Ham Radio And The Winlink 2000 Digital Communications System WL2K

During Emergencies Ham Radio operators will be doing More of their communications Using Ham Radio “Digital Modes”.                                  

That Means We will send & receive messages With computers connected to Ham Radio’s With a special interface That functions like a modem.                                  

Currently Winlink 2000 -Is the Digital Ham Radio system used by the Counties in The State of Oregon.                                  

Why did we choose the Winlink System You can use the Ham Radios that you already have. New Expensive Specialty Radio’s are not needed. Some Hams Already Have TNC’s and/or SignaLink USB’s. Messages are compressed and can’t be read unless they are addressed to you. The system works like regular email and is easy to use and learn. Hams may only need to add a TNC to have a Winlink Ready Station.                                  

Who is using Winlink Digital Communications Here in Clatsop County, Oregon                  Clatsop County EOC (Emergency Managers Office) Clatsop County Alternate EOC (at Camp Rilea) Providence Seaside Hospital City of Seaside EOC Cannon Beach Fire Many Hams here in our County

Why Digital Communications We can send and receive messages faster and Error free using this mode                                  

Who Will We Communicate With? We can send and receive Digital Communications between The Clatsop County E.O.C. & Oregon State EOC Between The Clatsop County EOC and Providence Seaside Hospital, Cannon Beach Fire, City of Seaside EOC. As well as any other entities outside of the Disaster Area Where we may have a vital need.                                  

To perform this task we will use “AirMail” and/or “RMS - Express” Software, this Software is Free to Ham Radio Operators.                                  

AirMail Message Screen

RMS-Express Message Screen

In Clatsop County Oregon We are increasing the number of trained Ham Radio Operators that are able to provide Digital Communications during Emergencies.                                  

Digital Communications Are: Much faster to send and receive messages compared to voice communications. Able to get to the recipient with no errors. Capable of being sent to multiple recipients when going thru Winlink. Able to accept attachments such as images when it is a critical need. Very quick and easy to learn. Able to have the messages typed up by the originator (They can also be in-puted by the Ham Operator), and then handed off to a Ham Radio Operator so it can be sent off to its destination. Easy to duplicate if a paper copy of the message gets lost.                                  

Unfortunately, in today’s World, we cannot predict the frequency, size, nature or location of our disaster areas! We Must Prepare NOW! Global? Local? Regional?

Winlink 2000 is a very dependable, Emergency Communications System that bridges any distance around the World. Radio Radio

How The Winlink System Works Now a Brief Overview of How The Winlink System Works                                  

How ? …do Hams do that?

This Is How: The WL2K System Works CMS Halifax CMS San Diego CMS Perth Redundant Common Message Servers – 5 Servers Worldwide (Share the load but any ONE can run the ENTIRE system) - callsign@winlink.org Upper Level CMS-sites Upper Level CMS-sites Internet Conventional Email Users & Agencies Radio Message Servers (RMS) RMS HF Gateway = HF RMS Packet Gateway = VHF Mid Level RMS-sites Telnet Access Links: HF Radio VHF/UHF Radio D-Star data radio WiFi, Telnet, Web Radio Access Radio Access Existing Packet Ham Radio Networks Radio Access Users Running Airmail & Winmor User Level

At The User-Level of the Winlink System Users = Ham Radio Operators Ham Radio Operators are Running AirMail and/or Winmor Software Over Ham Radio Equipment To Send and Receive Messages for Served Agencies.

Clatsop County Ham Radio Operators at Camp Rilea Sending Messages Over WinLink Using AirMail

At The Mid-Level of the Winlink System RMS-Sites RMS = Radio Message Servers These are gateways that Ham Radio Operators connect to, and then His or Her message is routed automatically through a gateway on to one of the 4 World Wide CMS Sites. This Can be done with VHF, UHF, or HF

Providence Seaside Service Area VHF RMS-Sites KD7IBA-10 RMS-Site With Satellite Internet And it has backup Emergency Power Providence Seaside Service Area VHF RMS-Sites WA7VE-10 RMS-Site Land Based Internet. It is one block away from Providence Hospital. If its Internet fails, This RMS-site automatically becomes a Digi-Peater which means everyone can start connecting to KD7IBA-10 thru WA7VE-10

VHF/UHF-Radio RMS Sites

HF-Radio RMS Sites

This is The Upper-Level of the Winlink System CMS-Sites CMS = Common Message Servers There are 5 of these CMS sites World Wide. These are redundant sites each a duplicate of each other where messages are send to and held waiting for pickup by other Ham Radio Operators around the World.

Worldwide Winlink CMS-Sites CMS=Common Message Server CMS CMS CMS CMS CMS Perth, Australia San Diego, CA Brentwood, TN Halifax, Nova Scotia Wien, Austria (Vienna)

What’s Needed To Access An RMS Site To Access an RMS Packet Gateway (Local) To Access an RMS HF Gateway (Worldwide) Computer with RMS Express or Airmail software Computer with Airmail software HF Radio VHF/UHF Radio Packet TNC (KPC-3+, TNC-X, etc or Radio with integrated TNC) TNC with – Pactor 1,2 or 3 or WINMOR Virtual TNC like a SignaLink USB

What Makes up an RMS Site? Normal Internet Access VHF/UHF Radio Packet TNC Internet Access Normal Internet Access Gateway Dedicated Computer with Airmail software

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