Winlink Setup

If you are not using Winlink I hope you will take some time to review the videos and give it a try. The link below will open the Winlink resource page of wavetalkers.com. 

https://wavetalkers.com/resources/digital/winlink.php

When you arrive on the page, scroll down until you see the menu bar labeled Section 1, which looks like this:

The video content for the Getting Started section is accessible by clicking on Install, Account or Update on the right hand side of the menu bar.

"Install" walks you through the download and installation.

Clicking on "Account" will show you how to register an account with Winlink.

Watch the "Update" video to learn how the software update process works.

Continuing to Section 2, you can learn the process of creating messages and using templates by clicking on the corresponding word in the right side of the menu bar.

The video labeled "Messages" also shows you how to send a message via telnet, which is a great way to learn the system before adding a computer to radio interface.

As mentioned in the September training topic, I will share a bit of information about the Signalink USB we use at the Newton EOC.

There are other products available, but we chose to buy from Signalink because the radio-to-interface cable was included in the package. Another factor was Signalink's compatibility with just about every radio, including many of the inexpensive handhelds that are popular these days. Additionally, the company made it easy to find the product numbers of the exact components needed.

Again, you can begin using Winlink over the internet, without the cost of additional hardware. If you do want to price the configuation for your specific radio, here is a link to the Product Guide. If you find your radio in the list you will see the Signalink Product Number on the accompanying row, as well as the number of the interface cable. If there is a pre-made jumper model for that radio it will also be referenced on the same line.

With the product numbers written down, go to the ordering page where you can select the USB module by the product number found in the product guide. After selecting the specific interface, the next page will also display the price of any available jumper module, and any other options your radio requires. 

It appears jumper modules are not required, even if they exist for your radio. The radio in use at the Newton EOC did not have a pre-made jumper module available, instead there were short jumper wires included in the kit. I found it was quite easy to configure the jumper wires, as well to complete the entire setup process for the device. 

If you have questions about setting up Winlink on your computer, or the Signalink interface, please text or email via 435-757-3330 or greg.fabricius@gmail.com.

Global Radio Email

Imagine a county-wide emergency where every community response agency is activated. At dispatch and the County EOC, all types of traffic - from urgent to routine - comes in over public safety and amateur radio frequencies. On the amateur radio side, there are at least 13 City or Town EOC’s in this county, as well as a significant faith-based amateur radio organization. When things get rolling, the amount of voice traffic generated could quickly tie up the radio waves.

I once heard the comment that digital messages via amateur radio are the future of emergency communications. How would that help in our scenario? Urgent life safety messages between the EOC’s would continue over voice channels, while messages such as shelter status updates or damage assessments could be compiled via computer using standardized forms, which are then attached to an email and transmitted by amateur radio operators over separate frequencies.

When I joined ARES in 2021 I became familiar with Winlink, and I expect others in our group have experience with Winlink as well. Winlink is a global messaging system using a combination of software and radio equipment to send email. This can be accomplished on VHF (typically 2m) as well as HF.  Many hams locally and across the country have established Winlink as a backup communication method.

Let’s review a couple of instances where Winlink has been a valuable tool when implemented in the field, starting with a Cache County example - the Bear 100 Race.

Amateur Radio support during the race is primarily for runner safety, although other communications are provided, too, including tracking times for each runner, runner support team coordination, supply requests, runner status inquiries, and traffic related to lost runners. In the past, all messages were communicated to net control via voice and as a consequence, the FM repeater in use for the event was tied up about 80 to 90 percent of the time. Net control took the data and recorded it into a database, manually one by one.

Around 2015 the group started using Winlink to communicate data, especially runner times. A BARC member wrote a program for compiling the data automatically into a CSV file that enters the times with the runner. Periodically, this file is compiled at each checkpoint and sent by Winlink to net control via e-mail using packet and Winmor. Sending a file takes 2 to 3 minutes whereas by voice it took hours for net control to receive and copy the information coming in from each checkpoint along the route. An immediate benefit was realized by freeing up the repeater for other event communications.

