Winlink 2000
➲
The Winlink 2000 Emergency
Communications System and Its
Development In The Stark County
Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
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Simply put, Winlink is a digital messaging system
similar to standard internet email that can operate
over the Amateur Radio Bands.
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It's system can transfer email to stations within the
Winlink System as well as to stations outside the
system.
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Anywhere standard email can go, Winlink can go.
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
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It's not meant to replace voice communications
during emergency situations but to provide a
means to relay complex information in the most
efficient way possible.
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What kind of information ?
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
➲
Status reports from a disaster scene to a
command center.
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Supply lists from a Red Cross Evacuation Center.
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Patient lists from an Mass Casualty Incident to
area hospitals.
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Any communications where detailed information is
required.
Winlink 2000
Why Winlink ?
➲
The ARRL Board of Directors in 2004 encouraged
the deployment within the ARES of E-mail via
Amateur Radio “as exemplified by Winlink 2000”
to meet the needs of served agencies and others
involved in providing disaster communications.
➲
Amateur Radio volunteers responding to help in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina utilized Winlink
2000 with great success.
Winlink 2000
Why Winlink ?
➲
After adoption by the ARRL BOD, Ohio Section
Emergency Coordinator John Chapman, WB8INY
requested every Ohio County ARES group to
establish a Winlink Communications System.
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He also appointed a State Winlink Coordinator Nelson
Livingsten, AE5NL. Nelson was instrumental in
establishing a complex Winlink System currently
operating in South Texas.
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
➲
The core of the Winlink System involves three
software programs all available at no cost for
amateur use.
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TelPac
➲
Airmail
➲
Paclink
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
➲
Telpac
➲
Telpac stands for TELnet PACket bridge and takes
advantage of internet connectivity to eliminate the
need for local message storage.
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Users connect to the Telpac Node using client side
software (Airmail or Paclink) to transfer messages to
the Telnet server for delivery to the email destinations.
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
➲
Airmail
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Airmail is the Client side program used to generate
email style messages.
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Airmail is easily used on VHF, UHF or HF.
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Airmail needs a compatible TNC and a computer
running at least Windows 95.
Winlink 2000
What Is Winlink ?
➲
Paclink
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Paclink is also a Client side program that requires an
email client such as Outlook, Outlook Express.
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Designed for use on VHF & UHF only.
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Requires a PC running a minimum of Windows 2000.
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
➲
The Stark County Winlink Initiative began in late 2004
with the formation of a Winlink Implementation
Committee.
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Chairman David Beltz, WD8AYE
Stark County ARES Emergency Coordinator
➲
Co-Chairman Terry Russ, N8ATZ
Assistant EC
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
➲
Ralph Bugg, K8HSQ
Technical Director
➲
Tim Warstler - Director
Stark County Emergency Management Agency
➲
James Farriss, WA8GXM
Stark County Chapter, American Red Cross
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
➲
PHASE 1 – Determine the needs of the County EMA
and other served agencies. In Stark County our ARES
program primarily serves several organizations.
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The Emergency Management Agency
Local Chapters of the American Red Cross
National Weather Service Skywarn Spotter Program
Area Hospitals
Other local Public Safety forces.
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
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PHASE 2 – Install the basic infrastructure to support
Winlink Communications.
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This involved finding suitable locations to install Telpac
Nodes.
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Like voice repeaters, Telpac Nodes need high elevation
and internet connectivity.
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
➲
During 2005 we successfully assembled and installed
three Telpac Nodes around Stark County
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The first node was located at the home of Ralph Bugg,
K8HSQ to fully understand how a node works and what
if any maintenance is required.
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Our final two nodes were installed over the remainder
of the year.
Winlink 2000
The Stark Co Winlink Initiative
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Three Nodes currently in operation.
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Western Stark County, WA8GXM - 10
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Central Stark County, N8ATZ – 10
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Test Node, K8HSQ - 5
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Eastern Stark County, (Looking for a suitable site)
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All operate 24/7 on 145.07 Mhz on 1,200 baud
Winlink 2000
The N8ATZ-10 Node
Located at Mercy Medical Center
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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PHASE 2: Establish Airmail Stations throughout the
county.
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A core of Field Deployable portable stations that can
establish an Airmail Station anywhere we need one.
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Establish a permanent station at the Emergency
Operations Center.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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Through the HRSA Directive all Stark County Hospitals
currently have installed Yeasu Dual Band radios that
incorporate data inputs.
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These data inputs permit the easy installation of
suitable TNC's needed for the Winlink System.
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These radio's will have data cables ready to interface
with the TNC's.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲
The biggest asset to the use of the Winlink
Communications System will be our ability to setup and
operate portable stations anywhere we may need one.
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A laptop, TNC, and a two meter radio are all that is
needed to establish a portable Airmail Station.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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A very Simple but Effective Portable Airmail Station.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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HF Winlink
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Airmail connecting to the Telpac Nodes via VHF route
email to a Winlink Central Message Server (CMS).
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This could also be done on HF by connecting directly to
a PMBO Station.
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This is normally done using Pactor for high speed
operation.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲
How Important Is Winlink ?
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Voice communications will always remain our main tool
for public service.
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Winlink is the next communications tool that Amateur's
will use to benefit our served agencies.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲
The Amateur Radio Service is governed by the FCC.
Part 97 of the Commissions Rules and Regulations
detail the Amateur Radio Service.
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Under Basis and Purpose it states the following
principle .......
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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“Recognition and Enhancement of the value of the
Amateur Radio Service to the public as a voluntary
noncommercial communications service, particularly
with respect to providing emergency communications...”
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We believe Winlink is the next enhancement that will
certainly bring greater value to those we serve.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲
How Important Is Winlink ?
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲
How Important Is Winlink ?
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Amateur Radio and Winlink was recently mentioned in
a post Katrina report from the US House of
Representatives.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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“Nearly 1,000 Amateur Radio Service Volunteers across
the nation served in the Kartina strickened areas
providing communications for government agencies,
the Red Cross and The Salvation Army.”
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“Emergency Communications were conducted not only
by voice, but also by high-speed data transmissions
using state-of-the-art digital communications known as
Winlink.”
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
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In Conclusion ......
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Winlink is an important enhancement to any ARES
Communications System.
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We will need everyone's help if we are going to make
this a viable addition to Ohio's Emergency
Communications Preparedness System.
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲We're
Ready - Are You ?
Winlink 2000
The Stark County Winlink Initiative
➲Any
Questions ?
➲
Terry Russ, N8ATZ
truss@sssnet.com or
➲
Ralph Bugg, K8HSQ
buggr@sssnet.com