Typical Winlink Station Setup

June 30, 2020

6/30/20 1 Your Station

Soundcard

or

Windows 10 TNC Radio Antenna Winlink Express (UZ7HO Software TNC)

March 2, 2013 2 Your Station

• TNC ● Inexpensive at hamfests ● Setup is straightforward ● Lots of on-line help ● No extra software ● Only useful for VHF packet ● Very little standardization of connectors ● Computer interface requires USB to Serial adapter cable ● Radio interface cables not generally commercially available ● Setup may require additional software

6/30/20 3 Your Station

• Sound Card ● Independent of mode - VHF packet and all HF modes ● Most modern radios (VHF, HF or multi-band) ● Some very recent radios have built in sound cards ● Radio interface connectors are standardized ● Commercial cables are available ● Computer interface is standard USB cable ● Moderate costs (~$125 for Signalink) ● Requires additional software running on computer ● Software evolving – may need updating ● Setup slightly more complex than a TNC ● Much less expertise available for assistance 6/30/20 4 Your Station

• Computer ● Any reasonable Windows 10 computer will work ● (UZ7HO) TNC Software can be optimized for low power computers ● Don’t even ask about Windows XP, 7 or a MAC

6/30/20 5 Your Station

• Radio ● Any fairly modern radio will work ● Most have data input ports with standard packet pin-outs ● This includes VHF only, HF only and HF/VHF radios ● Higher power is better ● Older radios might work with data input through the microphone connector and data output from the speaker connection ● Data signal levels are affected by volume and microphone gain settings ● Don’t try to use an HT – low power can’t reach a gateway

6/30/20 6 Your Station

• Antenna ● High gain, high in the air, directional if possible ● Applies to VHF and HF ● Low dipoles, ¼ wavelength mag-mount on a file cabinet or rubber ducky are recipes for frustration

6/30/20 7 Station Setup - TNC

• Download and install Winlink Express ● Follow steps in “Using Winlink Express” • TNC ● Too many TNC types to document here ● Designed for VHF, so manual should explain setup clearly ● Some may require a terminal emulation program ● e. g. PuTTY, HyperTerm, Xterm, Tera Term ● Pay attention to level setting instructions ● HINT: Tune another radio to 144.390 MHz (APRS) and listen to those signals. Adjust yours to sound like them. ● Remember that sound card packet and TNC packet sound different 6/30/20 8 Station Setup - TNC

• Start Winlink Express ● Next to Open Session, use the drop down menu to select Packet Winlink, then select Open Session ● If you have your TNC connected to the computer, you may have to wait a few seconds for Winlink Express to attempt to initialize the TNC. You may get an error message – ignore it. ● In the Packet Winlink Session window, select Settings ● Using the drop down boxes, select your Packet TNC type, Model and Baud Rate. Then select your serial port. ● You will find your TNC – serial port baud rate in the manual for your TNC. Do not confuse this with the TNC – radio baud rate, which is 1200. ● Select Update

6/30/20 9 Station Setup - TNC

If you do not know how to determine which serial port you are using, see the Appendix.

6/30/20 10 Station Setup - TNC

• When you return to the Packet Winlink Session window, the program will initialize the modem. Depending on the type of TNC, you will get a window similar to this:

Skip to Slide 14 6/30/20 11 Station Setup – Sound Card

• Download and install Winlink Express ● Follow steps in “Using Winlink Express” • Sound Card ● Download and print “Quick Setup Guide for Winlink VHF/UHF Sound Card Packet on Windows with UZ7HO Soundmodem Software TNC” ● https://winlink.org/sites/default/files/RMSE_FORMS/ quick_setup_guide_for_winlink_sound_card_packet_for_v hf-uhf_on_windows_v1.2.pdf ● It’s not a “Quick Setup” – it is 19 pages!

