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howto:winlink [2019/09/03 17:22] – [Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Messages] ve7hzfhowto:winlink [2023/11/05 05:08] (current) va7fi
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- 
 ====== Winlink ====== ====== Winlink ======
-This section outlines how to send and receive messages with [[https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress |Winlink Express]].  More information about how to configure the hardware can be found on the [[packet |Packet How-To]].+This section outlines how to send and receive messages with [[https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress |Winlink Express]].  More information about how to configure the hardware can be found on the [[signalink|Signalink How-To]]. 
 ===== Operating Modes ===== ===== Operating Modes =====
  
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 Before initiating a connection (section below), you can write and post multiple messages to the outbox first. Before initiating a connection (section below), you can write and post multiple messages to the outbox first.
 +
 +===== SSID =====
 +Before going into more details, it might be worth taking a small detour to learn about SSIDs (the dash number after the callsign) since it has a different meaning depending on whether it's for APRS or Winlink.  See the [[/howto/ssid |SSID How-To]] for more info.
 +
  
 ===== Winlink Messages ===== ===== Winlink Messages =====
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   * **Packet Winlink** is typically a VHF or UHF connection to an RMS, which will then connect to a CMS via the internet.   * **Packet Winlink** is typically a VHF or UHF connection to an RMS, which will then connect to a CMS via the internet.
   * **Pactor Winlink** is an HF connection to an RMS. It requires an expensive [[wp>PACTOR]] TNC between the radio and computer.   * **Pactor Winlink** is an HF connection to an RMS. It requires an expensive [[wp>PACTOR]] TNC between the radio and computer.
-  * **Winmor Winlink** is another HF connection to an RMS that doesn't necessarily require a TNC. The IC-7300, for example, can connect to the computer directly with a simple USB cable.  The connection is slower than PACTOR however.  See [[wp>Winmor]] for more information.+  * <del>**Winmor Winlink**</del>  Winmor is deprecated.  See [[/blog/2020-09-15/no_more_winmor |here]] for more info. 
 +  * **Ardop Winlink** is another HF connection to an RMS that doesn't necessarily require a TNC. The IC-7300, for example, can connect to the computer directly with a simple USB cable.  The connection is slower than PACTOR however. For more details, see the [[howto/winlink_ardop |Winlink Ardop]] page.
  
 For Winlink connections, the address and frequency of the session must match that of a RMS chosen (not that of the recipient).  A list of RMS can be found in the **Channel Selection** table: For Winlink connections, the address and frequency of the session must match that of a RMS chosen (not that of the recipient).  A list of RMS can be found in the **Channel Selection** table:
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 A few things to note about Winlink Messages: A few things to note about Winlink Messages:
-  * You can send a message to a station callsign (mine for example is ''VE7HZF'')+  * You can send a message to a station callsign (mine for example is ''VA7FI'')
   * You can send a message to a regular email address since the RMS has access to the internet.   * You can send a message to a regular email address since the RMS has access to the internet.
   * You can retrieve messages sent to your station callsign   * You can retrieve messages sent to your station callsign
-  * You can retrieve emails sent to ''CALLSIGN@winlink.org'' (mine for example is ''ve7hzf@winlink.org'')+  * You can retrieve emails sent to ''CALLSIGN@winlink.org'' (mine for example is ''va7fi@winlink.org'')
  
  
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   * **Packet P2P** is a direct VHF or UHF connection between the two stations exchanging messages.   * **Packet P2P** is a direct VHF or UHF connection between the two stations exchanging messages.
   * **Pactor P2P** is a direct HF connection between the two stations exchanging messages using the PACTOR protocol.   * **Pactor P2P** is a direct HF connection between the two stations exchanging messages using the PACTOR protocol.
-  * **Winmore P2P** is a direct HF connection between the two stations exchanging messages using the Winmor protocol.+  * <del>**Winmor P2P**</del> Winmor is deprecated.  See [[/blog/2020-09-15/no_more_winmor |here]] for more info. 
 +  * **Ardop P2P** is a direct HF connection between the two stations exchanging messages using the Ardop protocol.
  
 ==== Direct ==== ==== Direct ====
 For a ''Direct'' P2P connections, the address and frequency of the session must match that of a recipient (there is no RMS): For a ''Direct'' P2P connections, the address and frequency of the session must match that of a recipient (there is no RMS):
 {{ :howto:p2pstart.png }} {{ :howto:p2pstart.png }}
-  * Ensure that the frequency of your radio matches that of the recipient, +  * Ensure that the frequency of your radio matches that of the recipient. 
-  * that the recipient has a P2P session open listening to your call, and+  * Ensure that the recipient has a P2P session open
 +  * There are two different transmit speeds: 1200 Baud and 9600 Baud.  You can only use 9600 Baud if your radio can transmit at that speed AND if the other station is also equipped for 9600 Baud and listening at 9600.  Otherwise, use 1200 Baud.  A rule of thumb if you're unsure what the other station is using is to
 +    * Set to transmit at 1200 Baud (the other station will be able to receive you at either 1200 Baud or 9600 Baud) 
 +    * Set your standby receive mode to 9600 baud (so you'll be able to receive stations transmitting at 1200 Baud or 9600 Baud).
   * press **''Start''**   * press **''Start''**
  
