EMAIL VIA HAM RADIO INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW To

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW To WINLINK 2000 Global Radio Email System Ken Mitchell, KD 2 KW George Edwards, K 5 VUU July, 2013

OUTLINE • WINLINK Basic User Overview • RMS…. . CMS • VHF/UHF…. . HF • WL 2 K User Software • WL 2 K HF Modes • Using RMS Express with WINMOR • Using RMS Express with WL 2 K Packet • Demonstration and Participation

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO Winlink Basic User Overview A typical ham radio digital station is composed of simple components. Radio Data Interface RMS Gateway stations must have internet connection. Client Computer The Ham computer is equipped with WL 2 K Client software. In order to do e-mail, it is necessary to link to a WL 2 K Radio Mail Server (RMS) station. RMS Gateway WL 2 K CMS On Internet RMS links to the WL 2 K Central Mail Server (CMS)

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO Winlink CMS Overview Perth CMS San Diego CMS They are located well-apart around the world any one of them can The WL 2 K system has redundant, mirror-image servers connected together on the internet. easily support the whole WL 2 K system if one or more should go offline. We call them CMS or Common Message Servers. Vienna CMS Halifax CMS Brentwood CMS

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO Winlink Where short range (up to 30 miles) communications are possible VHF may be used to provide E-mail over Ham Radio. RMS Packet Gateway Radio Data Interface Client Compute r RMS Gateway WL 2 K CMS On Internet

VHF/UHF PACKET NETWORK IN TEXAS

VHF/UHF PACKET NETWORK IN SOUTH TEXAS

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO Winlink RMS Packet Gateway Radio Data Interface Client Compute r RMS Gateway WL 2 K CMS On Internet Where the incident is not within VHF range the radio link must be made on High Frequency. Any network station in the world that can be reached may be used. There are more than 50 HF RMS Sites in North America.

WL 2 K HF RMS EMCOMM SITES IN NORTH AMERICA

WL 2 K HIGH FREQUENCY GLOBAL NETWORK

Winlink 2000: User Software There are currently three principal programs users can use to access the Winlink 2000 system: Airmail Paclink RMS Express

Winlink 2000: User Software Airmail: Original program for sending / receiving WL 2 K messages. Supports HF PACTOR, VHF/UHF Packet and Telnet. Supports peer-to-peer and connections to RMS Gateways. Limited TNC types supported. Simple built in e-mail interface. Setup is less straightforward than newer clients. Contains a catalog of over 700 WX Products and other related info. Contains an interface for real-time GPS reporting. Still in widespread use, especially by the maritime community.

Winlink 2000: User Software Paclink: Established program on 3 rd generation – very stable Supports HF PACTOR, VHF/UHF Packet and Telnet Wide variety of TNC types supported including AGW packet engine Pop/SMTP e-mail server supports popular client e-mail software Provides multiple users access over a Wi-Fi or wired LAN. Setup is simple

Winlink 2000: User Software RMS Express: Newest member of WL 2 K user software family Supports HF PACTOR, HF WINMOR, VHF/UHF Packet and Telnet Supports RMS Gateways and peer-to-peer connects. Wide variety of TNC types supported, including a generic “KISS” mode. Contains template for over 700 WX and related products. Contains interface for real-time GPS reporting. Setup is simple with automatic program and frequency list updates.

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO How do Hams do that? WL 2 K HF MODES NOW INCLUDE PACTOR 1, 2, 3 – Firmware-based data modems. Legacy multimode TNCS (KAM+, PK-232, etc. ) support P 1. More expensive ($700+) SCS PTC units provide P 1, P 2 (up to 8 X P 1 speed), P 3 (up to 16 X P 1 speed. ) and P 4 (non -ham frequencies) WINMOR – New soundcard-based protocol provides up to 2. 5 X P 1 (500 Hz BW) and 10 X P 1 (1600 Hz BW).

E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO How do Hams do that? WL 2 K HF MODES NOW INCLUDE WINMOR Sound Card TNC

WINMOR “Virtual TNC” Screen Capture: 3 Carrier 16 QAM Receive Level Tuning Offset ”+” 3 Carriers decoded OK 16 QAM Circular Constellation (White Gaussian Noise @ 5 d. B) Each pixel = 1 symbol Relative decode Quality 1 KHz waterfall

WINMOR “Virtual TNC” Screen Capture: 15 Carrier QPSK Connection State Frame Type Bytes Received “+” “M” recovery after Summation (memory ARQ) “m” no decode, Good ID (added to summation) QPSK Constellation (heavy fading) Each pixel = 1 symbol decoded OK 2 KHz waterfall “-” no decode, poor ID match (not added to summation)

WINLINK 2000 References July, 2013 Client Software Information and download sites 1. WINLINK 2000 Global Radio Email System http: //www. winlink. org/ 2. RMS Express download website: Latest application software download links with package descriptions and comparisons. http: //www. winlink. org/Client. Software 3. RMS Express and WINMOR Support: This Reflector is specifically set up for the purpose of obtaining Winlink 2000 user applications, and to support and discuss their installation, configuration and use. http: //groups. yahoo. com/group/Winlink_Programs_Group

Also for WINMOR 1. EMCOMM RMS Gateway status for Texas by ARES District: http: //n 5 tw. ecpi. com/rmsstatus/ 2. WINLINK 2000 Status and gateway information (PUBLIC unless you identify as EMCOMM): http: //www. winlink. org/RMSMap

Additional Self Study Resources 1. Getting started with WINLINK 2000 http: //www. dtreg. com/Getting_Started_with_Winlink_and_WINMOR. pdf 2. A WINLINK 2000 Webinar ftp: //www. winlink. org/2011%20 Winlink%20 webinar. pptx 3. A WINMOR Primer http: //www. winlink. org/webfm_send/109