Winlink 2000

1. Winlink 2000 Email via HF Radio Anywhere in the World N6MZ

2. Winlink 2000 (WL2K) • HF/PACTOR-based messaging system • Available to any licensed amateur • Mainly used for exchanging email • Email attachments supported • Position reporting • Free email client software (AirMail) • Internet gateways N6MZ

3. BTW, N6MZ did have hair, once N6MZ

4. WL2K Experience • XR0X San Felix Island DXpedition (2002) • Used WL2K to contact KM9D at sea to ask about WL2K (and San Felix/San Ambrosio) • Plan was to use WL2K for team email and for uploading expedition logs to search engine • Hardware: old Sony laptop, PTC2e modem, expedition IC-756PRO2, expedition antennas N6MZ

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9. WL2K on XR0X • Very difficult propagation during expedition “down time” (ZF1GC was about it!) • Required shutting down a CW station • Only one Winklink account (N6MZ) which was a pain to administer • When it worked, it was great • But it was so frustrating, we gave up N6MZ

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11. WL2K Experience • FT5XO Kerguelen DXpedition (and So. Indian Ocean crossing) (2005) • Plan was to use WL2K on board Braveheart for team email only (no log uploads) • Receive southern ocean wave/weather data via gif email attachments • Hardware: same old Sony laptop, PTC2e, dedicated IC-706, Hustler 4BTV vertical N6MZ

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16. WL2K on FT5XO • Fantastic! Email all the way to Kerguelen! • Couldn’t do laundry and email simultaneously • At Kerg, even ¼ mile away (and running QRP), severe QRM to DXpedition • Sysop disease cut us off halfway through our trip N6MZ

17. WL2K on FT5XO • After ZS5S went nuts, we couldn’t reliably connect to any WL2K node until we were only 2 days out of Fremantle • Approximately 2 weeks of little/no email • Still had to choose between clean clothes and email • TGFB!!!!! (thank God for broadband) N6MZ

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20. WL2K + • “Free” (sort of free) • AirMail client is an excellent Win app (very well behaved, nice UI) • When it works, it’s great • Using HF is lots of fun (for us OFs) • Position reporting is fantastic for friends/family peace-of-mind N6MZ

21. WL2K - • Single-user, non-multiplexed • Relatively slow (but great for HF w/P3) • You’re at the mercy of the ionosphere • May cause QRM to other devices on board (e.g., HF weather FAX) • Setup is not for the faint-hearted (or non-techie) • SYSOP DISEASE N6MZ

22. WL2K Alternatives • INMARSAT “Industry standard” high-seas comm Requires expensive hardware Service is expensive (by the minute) • Iridium Lower cost than INMARSAT Still, expensive hardware, pay by the minute Will they survive? • SailMail, Globe Wireless, PinOak, etc. HF/satellite, pay by the minute N6MZ

23. AirMail Setup (part 1) • Go to www.winlink.org • Nav to downloads|Airmail Web Page • Download installer "Airmail 3.2 Ham Client complete install" • Run installer, accept all defaults N6MZ

24. AirMail Setup (part 2) • Download HFWIN32 from www.its.bldrdoc.gov/elbert/pc_hf/hfwin32.html • Run installer, accept all defaults, ESPECIALLY installation directory N6MZ

25. AirMail Setup (part 3) • Go to users.iafrica.com/z/zs/zs5s/index_buls.html • Click “Winlink-2000 Pactor MBO's WW (Accepting EMails)” link • Select all, paste into notepad, save as text • This “bulletin file” is your latest-and-greatest list of WL2K stations N6MZ

26. AirMail Setup (part 4) • Start AirMail • Step through the setup wizard • Drag the bulletin file you downloaded/saved from ZS5S into the AirMail message window • This should create a new message from ZS5S • Select this message, then choose Tools|Make Frequency List • Update the list and then save it • You're ready to go! (whew) N6MZ