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howto:winlink [2020/04/13 17:36] va7fihowto: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 [[signalink|Signalink 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]].
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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, VA7FI is able to hear the following digipeater (''-8'') and RMS (''-10'') stations on 144.970 MHz: From Roberts Creek, VA7FI is able to hear the following digipeater (''-8'') and RMS (''-10'') stations on 144.970 MHz:
  
-^Callsign ^-8 ^-10 ^Sponsor Location ([[https://k7fry.com/grid/ |Gridsquare]]) ^Last MHeard | +{{pdfjs 800px,600px>/howto/mheard.pdf}}
-|VA7ARE   |-8 |    |Arbustus Ridge Emergency Preparedness |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7BCE     |-10 |Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department Amateur Radio Club, Port Alberni (CN79OG) |Feb 29, 2020| +
-|VA7CCD   |-8 |    |  |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7CIF   |-8 |    |Strathcona Regional District, Cortes Island (CO70MB)  | | +
-|VA7DXP   |-8 |-10 |David Evans, Ladysmith |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7EO    |-8 |-10 |Paul Giffin, Gabriola Island (CN89CE) |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7MWP   |-8 |    |Mid Island Emergency Coordinators and Managers, Duncan |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7PF    |-8 |-10 |Devan Banman, Nanaimo |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7PRG   |-8 |    | |Feb 23, 2020 | +
-|VA7QBE     |-10 |Qualicum Beach Fire Department, About 40km west of Nanaimo (CN79SC) |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VA7SSI   |-8 |    | |Feb 24, 2020| +
-|VA7ZWR   |-8 |-10 | |Feb 29, 2020| +
-|VE7GEC   |-8 |-10 |Michael J. Hale, Gabriola |Feb 28, 2020 | +
-|VE7GN    |   |-10 |Michael J. Hale, Gabriola Island (CN89CD)  |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VE7LSO   |-8 |-10 |CVRD - Emergency Communications Team, Ladysmith |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VE7PRL   |-8 |    |Capital Regional District Emergency Program |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VE7RNA     |-10 |CVARS | | +
-|VE7RYF   |-8 |    |Mt McDonald at 1500ft |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VE7SKR   |-8 |-10 |CVRD HQ station, Duncan (CN88DS) |Feb 29, 2020 |  +
-|VE7SPR((VE7SPR-8 may not be public.  I get: ''VE7SPR-8 SSARS BPQ NODE 144.970. Aborting connection script.''))   |-8 |    |Salt Spring Island ARC, SPI (CN88GT) |Feb 23, 2020 | +
-|VE7TXD   |-8 |-10 |Mid Island Emergency Coordinators and Managers |Feb 29, 2020 | +
-|VE7WOD   |-8 |    |CVRD - Emergency Communications Team |Feb 27, 2020 |+
  
  
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   * [[http://www.ve7ed.com/projects.html]]   * [[http://www.ve7ed.com/projects.html]]
   * [[https://winlink.org/RMSChannels]]   * [[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's 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 =====
 <WRAP round todo box center 80%>  <WRAP round todo box center 80%> 
howto/winlink.1586824583.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/04/13 17:36 by va7fi