Digital Communications for Yavapai County ARES/RACES

May 26, 2020

1 Agenda

• Introduction • What is the Winlink System? • How to use the Winlink System on VHF • How to use the Winlink System on HF • Northern Arizona Winlink Resources

2 Introduction

• Why Digital Communications? • Large amounts of data/information may be exchanged, accurately: • Detailed damage or status reports. • Detailed work assignments & shift changes. • Lists of equipment and supplies needed. • Graphic or text-based Medical information. • Voice is: • Slow • Inaccurate

3 Introduction

• Why Did We Choose Winlink? • The Bureaucratic Reason • July, 2003: In cooperation with its partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, and at their recommendation, the ARRL Board has agreed to provide a nationwide digital system to enhance the communications capability of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®). There are situations, the Board said, when ARES® "must have the capability to pass digital traffic across the nation quickly and accurately.”

4 Introduction

• Why Did We Choose Winlink? (cont’d) • The Technical Reasons • It uses email • Almost universally used • Minimal Training required • Every transfer is a permanently stored record. • Data/information is secure from casual monitoring. • Attachments are handled exactly as in any email. • Connected to the Internet • Multiple addresses and CCs are handled. • Truly worldwide in coverage

5 Introduction

• Local to Worldwide Coverage – VHF vs. HF • Internet interfaces are called Gateways • All Gateways must have reliable access to the Internet • VHF Gateways use Packet • User hardware and software are very simple to setup and operate • Gateway hardware and software are very simple to setup and operate • Limited to “line-of-sight” or “repeater” operation • Hundreds of VHF Gateways worldwide

6 Introduction

US VHF Gateways

7 Introduction

• Worldwide Coverage – HF vs. VHF • HF Gateways use various soundcard modes or Pactor I, II, III or IV (Pactor IV not approved by FCC) • User hardware and software are somewhat complex ● Knowledge of HF propagation required ● Reasonable antenna is required • Gateway hardware and software are more complex to setup and operate ● Must have a large antenna for world-wide level coverage • Approximately 125 HF Gateways worldwide

8 Introduction

Worldwide HF Gateways (Winmor)

9 AWS Cloud

CMS

Internet

RMS

HF, VHF, UHF Gateway Telnet

Client

HF, VHF, UHF Home or Deployed What is the Winlink System?

• Levels of the Winlink system: • Client system – Radio and antenna, computer with Winlink software, Terminal Node Controller (TNC) or sound card • Radio Message Server (RMS) – Radio gateways between the users and the Winlink system backbone • Common Message Servers (CMS) – Winlink backbone • 2 CMS locations • Redundant, fault-tolerant • One CMS is sufficient for system operation

11 What is the Winlink System?

Soundcard

or

Windows 10 TNC Radio Antenna Winlink Express (UZ7HO Software TNC) Your Station (Client)

12 What is the Winlink System?

• Winlink Connection Modes • All modes use handshaking between stations • For example, acknowledge receipt of message and compare data sent and received • Quite reliable at VHF/UHF – usually no propagation variations • Propagation issues at HF can cause lots of repeat requests

13 What is the Winlink System?

• Winlink Connection Modes (cont’d) • VHF – 1200 Baud – Can use $75 TNC or sound card • UHF – 9600 Baud – Faster but requires $400 TNC • HF • Pactor I – Can be slow – uses $400 TNC (modem) • Pactor II or III – Faster - requires $1000 TNC (modem) • Soundcard Modes – Winmor, ARDOP, VARA - Speeds approach Pactor III • Soundcard is built-in to computer or various external soundcards (~$100) • Telnet – non-radio connection through Internet • Webmail is accessible at www.winlink.org

14 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Equipment

• Antenna • Louder is better – use a high gain vertical or better yet, a yagi

• Radio • Almost any modern 2M FM radio or HF/VHF multi-band radio will work • Louder is better – use higher power • Most modern radios have a data connector, so wiring is simplified

15 How to use Winlink on VHF

● TNC ● Almost any Kantronics TNC, AEA PK232 (not all other AEA TNCs), some MFJs, Byonics TinyTrak4 and others will work ● Older Kantronics, PK232 and MFJ models are typically cheap at hamfests, but expensive to buy new ● TinyTrak4 is $75 new ● Several newer, cheaper TNCs available

