1 of 15

Start RECORDING NOW

2 of 15

ARES Demonstration - Email in an Emergency

Note, club members will receive an email describing how to install Winlink Express and set up a Winlink Email account

3 of 15

Everyone uses Email

​

Why Can’t we send and receive it using Ham Radio!

Hint: We can!!!!!

After you register, Your Winlink Email Address is your Callsign!

4 of 15

Why Ham Radio Email?

For ARES, email allows long, complex, messages and attachments to be sent without error to emergency managers (local and distant)

E.g., Post Hurricane Maria support for the Red Cross in Puerto Rico was almost entirely using Winlink Ham Radio Email (satellite phones overloaded, cell towers offline or down, landline phones down)

Software supports standard emergency forms for most organizations (ICS, Red Cross etc.)

It can send email to other hams and to non-ham (e.g., .gov) email addresses.

For non-ARES, email allows friends and family to contacted in the event of a local or regional disaster.

5 of 15

Demonstrations

  • Using Winlink Express with the Internet (no radio) (KK4JP)
  • Using Winlink over VHF radio to a RMS node at Wintergreen (N4PGS)
    • Simulates a local Internet outage
  • Using Winlink over HF to receive a message using a RMS node located outside Virginia (KO8V)
    • Simulates a state or regional Internet outage
  • Sending and receiving a peer-to-peer message over HF without using any Winlink RMS nodes (KN4LYF, K4DND)
    • Simulates a total Internet outage

6 of 15

Demonstration

7 of 15

Registering for a Winlink Account

  1. Under Windows, download Winlink Express software from https://Winlink.org
  2. Extract the installer from the .zip file and run it
    1. Note, Windows Defender may complain because it is not a “signed” file - hit “More Info” and “Run Anyway” to get past the “unknown publisher” problem.
  3. While the computer is connected to the Internet, fill out the pop-up form including at least:
    • Your Callsign
    • The password you would like to use with Winlink
    • The regular email address you would like to use if you need to reset your Winlink Password
    • Your grid square
  4. Hit Update
  5. You are now ready to operate with Winlink.
    • Optionally you can install updated forms etc. Winlink will prompt you about that.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO730gfzYko is a nice video on installing Winlink Express, registering and using Telnet (Internet)-based Winlink. There are many more good YouTube Videos that cover different modes of operation.

​

8 of 15

9 of 15

????????? QUESTIONS ??????????

  • Using Winlink Express with the Internet (no radio)
  • Using Winlink over VHF radio to a RMS node at Wintergreen
  • Simulates a local Internet outage
  • Using Winlink over HF to receive a message using a RMS node located outside Virginia
    • Simulates a state or regional Internet outage
  • Sending and receiving a peer-to-peer message over HF without using any Winlink RMS nodes
  • Simulates a total Internet outage

​

10 of 15

11 of 15

Situation Normal

User

User

User

Email

Server

Winlink

Server

Internet Backbone

Local Internet Connections

KK4JP will send a Winlink Message to N4PGS and KO8V using the conventional Internet

12 of 15

Situation Not Normal! Local Internet Down

User

User

User

Email

Server

Email

Server

Internet Backbone

Local Internet Connections

X

X

13 of 15

ARES Demo - Local Internet Down

User

User

User

Email

Server

Winlink Server

Internet Backbone

N4PGS will send and receive email over VHF FM via a Winlink Server located at Wintergreen

14 of 15

Situation Not Normal! Regional Internet Backbone Down

User

User

Email

Server

Email

Server

Internet Backbone

X

Remote HF Winlink Server

KO8V will send and receive email over HF SSB via a Winlink Server located outside Virginia

15 of 15

Complete Internet Failure!

User

User

KN4LYF will send an email over HF SSB directly to K4DND via a Peer-to-Peer Connection