Winlink 2000

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Winlink 2000

• E-Mail via VHF Radio

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40 Years of Experience
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Winlink 2000

• Originally designed for HF/PACTOR-based messaging
• Message passing format will actually work over
  any error-correcting protocol
• Think SMTP over TCP
• Routes e-mail and supports attachments
• Supports position reporting
• Suggested that TelPac nodes beacon APRS
• All traffic ends up at same PMBOs as HF traffic

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Interesting things about Winlink

• In order to receive e-mail, you must send at
  least one message via the system
• To control / keep SPAM out, PMBOs will only
  deliver Internet traffic if addressed station has
  previously sent e-mail to the sending address
• Recvd e-mail is actually routed to all
  previously PMBOs that you have connected to.

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WL2K Experience

• Discovered VHF support 1 year ago
• Comm Academy had session about it
• Really easy to setup
• After about 20 minutes of playing, was
  sending/receiving e-mail
• Most difficult part was finding local Telpac node
• One of primary purposes is to pass message
  traffic during emergency
• Decided to try out during FD2005 for NTS traffic
• Worked out arrangement with Mt. Baker Club

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FD2005
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Telpac

• What is a Telpac node?
• RF interface between VHF/UHF packet stations and
  the internet
• Accepts connections from WL2K clients
• Transfers e-mail to PMBOs via Internet
  connection
• Couple solutions for Telpac nodes
• Airlink 2000 Software Suite includes basic Telpac
  Node
• Requires AGW Packet Engine
• N0FPF-3 main Telpac node in area
• Located on radio towers in Capital Hill
• Freq 147.60

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Paclink Post Office

• What is a Paclink node?
• Supports multiple hosts on LAN with SMTP host
• Bridges traffic to RF via VHF/UHF packet link to
  Telpac node
• Allows multiple e-mail clients on LAN to
  send/receive e-mail with standard e-mail clients
  (Outlook, Outlook Express, etc)

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What about Airmail?

• So exactly how do I play with all this cool
  stuff?
• Basic requires are Windows PC, 1200 baud packet
  TNC and 2m Radio
• Download Airmail from www.airmail2000.com
• Airmail is actually a suite of software all
  rolled into one package
• Provides basic e-mail for HF or VHF
• Includes SMTP host to bridge normal e-mail
  programs to Winlink system
• Includes modules for many other options (like
  APRS client)

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Airmail Configure Step 1
Select the Settings tab. Enter your
Callsign. Click after ..
Offer FBB Binary Level 2(B2F). Keyboard Mode
defaults work fine. Enter your Latitude and
Longitude in decimal format, or enter your grid
square and it will calculate it for you! Click
after Send QTH.

• The Messages section defaults work fine also.
• Check Show Local Time Zone if you wish to use
  local time. Otherwise it will display UTC time.
• Click Apply and then click on the Connection
  tab.

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Airmail Configuration Step 2

• These settings are for HF
• Select your modem type from the list.
• Select local loop if you are not going to use hf.
• Select the com port and baud rate

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Airmail Configuration Step 3
Restart Airmail and select Tools and then
Options again. We will briefly look at some
of the less glamorous screens. Click on the
Folders tab.
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Airmail Configuration Step 4

• Now the fun part!
• Select the Modules tab.
• Click on VHF Packet Client and select the
  Setup button
• The following steps require a working VHF/UHF
  packet modem be connected to the system.

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Airmail Configuration - Step 5
Select your TNC from the drop down menus and fill
in the com port and baud rate. Remember that
this is the baud rate that the computer and TNC
communicate.
The defaults under Port Settings are usually
OK. The TX Audio Level will be grayed out if
your TNC does not support software
adjustment. Select the OK button, click on
Apply, and then click OK. This will return
you to the main screen again.
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Airmail Configuration Step 6
From the menu bar on the main program screen,
select Modules, and then select Packet
Client. Your TNC must be in command mode for
the packet client to work (NOT Kiss). If you
have any doubts, do a soft or hard restart to
start fresh.
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Airmail Configuration Step 7

• If everything worked, youll see Packet
  initialized OK message
• Insert your Callsign in the Connect As box
  (AD5CA)
• Insert the station (Telpac node) in the Connect
  To box (ad5ca-3)

• Make sure the handshake button is selected
• Then click the Green button to initiate the
  connection to the TelPac node
• You should see similar type interaction as the
  example

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Other interesting things..

• Airmail also supports sending e-mail via the
  Internet
• To enable, install Telnet Client via the
  modules setup
• Suggested settings
• Remote Callsign K4CJX
• Remote Host k4cjx.no-ip.com
• Port 12001
• Timeout 30
• Local Callsign KU7M (You call goes here)
• Passwd wl2ktelnetclient
• Protocol B2
• Send e-mail just like packet, but pull up Telnet
  Module instead
• You e-mail address on the system will be
  Yourcall_at_winlink.org

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Questions?

• Useful links
• Main Winlink site www.winlink.org
• Method to find Telpac nodes http//www.winlink.or
  g/status/TelpacEx.aspx
• Real time status of Telpac nodes
  http//www.winlink.org/status/TelpacStatus.aspx
• AGW Packet Engine http//www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/

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Special Thanks.

• WA7NWP for answer all my questions when I got
  started
• AD5CA who was nice enough to post his WL2K
  presentation that I heavily borrowed from.