● Sound Card ● Requires additional software – UZ7HO Software TNC most common (free) ● Signalink most common – provides PTT ($120 with cables)

16 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Equipment (cont’d) • Computer • Use only Windows 10 • Do NOT try to use Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, 95 or 3.5 or a Mac • Many newer computers don’t have serial ports • Use a $15 USB to Serial adapter (FTDI chipset) for connecting to TNCs • Know how to find the Com port number that Windows assigns to your serial port

17 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Equipment (cont’d) • Computer ● Winlink Express Software ● Written by Winlink software developers ● Easy setup ● Supports most TNCs for packet ● UZ7HO Software TNC ● Requires some setup ● Procedure on PC Go Kit or K7YCA.org

18 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Setup Hints • TNC • RTFM! Each manufacturer’s TNC is different. • Some newer TNCs have USB ports, some older TNCs have 25 pin serial connectors • Almost always, let the software set the TNC parameters.

19 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Setup Hints • RADIO • RTFM! • Most modern radios have a data port. Wiring is simplified and no level setting is required. • You can make the cable or just buy it ($20-ish)

20 How to use Winlink on VHF

• Packet Hints • Packet activity follows the ARRL bandplan • 145.01, .03, .05, .07, .09 and .71 MHz • Winlink gateways (usually) use SSIDs of 10, e.g. K7YCA-10 • Listen to some packet transmissions, then use another radio to listen to yours – do they sound the same? • If not, the audio levels are not set properly • Sound card packet sounds different than TNC generated packet • The software will handle the connection to the gateway, message formatting and disconnection • If you cannot connect, try connecting through a mountain- top digipeater

21 How to use Winlink on HF

• Pactor I ● See Slides 15, 17, 18, 20: all these bullets apply (substitute HF radio for 2M FM radio) ● Only some TNC/modems support Pactor I ● Pactor I is going away due to slow speed • Pactor II, III and IV • Require a $1000 proprietary modem • Sound Card Modes • Winmor, ARDOP, VARA require a sound card • Supported within Winlink Express

22 How to use Winlink on HF

• Sound Card Modes (cont’d) • Use an external soundcard (e.g. Signalink - $100, Rigblaster - $60 to $300, MFJ - $60 to $140, etc.) • External soundcards make level setting straightforward and some supply a PTT signal

23 How to use Winlink on HF

• Pactor/Sound Card Modes Hints • Frequencies of gateways are published in Winlink Express • Need to be updated occasionally • Propagation guidance is included • Reliable communications requires antennas that cover several different frequency bands • A basic understanding of propagation is a necessity

24 How to use Winlink on HF

• Pactor/Sound Card Modes Hints (cont’d) • Packet is designed for operation on one frequency (interference is expected). On HF, NEVER transmit if the frequency is busy – interference will get you a letter from the FCC! • The software will handle the connection to the gateway, message formatting and disconnection • Check www.winlink.org for frequencies and information on the entire Winlink system

25 Resources

• Winlink in Northern Arizona • 11 VHF Gateways • K7YCA-8 on Mt. Union on 145.71 MHz • K7YCA-9 on Bill Williams Mt. on 145.03 MHz • K7YCA-10 on Mingus Tanks on 145.07 MHz • K7YCA-11 in Prescott on 145.05 MHz • K7YCA-12 in Prescott Valley on 145.03 MHz • K7YCA-14 on Mingus Mt. On 145.01 MHz • NL7FQ-10 in Cornville on 145.03 MHz • W7LUX-10 in Flagstaff on 145.01 MHz • N0DAJ-10 in Wickenburg on 145.71 MHz • N0DAJ-11 in Wickenburg on 145.01 MHz • KE7EJF-10 in Phoenix on 145.71 MHz • KG7ARL-10 in Phoenix on 145.71 MHz • Check the latest ARES/RACES newsletter for gateway status 26 Resources

• Winlink in Arizona • Check http://www.k7yca.org/on-the-air/winlink/ for the latest locations and connection hints • Check http://www.winlink.org/RMSChannels and select Packet for up to the minute status • Northern AZ has good coverage (through mountaintop digipeaters) • Central and Southern AZ have very limited coverage

27 Internet Resources

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