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   * The first step is to create a script: {{ :howto:p2pscript.png }}   * The first step is to create a script: {{ :howto:p2pscript.png }}
-  * In this example, I named it ''LSO to SCE'' so I can reuse it easily later: {{ :howto:p2pscript2.png }} +  * In this example, I named it ''SCE (LSO)'' so I can reuse it easily later: {{ :howto:p2pscript2.png?425 }} 
-  * Once saved, select it and press **''Start''**: {{ :howto:p2pscript3.png }}+  * Once saved, select it and press **''Start''**: {{ :howto:p2pscript3.png?560 }}
  
 If you monitor the traffic as you connect to the digipeater, you'll notice a few things: If you monitor the traffic as you connect to the digipeater, you'll notice a few things:
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   * Your callsign (in this case ''VE7HZF''), is being retransmitted by the digipeater as ''VE7HZF-15'' See the [[/howto/ssid |SSID How-To]] page for more info.   * Your callsign (in this case ''VE7HZF''), is being retransmitted by the digipeater as ''VE7HZF-15'' See the [[/howto/ssid |SSID How-To]] page for more info.
   * The exchange takes more than twice the time of a direct connection because unlike a voice repeater that repeats in real time, a digipeater waits for you to stop transmitting before it repeats it.   * The exchange takes more than twice the time of a direct connection because unlike a voice repeater that repeats in real time, a digipeater waits for you to stop transmitting before it repeats it.
 +
 +
 +<WRAP center round tip 85%>
 +As Robert pointed out (see email with ''Subject: BPQ'' from Nov 4, 2023),  some digipeater require adding a port number (but some don't).
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +Here is a short list of scripts that work as of Nov 5, 2023 (replace ''[callsign]'' with the destination callsign):
 +<WRAP group>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +  c ve7lso-8
 +  conn
 +  c [callsign]
 +  conn
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +  c ve7wod-8
 +  conn
 +  c [callsign]
 +  conn
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +  c ve7spr-8
 +  conn
 +  c 2 [callsign]
 +  conn
 +</WRAP>
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +
 +<WRAP center round important 85%>
 +Note the ''2'' on the third line of the last script.  Failing to add the port number there will give the following error:
 +  VE7SPR-8} DOWNLINK CONNECT NEEDS PORT NUMBER - C P CALLSIGN
 +  Found script connection response CONNECT NEEDS PORT NUMBER - C P CALLSIGN
 +</WRAP>
 +
  
 ==== Digipeaters ==== ==== Digipeaters ====
-From Roberts Creek, VE7HZF was able to hear the following digipeater (''-8'') and RMS (''-10'') stations over a period of four days:+From Roberts Creek, VA7FI is able to hear the following digipeater (''-8'') and RMS (''-10'') stations on 144.970 MHz:
  
-^Digipeaters: |VA7ARE-8VA7DXP-8, VA7MWP-8, VA7PF-8, VE7LSO-8, VE7PRL-8, VE7RYF-8, VE7SKR-8, VE7SPR-8, VE7TXD-8, VE7WOD-8| +{{pdfjs 800px,600px>/howto/mheard.pdf}}
-^RMS : |VA7BCE-10, VA7DXP-10, VA7EO-10, VA7OPD-10, VA7PF-10, VA7QBE-10, VE7GEC-10, VE7GN-10, VE7LSO-10, VE7RYF-10, VE7SKR-10, VE7TXD-10, VE7URC-10|+
  
-**Important Caveat:** I don't know anything about these stations other than I heard their callsign-SSID.  They may not be what they seem. 
  
