Enhanced Digital Messaging for Amateur Radio
Winlink 2000 is the use of amateur radio and emerging technologies to create an emergency packet/telnet communication system.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Board of Directors adopted the Winlink 2000 digital radio email messaging system for use by its Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)® during its July 2004 meeting.
Read the following ARRL links regarding this decision.
ARESCOM - Plan to Enhance Emergency Communication Capability (article is mid page)
Minutes from the July 15, 2004, ARRL Board of Directors Meeting
ARESCOM Committee Final Report to the ARRL Board of Directors
This page and its links present the Winlink 2000 (WL2K) system. It is a portal to the Winlink 2000 web site and related applications. The intent is to provide an overview of the system and easy access to greater detail. This page contains articles, instruction and installation experiences to produce a consolidated reference to help you create a fully functional emergency packet communications system that will meet the needs of your organization at the local level. The degree of robustness that is developed will be up to your group, its resources and its needs as defined by the requirements of its served agencies. The information on these pages comes from many internet resources.
Winlink 2000 information can be found on these pages.
Winlink 2000 Home page Winlink 2000 Features
Winlink 2000 Glossary of Terms Winlink 2000 Frequently Ask Questions
Winlink 2000: Quick View
Winlink 2000 is an Internet-based "star" network consisting of a single primary server known as the Central Mail Box Office (CMBO) and multiple HF nodes known as Participating Mail Box Offices (PMBO). The CMBO is located in Cleveland, OH and has a backup located in San Diego, CA. The PMBOs, located around the world, are minimally a single HF station operating on a specific frequency and can be multiple HF stations operating on different frequencies. Additionally there are multiple Telnet Server nodes providing internet access into the Winlink network. Rounding out the network are telnet/packet (Telpac) nodes providing a packet/internet link at the local level. The Winlink 2000 web site provides a list of PMBOs and Telpac nodes.
Winlink 2000: The Parts A fully developed, robust HF/VHF/UHF digital communications system will be comprised of the following.
Note: The West Rockingham digital communications system will be comprised of a subset of these based upon the group's resources and the requirements of it's served agencies. Initially the HF aspect of the system is not being addressed.
CMBO
(Central Mail Box Office) The central server in the Winlink 2000 (WL2K) "star" network configuration. It coordinates the traffic between the participating network stations (PMBOs) as well as serving as the email and position reporting interface. This coordination occurs over the Internet. This minimizes the use of the amateur radio spectrum for administrative tasks and leaves radio frequencies available for the end-users.
PMBO view stations
(Participating Mail Box Office) A Winlink 2000 participating network MBO. PMBOs communicate with each other through the CMBO in a "star" network configuration via the Internet and with the end-users and other MBOs over radio.
Telpac Node view nodes
Telpac stands for "Tel"net "Pac"ket bridge. A Telpac node provides a link between a packet station and the internet. Telpac software uses AX.25 packet to provide access to the WL2K Telnet Servers. Telpac delivers mail between the Winlink 2000 system and the wireless ham user. It allows the Winlink 2000 user to employ VHF/UHF Packet mode with the B2F protocol to take advantage of "last mile" coverage. Telpac easily interfaces Winlink 2000 to conventional VHF/UHF Packet users, and when used with the Paclink server and Outlook or Outlook Express can provide single or multiple clients with all the Winlink 2000 feature sets. Telpac also interfaces with the Airmail packet client module and supports FBB and JNOS Telnet servers.
Paclink AGW with Paclink Post Office
Paclink AGW with Paclink Post Office is an email server that interfaces with most popular E-mail client programs such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. Essentially Paclink AGW adds packet radio and Telnet channels to your email client program. When used with Telpac on VHF/UHF Packet, Paclink serves as a local email server which takes advantage of already existing email agents such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. The Telpac/Paclink combination is an effective way of communicating over the "last mile". A single Paclink server module may serve an entire network of computers hosting Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express as a transparent alternative to normal SMTP email connectivity to the Internet. This application is extremely valuable to emergency management agencies where other means of Internet connectivity have been displaced.
Airmail 2000 Airmail web site
Airmail is a messaging program specifically designed for connection to a HF radio mailbox station (PMBO). Once connected to a compatible station, message transfer is completely automatic. Airmail can transfer messages automatically with any station supporting the BBS or F6FBB protocols, such as Winlink 2000, F6FBB, MSYS, and other Airmail stations.
AGW Packet Engine (AGWPE) AGWPE web site
The Packet Engine handles all the traffic between packet applications (Telpac, Paclink, AGW Terminal, etc) and your TNC(s). Packet Engine supported applications connect to the Packet Engine and can share a single TNC and radio thus providing multiple packet services such as a APRS, a digipeater, a packet cluster, a packet mailbox etc. AGWPE can interface with a TNC or use a PC soundcard for packet. There are two versions, AGWPE (free) and Packet Engine Pro ($). The major difference is ease of configuration and the number of TNCs and soundcards supported.
Local Packet Station
A station using a TNC, VHF/UHF Radio, and packet software (WinPack, HyperTerm...).
Winlink 2000: The Network
Need a Block diagram showing possible WL2K messaging paths
The network can be as simple or complex as requirements necessitate. How the WL2K system is used depends upon the needs of those you serve.
Most Paclink VHF/UHF email applications (stations B and D) would be seen at installations in a multi-computer environment, on a LAN. Paclink can be configured with up to five prioritized connection paths. Telnet direct to a PMBO would be the first, followed by different paths to Telpac Nodes. Future plans include adding HF connection capabilities to allow direct Paclink to PMBO connections.
