winlink2000 (wl2k) and its adaptation to mema digital communications by ‘doc’ willard, w1eo and...
TRANSCRIPT
WinLink2000 (WL2K)and its Adaptation to
MEMA Digital Communications
By ‘DoC’ Willard, W1EO
And Tom Kinahan, N1CPE
Agenda
What is Winlink2000How do we plan to use itWhat’s running nowCall to Action!
So What is this Winlink ?
“Last Mile” of Email via digital radio Worldwide network has 80 plus ground entry nodes
• Australia didn’t allow until after Tsunami disaster (Internet connection issues)
MITRE’s radio club sponsors one node in Bedford Users primarily boats/ships, RVs and missionaries Our Bedford node has 30 plus users per day Scan 6 HF frequencies and one VHF Send/receive with other HAMs or with Internet clients The network handles 150,000 messages a month
Winlink 2000 Today… by the numbers
• Over 99% system availability since Nov, 1999.
•3 Full-time, Redundant, Mirror image, Common Message Servers (CMS) in Detroit, San Diego and Perth, all in hardened sites, providing excellent reliability, worldwide. More coming!
• 91 total PMBOs, worldwide, in 3 Service Classes. Public & EmComm Amateur, Army MARS, and UK Cadet Forces maintain separate service classes for their own operation. More EmComm Classes coming!
• Approximately 10,000 Weekly Radio users communicating with over 98,000 Email recipients, pushing an average of 150,000 messages or 280,000 minutes, monthly, with an average duration of 3.4 Minutes at 3,600 bytes/per message. The average time from message origination to pickup for delivery is approximately 3.5 minutes, regardless of distance.
•In the EmComm Amateur service class, there are 315 Active VHF/UHF “TelPac” Gateways.
•In the Army MARS service class, There are 11 HF PMBOs serving DHS, & NORTHCOM, etc. (6 Months old and growing fast)!
Why Winlink 2000 is used for EmComm.
Uses e-mail, the World’s standard for written communications.
Provides “last Mile” local radio digital messaging directly for served agencies, using existing e-mail programs, on existing computers, with no additional “invasive” software…seamlessly and transparently.
Provides wide area coverage from inside a disaster area without the Internet, and with a minimum amount of additional client hardware or software.
Has a proven record of reliability, and continues to be responsive to the needs of its user communities.
Why Winlink 2000? Enable delivery of formal record traffic directly to and from the
desktop of our served agencies using a familiar user interface
• Fact: Internet email is the primary form of written communication within DoD, DHS and most other government agencies
Allow transport of small binary attachments such as imagery, forms (ICS!) or encrypted traffic
Robust, fault tolerant architecture Interoperability with ARES/RACES Replacing an aging collection of BBS systems, most without
source code access or support (“Abandoned-ware”), with a supported application written for modern personal computer technology with mainstream development tools
How Does Winlink 2000 Cater to these Needs?
It looks like e-mail and uses familiar software like Outlook and Outlook Express
Has an address book and a spell-checker
Allows multiple recipients (to:, cc:)
Sends multiple attachments
Does NOT add to the stress or learning curve when in an emergency situation
LaptopCompute
r
Radio
Data Interface
A typical radio “last mile” e-mail station is composed of simple components, even for an Agency with multiple computers.
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO using Winlink 2000
Laptop for a Portable Station. Desktop for an agency.
• Paclink and your favorite E-mail client
•Or Airmail 2000 software
• Win2000 or WinXP
A Packet Radio Modem (TNC.)
A VHF or UHF Radio and a Good Antenna
This is a Winlink 2000 PACLINK or AIRMAIL station.
Radio
Data Interface
To send or receive e-mail, this station makes a connection with a Winlink radio node or PMBO.
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
VHF Radio
Data Interface
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
For the “last mile,” use VHF radios and the Packet mode as a pathway to carry e-mail.
E-MAIL VIA HF RADIO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
For longer distances or in difficult terrain, most PMBOs are outfitted with HF radios and the Pactor II & III modes to serve stations with no other e-mail outlet.
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
HF Radio
Data Interface
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
Users on HF can only use the program Airmail 2000 (today).
Use of a a common HF client package simplifies support! “.ini” files can be emailed over Winlink 2000 to update list of available PMBOs and frequencies.
Airmail“client
Program
VHF Radio
Data Interface
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
The PMBO is connected to the internet at all times.
The InternetThe Internet
VHF Radio
Data Interface
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
PMBOs may have remote “gateways” called TELPAC stations. They are connected to the PMBO via any TCP/IP link and duplicate its VHF radio port in another location.
The InternetThe Internet
VHF Radio
Data Interface
TELPAC
802-11g
TELPAC stations may communicate to the PMBO via any Internet Protocol link, including private Wide Area Network or WiFi.
Radio
Data Interface
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
Other computers, or CMSs, organize and manage the network traffic.
The InternetThe Internet
CMS
CMSs are transparent to users. They are redundant, and you never know they are there.
They replicate message traffic across all CMSs in real-time.
San Diego, CADetroit, MIPerth, Australia
CMS CMS
Radio
Data Interface
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
You can send radio e-mail directly to internet e-mail users.