-===== SSID ===== +**Important Caveat:** My knowledge of these stations is minimal. For more information, see: 
-The dash number after the callsign is called an SSID and it has a different meaning depending on whether it'for APRS or Winlink.  See the [[/howto/ssid |SSID How-To]] for more info.+ 
 +  * [[http://www.gorse.ca/crdarea/vhf.html]] 
 +  * [[http://www.ve7ed.com/projects.html]] 
 +  * [[https://winlink.org/RMSChannels]] 
 + 
 +===== Winlink Message via Digipeater ===== 
 +If a Winlink station (-10) is too far to be reached directly, a digipeater station (-8) can be used to relay the message. 
 +  * Write your message as a ''Winlink Message'' (not ''P2P Message''
 +  * Open a ''Packet Winlink'' session (not ''Packet P2P''
 +  * Connection type: ''Script'' 
 +  * Add a script like this one:<code> 
 +c ve7lso-8 
 +conn 
 +c ve7gn-10 
 +conn 
 +</code> 
 +  * Select your script and start. 
 + 
 +In this example, my message will be sent to VE7LSO-8, which will repeat it to VE7GN-10, which will then send it to the CMS via the internet. 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Message Templates ===== 
 + 
 +Templates are a way to send complex pre-formatted ''html'' forms while keeping the bandwidth low.  The basic idea is to: 
 +  * Select a template from Winlink, which opens a form in your web browser. 
 +  * Use the web browser to fill out the form and "Submit" it back to Winlink. 
 +  * The attachment that's actually sent via Winlink is an ''xml'' file that contains the information you entered in the form without any of the fancy formatting (thus keeping the size small). 
 +  * Once the receiver opens the message, Winlink uses that ''xml'' file and puts it into its **local** ''html'' form to re-constitute the fancy formatting. 
 + 
 +The result is that both the sender and the receiver see the fancy form, but only the actual information is transmitted (not the formatting).  Of course, this only works if both stations have the same local template, which is why it'important to keep Winlink templates up-to-date. 
 + 
 +If you use the same template often, there are two things you can do to expedite the process. 
 + 
 +==== Template Shortcut ==== 
 +The first is to set a template shortcut: 
 +  * Click on ''Message'' and select ''Set favorite tempates...'' \\ {{ .winlink:winlinktemplate01.png }} 
 +  * Click on ''Browse'', select the form you want to save, and give it a name. \\ {{ .winlink:winlinktemplate02.png }} 
 +  * To use it, open a new message and click on the name you entered earlier. \\ {{ .winlink:winlinktemplate03.png }} 
 + 
 +==== Save Message Data ==== 
 +Many templates allow you to save the message body so you can quickly reload it later.  In my example: 
 +  * I first wrote the message I want to save **without the date** 
 +  * Then ''Save Quick Message Data'', which will save a basic ''txt'' file. 
 + 
 +When it's time to use it: 
 +  * I click on ''Load Quick Message Data'' and 
 +  * Click in the ''Date/Time:'' field to populate it. 
 +  * Then click ''Submit'' to send it back to Winlink. 
 + 
 +{{ winlinktemplate04.png }}
  
  
  
 ===== EasyTerm by UZ7HO ===== ===== EasyTerm by UZ7HO =====
-<box red |**Under Construction**+<WRAP round todo box center 80%>  
-I'm still learning lots about this so please consider this section to be vastly incomplete and probably wrong.  --- //[[ve7hzf@rbox.me|Patrick, VE7HZF]] 2019/09/02 06:48// +I'm still learning lots about this so please consider this section to be vastly incomplete and probably wrong.  --- //[[va7fi@rbox.me|Patrick, VA7FI]] 2020/01/01 07:45// 
-</box>+</WRAP>
  
-An easy way to connect a radio to a computer using a Signalink is to use the UZ7HO Soundmodem program (see the [[howto/packet |Packet How-To]] for more information).  But another really good program by UZ7HO is [[http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm | EasyTerm]], which allows you to connect to another station and send specific commands to it.+An easy way to connect a radio to a computer using a Signalink is to use the UZ7HO Soundmodem program (see the [[howto:signalink|Signalink How-To]] for more information).  But another really good program by UZ7HO is [[http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm | EasyTerm]], which allows you to connect to another station and send specific commands to it.
  
 For example, VE7HZF connected to ''VE7LSO-8'' and typed ''H'': For example, VE7HZF connected to ''VE7LSO-8'' and typed ''H'':
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 ^  EasyTerm Setup screen.  ^  SoundModem Settings screen.  | ^  EasyTerm Setup screen.  ^  SoundModem Settings screen.  |
 |I used ''-11'' for the ''Terminal Callsign'' because Winlink Express is already using ''-0'' |The ''KISS Server Port 8100'' had already been enabled for Winlink. \\ Now we need to enable ''AGWPE Server Port 8000'' for EasyTerm. | |I used ''-11'' for the ''Terminal Callsign'' because Winlink Express is already using ''-0'' |The ''KISS Server Port 8100'' had already been enabled for Winlink. \\ Now we need to enable ''AGWPE Server Port 8000'' for EasyTerm. |
 +
  
 ===== Sources ===== ===== Sources =====
   * [[https://winlink.org/content/overview_winlink_hybrid_network |Overview of the Winlink Hybrid Network]]   * [[https://winlink.org/content/overview_winlink_hybrid_network |Overview of the Winlink Hybrid Network]]
   * [[http://www.choisser.com/packet/ |Introduction to Packet Radio]] By Larry Kenney, WB9LOZ   * [[http://www.choisser.com/packet/ |Introduction to Packet Radio]] By Larry Kenney, WB9LOZ
 +
howto/winlink.1567556535.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/09/03 17:22 by ve7hzf