A side note: This event is a great opportunity for radio operators to work in emergency-like conditions. As the aid station locations are remote in the mountains, in order to stay on the air during their entire operational period it is necessary to develop reliable power solutions.

Winlink also has a history of success during emergency response. One example comes from the Texas Winter Freeze of 2021. Kevin McCoy, KF5FUZ, said the Red Cross formally requested an ARES activation in Texas to address the effects of the natural disaster, which included a lack of drinking water, power outages, fuel shortages, and frozen plumbing, among others.

When asked about the response, McCoy said, “We made a special effort to use Winlink email over radio to get reports of infrastructure problems and unmet needs [and to] communicate information about warming centers.” He continued, “I would say that Winlink operators attending local nets and passing on information was the most valuable contribution in this unusual and unprecedented disaster. We had literally hundreds of Winlink operators across Texas who were trained and ready.” 

If you are not a Winlink user I encourage you to give it a try. “But, I don’t have the necessary equipment to connect to my radio”, you might say… 

Luckily, Winlink includes a telnet connection feature allowing users to send forms and messages via the internet. As long as you have an amateur call sign and a windows based computer with an internet connection you can register an account and use the service. This will give you a chance to learn the system as you decide if you want to purchase a computer to radio interface.

For those net members who are interested, starting in October I would like to add a Winlink message check-in to the net. This will help us maintain proficiency in using this service before an emergency arises. Additional information about the Winlink net will be coming to you in the next few weeks. 

In addition to posting the text of tonight's training topic to the blog, I will add a second post containing a link to instructional videos explaining how to set up and begin using Winlink. If a computer to radio interface interests you, I will also include some details in that post about the interface used at the Newton EOC - just one of the options available. The URL is nwcvnet.blogspot.com.

If you have additional questions as you review the two posts please let me know by text or email.

September Net - Test

After our August net I’ve had some feedback from a few of the radio operators in Newton, reporting varying degrees of success hearing the check-in of other net members from Newton, and farther away.

I would assume it is the same for net members in Clarkston, Cornish and Trenton where you likely can only hear my signal from the EOC, but not the check-in of others - due to the distance between our communities and equipment used.

During our regular net on September 18th I plan to use my home station as a cross-band repeater, to hopefully improve what each of you can hear during the roll-call portion of the net. The antenna height is similar to that of the EOC where I call the net, and I hope this test does help us feel more connected. 

For this test, my home station will receive simplex 446.300 and re-transmit over simplex 146.550. If you have a dual band radio that supports a split channel memory, please program 146.550 as the receive frequency and 446.300 as the transmit frequency into a memory location. A PL tone will not be necessary for this test. 

If you are able to program this split channel configuration in your radio, plan on using that channel when you join the net September 18^th.

If you do not have a dual band radio capable of this channel configuration, continue to join the net over the simplex frequency 146.550 as you have been doing.

While you are looking at programming, as a reference here is the Frequency List page from the net blog: NWCV Net Frequency List.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

September Net Schedules

The Northwest Cache Valley Net will be held Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. over 146.550 simplex.

We invite all amateur operators residing in the Northwest Cache Valley communities of Amalga, Benson, Clarkston, Cornish, Newton and Trenton to join us on the net for a monthly test of your equipment and a training topic we hope will be of value.

Other emergency communication themed nets in September 2022:

• September 4, 2022: Logan Storehouse Net at 8:30 p.m over 146.420 simplex.

• September 6, 2022: Cache County ARES Winlink Net from 06:00 - 19:00. Can be ANY mode including Packet, Telnet or HF. Address your check-in message to W7CSO using the "Winlink Check In" template.

• September 6, 2022: Cache County ARES Net at 8:00 p.m. over the BARC Repeater System.

• September 18, 2022: Logan Storehouse Net at 8:30 p.m over 146.420 simplex.