the
e-mail in queue waiting for the receiving station
to connect.
There are lots of options to get the email
delivered.
16
If the local PMBO has an outage, you can make a
connection with another local TELPAC station Or
The Internet
17
you can traverse the packet network using nodes
to get to a connected TELPAC station or PMBOOr
The Internet
18
you can use an HF station to get to a distant
connected PMBO using AirmailOr
PMBO (distant)
The Internet
19
if your computer has a valid internet
connection, Telnet can be used to send and
receive e-mail through an ISP via a PMBO to other
Winlink or Paclink stations. This is handy for
fixed stations because it is fast.
PACLINK stations can switch between preset radio
destinations and Telnet connectivity to find a
connection to a PMBO.
The Internet
20
What you need to get started with Winlink VHF
(Paclink)

• Computer (recommended OS Windows 2000 or better)
• TNC and cables
• Airmail software
• -- or
• Soundcard Interface
• (e.g. Rigblaster)
• Paclink AGW and AGWPE software
• VHF radio with data cable to computer soundcard
  interface or TNC
• Suitable antenna

21
What applications to get for Winlink HF and VHF
(using a TNC)

• Go to www.winlink.org and click on the link for
  the Airmail Webpage
• -- or --
• Go directly to http//www.siriuscyber.net/ham/
• and download the latest version of Airmail Ham
  Client
• For HF use, a linked propagation table is
  available by also clicking on the link to the
  NTIA/ITS website and downloading the propagation
  application.

• You may also need Winzip, Adobe Acrobat Reader
  and antivirus software.

Read and follow the installation instructions!
22
What applications to get for VHF Paclink, using
soundcard interface (no TNC)

• You may also need Winzip, Adobe Acrobat Reader
  and antivirus software.

• Go to www.winlink.org to download Paclink AGW and
  Paclink Post Office
• Go to www.elcom.gr/sv2agw and download the latest
  AGWPE packet engine
• An Email interface is required Outlook Express
  is recommended free with Internet Explorer

Read and follow the installation instructions!
NOTE  Paclink requires the new Microsoft .NET
framework.   Click on the link to Microsoft
Downloads at the Winlink 2000 Download page
23
Sound Card/Interface Setup

• Any SoundBlaster Compatible Sound Card
• RigBlaster Serial Port Control
• See www.westmountainradio.com/RIGblaster.htm
• - or -
• RigExpert USB Port
• See http//www.mixw.net/RigExpert/
• - or -
• Any device that can isolate radio from computer
  and match audio input and output levels will
  work
• Radio Shack Audio Isolation Transformers (1200
  baud only!)
• See http//www.patmedia.net/ralphmilnes/soundcardp
  acket/

24
VHF or UHF?

• Most modern VHF radios will work at 1200 baud
  packet
• 9600 Baud Packet is possible but needs a high
  quality radio
• For a good discussion, see
• http//www.patmedia.net/ralphmilnes/soundcardpacke
  t/6modes.htm
• There are not many UHF Telpac nodes for the
  best interoperability remember to KISS.

25

• A WINLINK 2000 HF FIELD STATION
• You will need the following equipment
• HF transceiver (IC-706MKIIG, FT-897D or
  equivalent)
• Pactor capable TNC
• Pactor I _at_ 200 bps TNC is cheap or free
• Pactor II _at_ 800 bps TNC is moderately
  expensive
• Pactor III _at_ 3600 bps TNC is very expensive
• HF multi-band (mobile/portable) antenna, and
  possibly an antenna tuner
• 12V DC power source
• Laptop Computer (Win 98, NT, 2000, XP) and
  Airmail software

26
Example of Portable Winlink Station HF
Jerry Reimer HR3/KK5CA    IBM 300 Mhz laptop
running XP Pro OS, Airmail, SCS PTCII with
Pactor 3 license, Icom IC-706 Mk IIG, LDG
Electronics Z100 tuner, MFJ switching power
supply.
27
Example of Portable Winlink Station VHF
Mike Bourke W5LMB  Dell P150 laptop running
WIN-98, Airmail, KPC-3 TNC, Kenwood TM-201B
radio, powered by 36 AH SLA battery in
separate case.
28
Equipment/Software Decision Tree
Choice of TNCs
P1
Software Airmail
Pactor 1, 2 or 3?
HF
P2 or P3
SCS TNC
VHF or HF?
Software Paclink AGWPE
Needs audio isolation
Soundcard
VHF
TNC or Soundcard?
Software Paclink AGWPE
No
TNC
Airmail Support?
Yes
Software Airmail
29
Software Operation
30

• Questions?
• See www.winlink.org

Or call Bud, N7CW, at 928-771-8267 or
n7cw_at_cableone.net