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 & O ff -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 Global Internet Perth Brentwood Halifax CMS Servers Common Message Servers RMS Gateway s W9FE MPS RMS Stations Radio Only KD6OAT AD5EO Radio Message Server Message Pick-Up Station Ham Radio Stations Which Send & Receive Email P2P They reach out to stations Peer 2 Peer where the Internet still exists. KC2LM KC5RUO

Download WINLINK Express https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress At the bottom of the page…

Send a Winlink Message… You understand that there may be one or two “hops” between the originator and the end user. RMS Express Software is Recommended for Email

Send a Winlink Message…

Writing Your Email Message Post to Outbox Message Box Reveals Your Message Status

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 NY5L KC6RUO Across Town via VHF/UHF W4RRR KC2LM Across the Continent via HF HF or VHF/UHF it is still considered a Direct Peer 2 Peer session.

Peer to Peer Messages Click on “Peer-to-Peer” Peer 2 Peer is a DIRECT message between TWO radio Operators. Be Sure to Select a OR Common Frequency.

Starting a Peer 2 Peer Exchange The Message must be addressed to the Call Sign of the station that will receive it. Type out your message. Post the Message to the Out Box.

Setting Peer 2 Peer Destination Open the Session Click on the “Switch to Peer- to-Peer Session” AG5KY Type in the recipient station call sign into the Connect Station Field. Click on START to send the message.

Things to Remeber: When Working Peer to Peer 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.

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

https://www.winlink.org/content/ Access Templates winlink_express_message_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/ Access Forms winlink_express_message_templates

Using Forms in RMS Express Why Use Forms? * Forms are e ffi cient 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