Some paths start at the bottom and make their way all the way to the top - to the CMBO. Messages sent on those paths make their way to and from the CMBO automatically. Some paths start at the bottom and stop at a peer (like a Airmail-to-Airmail). This scenario provides for easy packet communications using an email client. Messages needing to be delivered beyond either station would require telnet connectivity or more manual steps to get messages to and from the CMBO. Once at the CMBO, a message can be retrieved from any station anywhere in the world.
Winlink 2000: The Station
There are many possible radio/hardware configurations. The developers of Winlink 2000 have provided minimum requirements in their documentation. Read these. Determine what your needs are and implement the configuration that will support the requirement. This document is currently directed at implementing a local solution that incorporates VHF packet, a packet network and telnet.
Components necessary to establish a VHF Winlink capable local station are:
• a PC Pentium II or higher
• Windows 98 or higher
• a TNC
• .Net Framework 1.1 SP1
• AGWPE
• Paclink AGW and Paclink Postoffice
• Microsoft Outlook Express/Outlook or POP3 configurable email client
• Telpac
• Airmail
• VHF Radio
This configuration will allow you to establish these types of connections:
• radio-to-radio packet
• radio-to-Telpac-to-Internet
• Telpac-to-Internet
• email client on a LAN to Paclink to Telpac to Internet
• Internet mail
Imagine finally being able to use that TNC and radio. And because of the software available you don't have to use the archaic BBS commands to send and receive messages and bulletins. Just by using Paclink or Airmail, you can compose a message in the email program of your choice. And yes, also include attachments.
Station installation will take a couple hours. The process of installing, configuring and testing the software is more time-consuming than complex. Some tasks are not necessarily intuitive and this document will attempt to clarify these steps. After initial testing is complete expect to spend several additional hours experimenting and adjusting things so that the system can be used for your particular needs. Remember, you don't have to get everything working all at once. First define the features and capabilities that are required by your group and served agencies. Decide what connectivity you want to implement first and complete that task. Then move on to the next capability. Before you know it you'll have all the features implemented. The result being a robust communications system that can shrink or grow to meet the demands of the event and users. To help you out take a look at this step-by-step document. It will provide a general guide to implementing WL2K.
Winlink 2000: Software Installation
You will need a decompression program for some of these installations. If you don't have one of these utilities then download WinZip.
Install and Overview documents may be either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF. If you don't have Adobe Reader then
Install Microsoft .Net Framework
Use Windows Update
Follow the installation instructions provided at the Windows Update site. After installing .Net Framework 1.1 go back to Windows Update and install .Net Framework Service Pack 1.
Windows Update requires the use of Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Install AGW Packet Engine (AGWPE)
Download
This directs you to the software download page. Download the install file, AGWPE.zip. Note the name of the download folder.
The installation is straightforward. Extract the zipped files into a new folder. i.e. C:\Program Files\AGWPE\
All AGWPE files are located in the extract destination folder. AGWPE does not install files into the Windows folder.
While on the download page, consider downloading AGWTERM.zip. This is a simple terminal program that can be used to confirm that AGWPE is working properly.
Configuration Notes:
See the Paclink AGW Install document Appendix A for installation and setup information.
See the Paclink AGW Install document Appendix B or the Telpac Install document Appendix B for testing your AGWPE configuration.
The Paclink AGW Install document can be found on this page.
Install Telpac
Download
This directs you to the Winlink 2000 software page. Download the overview file, install instructions and install file. Note the name of the download folder. Read the Telpac install file and install.
Configuration Notes:
Be sure to have installed and configured AGWPE prior to configuring Telpac. Also consider registering as a node at the Telpac nodes site. Registration is free and bypasses the nag screens, which present license use and call sign input windows.
The Setup window is slightly different from the documentation, but does not affect how you will configure Telpac. Note the "Node Call Sign" is your call sign without a -ssid.
Before testing Telpac be sure that AGWPE is functioning properly. Appendix B in the Telpac Install document provides instructions for testing AGWPE. Also as a courtesy send an email to the person administering the telnet server that you will be using for your test. Read the documentation for more detail.
Install Paclink AGW and Paclink Postoffice
Download
This directs you to the Winlink 2000 software page. Download the overview file, install instructions and install file. Note the name of the download folder. Read the Paclink AGW install file and install.
Notes: The install instructions indicate an order of program installation, follow it. Paclink requires .Net Framework and AGWPE. Install .Net Framework first, AGWPE second then Paclink AGW.
The install instructions indicate there may be an instability running .Net Framework on a Win98SE PC. I took the chance and installed this on a 266MHz laptop and a 1.7g desktop running Win98SE. I am in early testing but so far there is no sign of instability.
The install instructions refer to a Paclink CD. Unless you have this ignore the reference. You are downloading all programs from the source site. This ensures that you will have the current version as of the download operation. (Updates seem to be occurring regularly).
Install Airmail
Download
This directs you to the Airmail 2000 software page. Download the install file and Airmail Packet Primer. Note the name of the download folder. The installation is straightforward. Start the install by double-clicking the install file and follow the instructions.
Configuration Notes:
Airmail was written for use with HF, but it does have a packet, mail and telnet client. The first time Airmail is started the Setup Wizard will execute. Enter your call sign, latitude/longitude, ignore the modem setting, indicate no for the radio connection. This should get you through the wizard and open Airmail. The next step is to tweak the options. You might find this document helpful for configuring Airmail for Internet and packet.