6/30/20 12 Station Setup – Sound Card

• Follow the instructions in the document to download, install and setup the UZ7HO Soundmodem software ● EXCEPTION: Do Not Uncheck TX Rotation! • Follow the instructions to set the receive (RX) and transmit (TX) levels • Follow the instructions to setup Winlink Express

6/30/20 13 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Decide how you connect to a Winlink Gateway • If you are connecting directly to a Gateway, enter the Gateway callsign and SSID into the box next to the drop down box that says Direct

6/30/20 14 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• If you are connecting to a Gateway via a packet repeater, select Digipeater from the drop down box, enter the Gateway callsign and SSID into the box next to the drop down box and enter the packet node callsign and SSID in the box next to the right of the word Via

6/30/20 15 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Send the Message • Select Start • If you have done everything correctly and the Winlink gods are smiling on you, Winlink Express will cause your radio to connect with the Gateway, send your message, check to see if you have any incoming messages and disconnect from the Gateway.

6/30/20 16 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

6/30/20 17 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • AutoConnect • If you want to check for incoming emails on a regular basis, use AutoConnect. From the Session window, select Setup. In the drop down box under AutoConnect Time, select the time you want and then select Update. The next time you select Start in the Session window, the AutoConnect timer will begin to count down. When it reaches zero, it will connect as defined in the window and check for incoming messages, then disconnect.

6/30/20 18 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • Peer to Peer • This process allows you to connect to another Winlink station (not a Gateway) and exchange emails. It is useful for relaying messages if you can connect to another Winlink station but cannot connect to a Gateway. • First, when writing the message (from the main window, select Message, then New Message) select Peer-to-Peer Message. You may not send a CC: in this mode. Write the message as normal and select Post to Outbox . • In the main Winlink Express window, in the drop down box next to Open Session, select Packet P2P. • Select Open Session. • You may connect to a non-Gateway station in the same way as to a Gateway, either directly or via a digipeater, by selecting the type in the drop down box next to Connection Type and setting the correct callsigns.

6/30/20 19 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • Attachments • Attachments are defined while you are writing the message. Select Attach, then in the Menu bar of the window that opens, select Add. Select the file you wish to attach to the email. • Attachment Protocol • Keep in mind that an attachment will significantly increase the time to send the message, which will impact how much time you are tying up the Gateway.

6/30/20 20 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • Attachment Protocol • Consider copying many types of data into another format that might reduce file size, e.g. copy an Excel document into a Comma Separated Variable (*.csv) file.

6/30/20 21 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • Telnet • If you have access to the Internet, don’t tie up the Gateway to send email – use the Internet! • In the main Winlink Express window menu bar, from the drop down box next to Open Session, select Telnet Winlink. • When the Telnet Session window opens, select Start. The message will be sent via the Winlink servers. • You may be tempted to use an alternate email program. Remember that we are using the email programs to record our messages, so the use of more than 1 program may make record keeping confusing.

6/30/20 22 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

6/30/20 23 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • Organization • As with any operation, if you aren’t organized, you will lose track of important information. Winlink Express makes it easy to organize the email traffic. • In the main Winlink Express window, on left hand side, select (click on) the bar labeled Personal Folders. In the new window, type the name of a folder, perhaps named after the current event. Select Update. There is no way to make sub-folders at this time. • In the main Winlink Express window menu bar, the menu item Move To will be updated so that messages can be easily moved to this new folder.

6/30/20 24 Winlink Express Setup and Use for Packet

• Other Features • The are numerous other features, including designing templates for repetitive messages. Messages can be located in the appropriate folders as listed on the left side of the main window (Sent Items, Saved Items, etc.)

6/30/20 25 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Initial Setup • Always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS read the manual. The manual for this process is called the TinyTrak4 Alpha Firmware Manual (current version 0.72) • Based on your equipment, your setup may be different. • We do not recommend the Byonics USB to Serial adapter. Choose one that uses the FTDI chipset (Google “FTDI USB Serial adapter”) • You need a null modem cable between the TT4 and the USB to Serial adapter. You can buy this from Byonics or Google a better deal • You need the TT4 power cable with the external power connector • Connect the USB-to-Serial adapter/null modem cable from the computer to the TT4 GPS/Computer connector. Connect the power cable to the TT4 Radio/Power connector. Connect the radio to the TT4 Radio/Power connector. • 6/30/20 You will need a second radio to listen to your packet signal. 26 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Initial Setup • The following instructions apply to the terminal program PuTTY. Other terminal programs may be used – see the TT4 Firmware Manual. • Start PuTTY. Under Connection Type, select Serial. • In the box labeled Serial Line, enter the COM port for your connection to the TT4. If you do not know how to determine which serial port you are using, see the Appendix. • In the box labeled Speed, enter 19200. • Select Open