The InternetThe Internet
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
And you can send radio e-mail to other Paclink or Airmail stations like yours.
The InternetThe Internet
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Compute
r
Adding a LAN on the PACLINK computer permits individuals to send and receive radio e-mail. PACLINK is now an e-mail (POP3) server.
The InternetThe Internet
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
Served Agency LAN with Outlook or Outlook Express
PACLINK may be placed in the “DMZ” zone in front of the firewall.
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
The PMBO forwards radio e-mail between its radio users, even if its internet connection is gone.
The InternetThe Internet
Radio
Data Interface
Compute
r
The InternetThe Internet
E-MAIL VIA HF or VHF RADIO
PMBO
Radio
Data Interface
Radio
Data Interface
Computer
If the local PMBO has an outage, you can make a connection with a local TELPAC station which will automatically shift to a distant host PMBO with connectivity. Or…
Radio
Data Interface
TELPAC
The InternetThe Internet
E-MAIL VIA VHF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Compute
r
Or… you can traverse the packet network using nodes to get to a connected TELPAC or PMBO. Or…
VHF Radio
Data Interface
TELPAC
NODE
NODE
The InternetThe Internet
E-MAIL VIA HF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Or… you can use an HF station to get to a distant connected PMBO using Airmail 2000.
Computer
HF Radio
DataInterface
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO
PMBO
VHF Radio
Data Interface
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Compute
r
Besides radio channels, PACLINK stations also may have telnet channels to the internet. This is handy for fixed stations because it is fast.
The InternetThe Internet
VHF Radio
Data Interface
Computer
TELNETTELNET
PACLINK stations automatically switch between preset radio destinations and telnet channels to find a connection to a PMBO.
How Does Winlink 2000 Cater to these Needs?
It looks like e-mail and uses familiar software like Outlook and Outlook Express
Has an address book and a spell-checker
Allows multiple recipients (to:, cc:)
Sends multiple attachments
Does NOT add to the stress or learning curve when in an emergency situation
The Network View
Amateur Service Public PMBOs
Nearby Amateur Service EmComm PMBOs
Nearby Amateur Service Telpac VHF/UHF Packet Gateways
Army MARS EmComm PMBOs
Position Reporting by End-Users
Example of an End-User Position Report
Example of End-User Position Reporting
The Node View
YAGIOCF
Dipole
Passive
Antenna
Switch
TS-920
SCS PTC-II
Scanning
3620.9
3627.5#
7070.9
14075.9
14102.7#
18100.9
Pentium II
WL2K XP
80, 40, 17 M20 M
KPC-3
145.750
DMZInternet
Omni
W1ON Node
The User View
Radio
Modem
Computer
Client/User Equipment Configuration
SCS PTC-II
HF 3600 baudVHF 1200 baud
KAM, KPC3
Airmail Program
A WINLINK 2000 HF LONG RANGE FIELD STATION
You will need the following equipment:
•Amateur radio High Frequency (HF) transceiver.
•Pactor capable modem: Pactor II @ 800 bps. P3 @ 3600 bps. Highly recommended over Pactor 1 @ 200 bps. (Example: an 80 Kbyte file on Pactor 1: approx. 80 Min, On Pactor 3, approx 7-12 min.)
•HF multi-band (mobile/portable) antenna, and an auto-coupler.
•Power source.
•Laptop Computer (Win 98, ME, 2000, XP) and Airmail for HF.
How Will We use WL2K?
To support digital communication between MEMA Region and State EOC
To support digital communication between individual communities and the local Region office
To provide an easy to use email interface to allow radio operators and EMA personnel to communicate among each other and with any internet email user.
What we are running now!
MEMA is currently running a PMBO at the Framingham State EOC.
HF Pactor I, II and III Airmail can connect on: 3.590 or 7076.9.
VHF Airmail access on 145.75MHz Equipment on loan from MITRE
What we are running now!
Additional VHF Telpacs now available.• Gil W1GMF has assembled a group of TELPAC
stations in Eastern Mass that are available to all:
KK1X-10 AYER,MA 145.07N1OTX-10 WOBURN,MA 145.09W1GMF-10 ABINGTON,MA 145.09N1XTB-10 MIDDLEBORO,MA 145.01N1YHR-10 FORRESTDALE,MA 145.01KE1AB-10 CRANSTON,RI 145.05
Winlink 2000 (WL2K) More info and Follow up
System Details and Downloads:Winlink 2000 web site: www.winlink.org
Join the 1400+ member EmComm WL2K reflector: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wl2kemcomm/
Take the On-line course for using WL2K modules for EmComm:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOADING_WL2K_USER_PROGRAMS/
Review and promote the Published Information about Winlink 2000:http://www.winlink.org/news.htm
Review the Presentations and examples of EmComm use: http://www.winlink.org/emergency.htm
Call to Action!
Dust off that old Packet TNC and use “Airmail” to connect to local Telpac or PMBO
If you feel like you want to take a larger role, load and run “Telpac” to provide a service to your neighbors.
Get an SCS Pactor II or III modem and get on HF.