winlink 2000 airmail january 26, 2009

Winlink 2000 Airmail

January 26, 2009

Jim Montgomery, WB3KASAssistant Emergency Coordinator for Logistics

Prince George’s County, [email protected]

Prince George’s County ARES/RACESpresents

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Agenda Topics

• What is Airmail• Installation and Set up Process• Fine Tuning the Configuration File• Address Book• Composing and Sending an Airmail Email• KaNodes and How They Work• Telnet Connection• Attached Files• The INI File

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What is Winlink 2000 Airmail?

• Winlink 2000 (abbreviated WL2K) is a worldwide network of participating amateur stations bound together through the use of the Internet.

• By linking with any one of these stations on HF PACTOR or VHF packet you can exchange messages with other hams (who have packet or WL2K addresses), or with anyone with an Internet email address.

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What is Winlink 2000 Airmail?

• Accessing the Winlink 2000 system is typically done using AirMail 3.3, a Windows program written and offered to the ham community without charge by Jim Corenman, KE6RK.

• Once you link with a WL2K station using AirMail your messages will be automatically downloaded and a list of them displayed similar to Microsoft Outlook or other typical Internet email programs.

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Download the File

• Website is http://www.airmail2000.com/ham/

• Download Airmail 3.3 Ham Client complete

install (ver 3.3.081, around 4.4 MB) and save it

in a "downloads" folder.

• Follow the directions on the website for

installation

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Web Sites of Interest• Airmail 2000: http://www.airmail2000.com/

• Airmail Reflector: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airmail2000/

• Winlink 2000: http://www.winlink2000.org/

• Winlink 2000 Reflector: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/winlink2000/

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Install Process

• Download the Airmail program from http:// www.airmail2000.com/ham/ , about 4.1 MB.• You will not need to download any other programs.• Make a note of the folder name where you place it.• Close all programs.• Go to ‘Start’, then ‘Run’.• Browse to find your file which is called something like

‘amc32081.exe’.• Click on ‘OK’.

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Install Process

• Then you will see similar to this (if you are on XP)….click on ‘Run’.

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Install Process

• Then this page……………………………click ‘Setup’.

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Install Process

• Then this page……………………………click ‘Next’.

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Install Process

• Do not change the folder……………………click ‘Next’.

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Install Process

• Install complete. • Now to the Setup page

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Setup Process

• Enter your radio callsign

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Setup Process

• Enter QTH Coordinates (can be done later)

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Easy Way to Get Coordinates

• http://stevemorse.org/jcal/latlon.php

• “Converting Addresses to/from Latitude/Longitude in One Step”

• Returns lat/lon from six conversion engines

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Example

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Example

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Setup Process

• Select the VHF modem, com port, Baud rate

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Setup Process

• Select “No” for remote control

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Setup Process

• Finished setup process

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The Fine Tuning Process

• Should be viewing the “In-box”

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• Select “Options” from “Tools”

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• Select “VHF Packet Client “Setup” under “Modules”

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• The right side are your default Packet Settings• Check the left side with what you entered earlier.

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The Fine Tuning Process• Go back and select “Connection” Options• Check Modem Type, Comm Port and Baud Rate• Select “FSK” and “None” for “Radio Connection”

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Address Book

• Click on the “book” icon

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Address Book

• Looks like any other address book

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Address Book

• To add a new entry select “New”

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Address Book

• . . .and just fill in the blanks

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Address Book

• . . .and just fill in the blanks

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Compose an Email

• Select the “blank page”

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Compose an Email• The Address book pops up for you to make a

selection. . .• Select a recipient or recipients and press “OK”

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Compose an Email

• When finished composing the email, you must put email in the mail box for “delivery.”

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Compose an Email• When you click on the “Mail Box”, Airmail

sends you to the “Outbox”• Notice the “Mailbox” Icon in front of email

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Making an RMS Connection

• From “Modules” select “Packet Client”

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Making an RMS Connection• You might get the following screen

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This is Not Good!

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Things to Look For

• Most likely it’s the comm port and/baud rate– 9600 from TNC to computer

– 1200 from TNC to radio. . .That’s the Law!!!• Other suspects

– Bad cable or cable connector– Audio tones not set to FSK– For KPC3+, select KAM+

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Making an RMS Connection• You get the following screen

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• Need find an RMS Packet station nearest you

• Source is www.winlink.org/RMSPacketPositions

– It’s a s—l—o—w load!