6/30/20 27 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Initial Setup • Apply power to the TT4 or cycle the power if you have already applied power. • You will see a ?, followed by “Press ESC 3 times to enter TT4 Options Menu” . Press Escape quickly after the message appears. If you wait too long, you must cycle power on the TT4 again. • The screens will appear as shown on the next page. • To see the entire list of commands available at this prompt, refer to the TT4 Alpha Firmware Manual.

6/30/20 28 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

6/30/20 29 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Transmit Level Setup • Refer to the TT4 Quick Start Guide for the following steps. • At the : prompt, type CALIBRATE. This should cause the radio to transmit test audio. Press B to send both tones. While listening on the 2nd receiver, press 1 until the TXLevel is 128. You should hear an increase in volume as the level increases. See the screen on the next page. • Now press 2 until you hear a noticeable level drop in the 2nd receiver. • Type a Q to quit. • The transmit level is roughly calibrated. • If this procedure doesn’t work, it may be necessary to adjust the level potentiometer R1. Refer to the sheet that was packed with the TT4 or to the TT4 Built Hardware Manual for a layout. Adjust the level manually with R1 until the TXLevel can be set as above. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to increase the transmit level by adding a jumper wire at JP10 (refer to the same documentation) and repeating the above procedure.

6/30/20 30 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

6/30/20 31 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Receive Level Setup • Refer to the TT4 Quick Start Guide for the following steps. • You must have a received packet signal to make this adjustment. It is best to use a known calibrated signal. If you don’t have one, tune your radio to 144.390 MHz (the APRS frequency) and use a signal there. • At the : prompt, type MONITOR. This will cause the TT4 to output the level of the received signal – it will be 0 until a signal is received. The desired received signal level is between 50 and 80. When a signal is received, note the signal level. • Press Q to Quit.

6/30/20 32 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Receive Level Setup

• Type RXAMP. The unit will respond with the RXAMP level (probably 8). Type RXAMP followed by a space and followed by a 7 to reduce the signal level or a space then a 9 to increase the signal level. Repeat this process, incrementing or decrementing the number by 1 until the received signal level is between 50 and 80. • If your received signal level is affected by the radio’s volume setting, make sure you note the volume control setting, so you can repeat the signal level. • Press Q to Quit.

6/30/20 33 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Software Setup • Refer to the TinyTrak4 Alpha Firmware Manual for details of the following commands. Type this information followed by ENTER:  MYCALL “your callsign”, for example MYCALL N7CW  AMODE KISS  ABAUD 19200  CDLEVEL 8  CDMODE TONES  DIGIMY TRUE  PKTICOM TRUE

6/30/20 34 TinyTrak4 Setup and Operation

• Software Setup • Close PuTTY. • If you have opened the TT4, close it. • Cycle the TT4 power. • Your TT4 should work with Winlink Express.

6/30/20 35 Appendix

• Identifying Your Com Port • Plug in your device to a USB port. The computer might make a couple beeps. • Right click on the Start window and select Device Manager • Click on the > symbol next to Ports

6/30/20 36 Appendix

• Identifying Your Com Port • Under Ports, you will see a list of 1 or more ports labeled with a name ending in (COM(X)), e.g. USB Serial Port (COM3). Note the numbers of the com ports that are listed. • Remove the device from the USB Port. The computer might make a couple beeps. The Device Manager window will refresh, with 1 port missing. The missing number is the Com port for your device. • You can re-install the device and the screen will refresh again, verifying the number of the com port.

6/30/20 37 Appendix

• Identifying Your Com Port • If you cannot perform these operations, you may not have Administrator privileges on your computer. That problem should absolutely be fixed, but is beyond the scope of this presentation.

6/30/20 38