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Advanced Digital Modes: Winlink 2000 & Automatic Link Establishment. Ken Heitner AFA3PB / AFD3AL NE Division Conference September 2013. Why Digital Messaging?. Allows Emergency Traffic to be Handled Quickly and Automatically Works with Existing E-mail Systems when They are Available
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Advanced Digital Modes:Winlink 2000 & Automatic Link Establishment Ken Heitner AFA3PB / AFD3AL NE Division Conference September 2013
Why Digital Messaging? • Allows Emergency Traffic to be Handled Quickly and Automatically • Works with Existing E-mail Systems when They are Available • Uses Available Internet Resources • Messaging Mode is Familiar to Most Users • Can Effectively Utilize Available HF Channels
Winlink 2000 – WinmorHow Does It Work? • Goal is Low Cost with Robust Performance • Uses Standard Personal Computer components: • Soundcards, and • USB or Serial (COM) Ports • All Critical Features are Built into a Virtual Terminal Mode Controller (as software) • Software Can Also Control the Frequency Setting of the HF Radio Being Used
Winlink 2000 – WinmorVirtual Terminal Node Controller Handles: • Digital Modulation & Demodulation • Automatic Retry Requests (ARQ) • Digital Signal Processing (DSP) • Forward Error Correction (FEC), and • Radio Tuning & Soundcard Time Base Errors • PC Sets Radio Frequency for Best Link to Target Station
Winlink 2000 – WinmorAnd the Bottom Line Is: • Most Critical Functions of Digital Message Transfer are Handled in Software • Operator Sets: • Radio mode (and maybe frequency) • Transmit power levels (for radio & amp), and • Choice of initial operating bandwidth • Most Soundcards Seem to Work Acceptably • Local and System Software Automatically Route Message to the Addressee
WinLink 2000 - Winmor Network is for All MARS • Software Package is RMS Express: • Available from: http://www.winlink.org/ • There is Yahoo Tech Group MARS_WL2K • Setup Uses MARS Service Code (See me!) • Connects Automatically with WL2K Stations via HF or VHF links or Telnet • Most Popular Low Cost HF Mode is Winmor Based on Soundcard Interface
Automatic Link Establishment • ALE is Based on a Network of HF Radios Using the Same Channels & Parameters • AF & Navy MC MARS has 10 Channels 2 – 28 MHz for its ALE Network • Army MARS has Separate ALE Network • Each ALE Station Scans All Channels for Soundings to Build Link Quality Analysis (LQA) • Each Station Sends One Sounding per Hour on Each Channel to Establish Link Quality • LQA is Used to Choose Best Channel for Next Link Automatically
Automatic Link Establishment 2 • When a Link is Needed for Voice or Data Communications are Automatically Established on the Best LQA HF Channel • Equipment Requirements: • Controllable HF Transceiver (CAT Protocol) • Fast (1 GHz+) Pentium Computer (Win XP) • Wide Dynamic Range Soundcard (16-24 Bits) • Soundcard: Stable Timebase & Low Jitter • Wide Band Antenna or Fast Antenna Tuner
ALE MIL-STD 141-110A Data Modem Terminal • Military Stations Use MIL-STD Data Terminals – Not Amateur Digital Modes • Operation with Military Stations After LINK is Either Voice or MIL-STD Data • M110A DMT is a Separate Software Package That Operates in Modes Compatible with Military Data Terminals • It is Available at: http://www.n2ckh.com/ MARS_ALE_FORUM/MSDMT.html
ALE MIL-STD 141-110A Data Modem Terminal 2 • M110A DMT Operates Either Independently or With ALE in Follow On Mode • In Receive: M110A DMT provide Autobaud for Data Rate and Interleave • Autobaud Eliminates Need to Agree on Settings Before Transmission • In Transmit: Operator Sets Data Rates and Interleave Based on Experience
Automatic Link Establishment 3 • Software for ALE from: • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MARS-ALE/ • License File for Transmit–Contact AFD3AL • This is Cutting Edge Technology for MARS • Enables Joint Operations with Government • MARS Stations in SHARES Get Six Additional Channels (MARS & SHARES Network!) • Need More Folks to Try This Out !!!
For Additional Information • Contact Ken AFD3AL • E-mail to: kenheitner@hotmail.com • WL2K Message to: AFA3PB • TPN Message to: AFA3PB@AFE3MC • Phone: 703-538-4747 • Join The Digital Revolution in MARS Today !!! • You Might Just Learn Something New !!