• Drag pointer over a green balloon to see call sign

• Double click on balloon shows freq & baud rate

• Copy that call sign into the “Connect to:” box42WB3KAS


• If you want to use a different RMS Node,

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KaNodes

• KaNode is a Kantronics term• Allows RMS stations using Kantronics TNCs to

act as a Winlink digipeater. . .sorta!• Can’t connect direct? Use a KaNode for a hop• “Connect to” looks like:

– WB3KAS-10 via KH6ILR-10 (can be shortened to)– WB3KAS-10 v KH6ILR-10 (can be shortened to)– WB3KAS-10 KH6ILR-10

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On a Good Day

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KH6ILR-10

WB3KAS-10

W3PGC-10

W3CB-10

W3LRC-10

N3CK-10

K7BC-10

W3AAC-10

Event Takes Place

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KH6ILR-10

WB3KAS-10

W3PGC-10

W3CB-10

W3LRC-10

N3CK-10

K7BC-10

W3AAC-10

No InternetConnection

InternetConnection

Shelter Needs Help

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KH6ILR-10

WB3KAS-10

W3PGC-10

W3CB-10

W3LRC-10

N3CK-10

K7BC-10

W3AAC-10


InternetConnection

SHELTER

KaNodes to the Rescue

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KH6ILR-10A Node, now

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W3PGC-10

W3CB-10

W3LRC-10

N3CK-10

K7BC-10

W3AAC-10


InternetConnection

SHELTER

Telnet Connection

• Another option for an Internet connection• Advantages

– Broadband, dial-up, doesn’t matter– No radio or TNC required– Fast upload and download speeds– Good for training

• Disadvantages– Lose the feel for Packet Client (RF) robustness– Account “clock” not reset

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Telnet Connection

• From “Modules” select “Internet Access”

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Telnet Connection• You should see the following screen, however

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Telnet Connection• You need to add the CMS sites

This field must be populated with the CMS Sites

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Telnet Connection• Select “New” to add CMS Sites

To add CMS Sites

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Telnet Connection

• Connection Properties

Remote Call sign

Remote Host Port Timeout (sec)

Local Call sign Password Proto call

WL2KP Perth.winlink.org 8772 30 Your call sign CMSTelnet(one word)

Select B2

WL2KH Halifax.winlink.org 8772 30 Your call sign CMSTelnet(one word)

Select B2

WL2KS Sandiego.winlink.org 8772 30 Your call sign CMSTelnet(one word)

Select B2

WL2KW Washington.winlink.org 8772 30 Your call sign CMSTelnet(one word)

Select B2

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Telnet Connection• Select Settings and the following will appear

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Telnet Connection

• Now have a list of CMS Sites to choose from

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Telnet Connection

• Click on the “green circle” to access Telnet

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Telnet Connection• . . .and the results should look like this

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Attached Files

• Airmail capability to attach files to an email• Spread sheet, pictures, text files, *.doc, etc• Files sizes limited by receiver settings• Great attribute for EmComm considerations

– Periodic Shelter reports– Requesting supplies and services– List of names, call signs rotating shifts– Countless uses

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Attached Files Setup

• First, set the size limits

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Attached Files Setup

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Attached Files

• First, compose an Airmail Email per normal• Then,

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Attached Files

• Next, select the file of your choice

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Attached Files

• The screen should look like this before sending

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Attached Files

• The screen should look like this before sending

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Very important thatyou see this

Attached File

• Post it (look for the mail box in front of the email in the Out Box

• Select Modules, then you choice for sending• Select your RMS node (if Packet Client)• Click the Green button• You’re done

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The .ini File

• The .ini file format is a common format for configuration files.

• The name “.ini file“ stands for "initialization.”• There are several in Airmail.• For VHF Airmail, only need to be concerned

with Airmail.ini• Be very careful dealing with the ini files

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The Airmail.ini File

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Summary

• Lots of stuff covered• Lot of attention to details for your benefit• Keep messages short as possible• Learn more using Telnet; RMS node not tied up• Reset your account when using the RF side• HF?. . .another topic for a another day

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winlink 2000 airmail january 26, 2009

Documents

airmail program

airmail emailkanodes

pageclick setup

wb3kassetu processselect

setup page

wl2k addresses

vhf modem

default packet settingscheck