KC Northland ARES (WØKCN)

WinLink

Winlink is an email system like Yahoo, Hotmail, and AOL. Winlink users can send messages to and receive messages from any other email address. Where Winlink differs is that Winlink allows amateur radio operators to reach the system over a VHF or HF amateur transceiver using a Windows-based program and a sound card interface or terminal node controller (TNC).

RMS Express is a Windows program which uses a sound card interface for HF, a Pactor-capable TNC for HF, or a packet TNC for VHF. Email gateways using the same sound card or TNC serve as connection points into the Winlink system. Using RMS Express, a ham can connect to a gateway to send and receive email messages.

RMS Express also provides a direct internet connection mode if the computer has an internet connection, and offers a peer to peer (station to station) capability over the sound card interface.

These modes of operation provide the ham with the ability to bring email to locations where no conventional connection exists, or where such a connection is temporarily unavailable.

NLARES Standards

Northland ARES recommends RMS Express as a common Winlink interface. RMS Express provides a familiar email interface much like Microsoft Outlook and many other email programs. The program also provides a terminal window which shows the session information. For sound card operation, the Winmor Virtual TNC window displays the sound card activity.

KC Northland ARES supports a number of RMS Packet gateways throughout the Northland. There are also a number of other packet gateways in the metro Kansas City area. RMS Packet gateways connect to the Winlink system for the transfer of email.

Outside of the Kansas City area, RMS Pactor gateways exist to provide system connection points when local gateways prove inaccessible, or when local internet connectivity is interrupted making the local gateways non-functional. RMS_Winmor gateways can be accessed via the sound card instead of a Pactor modem.

Recommendations

Northland ARES recommends that any member with an interest in emergency communications, EOC or hospital operation, digital communication, or public service become trained in the use of Winlink. Winlink offers a level of support which is very important in an emergency but which might not be available at that time due to damage caused by the incident. Winlink can also provide a level of personal enjoyment and convenience by providing the operator with an RF email mode which can serve the operator while on vacation or on the road and out of reach of a conventional email network access.

Getting started, Contacts

Assistance with Winlink is available from a number of sources. The Winlink website contains a wealth of information on the system as well as a download area where client software can be obtained. A Yahoo group, WL2KEMCOMM exists to provide Winlink users assistance. The Yahoo group is monitored by the Winlink Development Team so help is available from both the user community and the software developers. Additionally, Northland ARES has a number of members who operate RMS Packet email gateways, each of which are willing to provide assistance. Northland ARES also conducts quarterly digital radio meetings for the purpose of demonstrating and educating ARES members on several digital modes. Assistance with Winlink can be obtained at any of these meetings. Finally, the group’s weekly 2-meter net is another resource for obtaining help with Winlink.

RMS stations Local versus National, why?

Winlink utilizes both VHF Packet and HF Pactor email gateways. A gateway is a connection point into the Winlink system. Winlink uses both HF and VHF gateways to provide different means of accessing the system. VHF gateways can make local, VHF connections very simple and readily available. Northland ARES maintains several VHF Packet gateways throughout the Platte, Clay, and Ray County area. These gateways rely on access to the Internet however, so if local Internet access is unavailable, HF communication might be necessary. HF Pactor stations located throughout the United States and around the world can provide email access even if local VHF Packet infrastructure is not an option.

How do we interface this with the counties and Hospitals?

Because of the Emergency Communication nature of Winlink, Northland ARES embarked in 2006 on a program to bring Winlink access into the county EOCs and hospitals. The emergency communications nature of Winlink makes it a natural fit within an EOC or hospital setting. Clay County EOC and Clay County Mobile Incident Command have both VHF Packet and HF Pactor stations and capabilities. A station consists of an HF/VHF/UHF radio, typically a Yaesu 857D, an SCS PTC II modem and a computer. The computer is used to provide the operator interface for forming, sending, receiving, and reading messages.

Why would we use this in a disaster or emergency

In many emergency situations severe enough to require ARES activation, conventional means of communication are unavailable. Tornados, ice storms, hurricanes, earthquakes and man-made disasters can severely damage and disrupt telephone, cell phone, and internet connectivity. Telephone lines and poles can be brought down, many cell towers don’t have backup electrical power, and Internet access depends on much of this infrastructure. Relying on radio signals instead of phone lines, amateur radio is the one communications medium that works when all else fails many times making it a critical lifeline in times of need. Winlink offers a redundant system with access points near and far and connectivity into the Internet for email transfer. During a disaster, much of the information which needs to be transmitted involves text-based data. Email is a natural transfer medium for this type of information, and Winlink is a natural system for this kind of data transfer.