#winlink

Clone of my first node is nearly there. Some antenna work and hoping to go live next weekend.

Winlink is a secondary communications system using amateur radio to send and receive email. The global system uses nodes “listening” on many HF VHF and UHF bands and a variety of data modes. They can be connected to and send and receive email from The Internet allowing a ham radio operator to maintain accurate fast and secure data transmission whether local services are disrupted. Operators can send to each other directly as well, and the newest generation of nodes will switch to radio only store and forward in the event they lose connection to the internet.

After 30 years in the hobby it’s nice to be building the infrastructure for the community, not just assuming it will be there to use.

VARA FM Setup Guide for KN4OLA’s ID-5100 Google Drive version: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sj32O_nLGkv5TCq3UiNoIDWN22IJlH5p/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117665750981101640419&rtpof=true&sd=true Visio for creating the connection diagram: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VyNu-E83HyFbjZrkbgnwro00HkXDzu1k/view?usp=sharing

Finally got WinLink to work!

Ukraine: Poland’s radio amateurs provide WinLink email links

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Amateur Radio Digital Open Protocol (ARDOP) - A newer open radio protocol for Winlink users for transmission of e-mails during disasters or by mariners

 A newer open radio protocol for Winlink users, and for amateurs everywhere is available already. ARDOP (Amateur Radio Digital Open Protocol) is a new (from 2018) cooperative radio protocol project in which the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation and Rick Muething, KN6KB, of the Winlink Development Team are proud to have a major role. ARDOP will ultimately replace WINMOR in the Winlink system because of its superior features and multiple platform (OS) support.

 The protocol design is open, and the software implementations will be open-sourced. This means you can expect the protocol to take different forms, like a virtual TNC using sound-card software on Windows, Linux, Apple OS X, iOS, and Android, or in hardware, like a USB plug-in or 'add-on box' using today's low-cost DSP CPU chips.

 This is an important step as one of the most efficient protocols has been the proprietary Pactor 2 and above, but modems cost easily $1,000 plus and each user must have a modem to use it (Pactor 1 modems are cheaper but are incredibly slow). VARA is a cheaper alternative but still costs money and is not as efficient. Open source also means a better chance that it will be fully cross-platform.

 A big plus with ARDOP is that it will work with just sound cards, or with radios such as the Yaesu FT-991A with a built-in sound card and similar radios, just a USB driver.

 From what I see in Winlink Express the protocol is already listed for use but it does require that the Radio Message Server (or P2P station) that you are connecting to, supports the protocol.

 More at https://www.winlink.org/content/ardop_overview

Winlink is a worldwide radio email service that uses amateur-band radio pathways where the internet is not present and is capable of operating completely without the internet

This system can get messages through where even voice is not practical to use, as it uses a store and forward system which routes using radio. It is similar to the way normal e-mail would forward automatically across the Internet choosing the best route around any problems. Winlink does the same but via radio pathways.

More complex (and accurate) messages can be composed and then only require a few retries and short throughputs to get the message transmitted, and it can be retrieved in the same manner. This is ideal for say maritime vessels which may only get sporadic periods of communication but where they can in that time transmit and receive any messages.

Message services can include email with attachments, position reporting, weather bulletins, emergency and relief communications, and message relay.

Typically if an area is hit by a disaster and normal communications are down, an amateur radio operator with this service could send emails to any normal Internet address elsewhere in the world, and receive messages back.

End-user software used could be Winlink Express for Windows or Pat (cross-platform) and there are other choices too.

Watch a short video overview at https://youtu.be/qGhUfW8pjY8 or more info at Winlink's website at https://winlink.org/