WINLINK is a worldwide radio email service that uses radio pathways - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WINLINK is a worldwide radio email service that uses radio pathways where the internet is not present, and is capable of operating completely without the internet-- automatically--using smart-network radio relays.

Winlink

* Started in the Late 1990s and is also known as the Winlink 2000 * All Volunteer Project of the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation * A World-Wide System for Transferring E-Mail via Radio * Used for Local, State, National and International Emergencies * Its Redundancy, Flexibility & Off-Grid Independence Make it Useful for

EmComm

* WINLINK Gets the Message through When Other Systems are NOT

Available.

* Download Winlink Express : https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress

World Wide Connectivity

SIMPLY STATED: Connect from your station that is without the Internet access and connect via radio to a station WITH the Internet for connectivity.

Area w/out Internet

WINLINK Email Transfer Paths

RMS Stations

CMS Servers Common Message Servers

Ham Radio Stations

Which Send & Receive Email Perth Brentwood Halifax

KD6OAT AD5EO W9FE

MPS

Radio Only

P2P Peer 2 Peer

Global Internet

KC5RUO KC2LM

Radio Message Server

RMS Gateways

They reach out to stations where the Internet still exists. Message Pick-Up Station

Download WINLINK Express

https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress

At the bottom of the page…

Send a Winlink Message…

RMS Express Software is Recommended for Email

You understand that there may be one or two “hops” between the originator and the end user.

Send a Winlink Message…

Writing Your Email Message

Message Box Reveals Your Message Status

Post to Outbox

Channel Selection - Select a RMS

Aside: Set the SignaLink DELAY to zero.

Selecting Your Frequency

But Sure to tune your Rig to the DIAL Frequency

Sending Your Messages

This Bar Displays your message’s progress.

The Received Message

• 1. You Open WINLINK and Open a Session.
• 2. Connect to a RMS station.
• 3. If there’s nothing in your Outbox, the software

assumes you are there to pick up your messages from the Inbox.

• 4. Open your Inbox and the receive your messages.

Peer to Peer Messages

Across the Continent via HF

HF or VHF/UHF it is still considered a Direct Peer 2 Peer session.

NY5L KC6RUO

Across Town via VHF/UHF

KC2LM W4RRR

Peer to Peer Messages

Peer 2 Peer is a DIRECT message between TWO radio Operators. Be Sure to Select a Common Frequency.

OR

Click on “Peer-to-Peer”

Starting a Peer 2 Peer Exchange

The Message must be addressed to the Call Sign of the station that will receive it. Post the Message to the Out Box. Type out your message.

Open the Session Click on the “Switch to Peer- to-Peer Session” Type in the recipient station call sign into the Connect Station Field. AG5KY

Setting Peer 2 Peer Destination

Click on START to send the message.

• 1. Receiving Stations must also be in Peer 2 Peer Session
• 2. The transmitting station presses START to begin

sending the message.

• 3. You may need to use voice exchanges to coordinate the

sending of the message.

• 4. Stations must remember to switch back to WINLINK

Message and WINLINK Session.

Things to Remeber: When Working Peer to Peer

What If Internet Goes Down Completely?

The system converts to a “Message System Pick-Up Path”

1. Select a station you want to pick-up your Email.

* Each Station Picks 1 to 3 stations

• 2. Go within the RMS software to select the

stations you want to store your Emails.

KD7WKO WA4BDS

WA4BDS’ Pick-Up station

KD7WKO does not need to know WA4BDS’ Email Pick-Up Stations for the system to work.

https://www.winlink.org/content/ winlink_express_message_templates

Access Templates

Templates

• A template is a simple text file containing information to be

inserted into a message as it’s being written.

• Templates can be created with Notepad or the Template

Editor built into RMS Express and Saved.

Select Template

Using Templates in RMS Express

Templates provide a starting point for developing an Email message. Templates can be developed and saved for specific purposes.

https://www.winlink.org/content/ winlink_express_message_templates

Access Forms

Using Forms in RMS Express

Why Use Forms?

* Forms are efficient and

professional looking

* More Sophisticated than

Templates

(Within Winlink Express)

Select the specific form you need.

Fill-In the Data to Complete the Form

Example of an ICS-213 Input Form

Click on “Submit” When Completed.

This is The Message Created by the Form

To & Subject fields from form input. XML file with data for the display form

Message body created by the template using information from the form.

Message Shown by Display Form on Receiving End

Practice - Practice - Practice - Practice

Practice: Sending Emails Practice: Receiving Emails Practice: Building and Using Templates Practice: Accessing Forms and Using Them to Send Messages Practice: Receiving Messages Sent Using Forms and Reconstituting the Completed Form

Competence Comes with Use.

Include WINLINK messaging in the BCARES drills. (Emails, & P-2-P) Perhaps we should use the BCARES Email List to send each other email messages and include the use of forms during these sessions.

Questions?

Email your questions & comments to

kc2lm@arrl.net