winlink2000 (wl2k) and its adaptation to mema digital communications by ‘doc’ willard, w1eo and...

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


PMBO

VHF Radio

Data Interface

Computer

The PMBO is connected to the internet at all times.

The InternetThe Internet

VHF Radio

Data Interface


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.


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


PMBO

Radio

Data Interface

Computer

Other computers, or CMSs, organize and manage the network traffic.


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


PMBO

Radio

Data Interface

Computer

You can send radio e-mail directly to internet e-mail users.



PMBO

Radio

Data Interface

Radio

Data Interface

Computer

And you can send radio e-mail to other Paclink or Airmail stations like yours.


Radio

Data Interface

Computer


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.


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.


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.


Radio

Data Interface

Compute

r


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



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


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


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.


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.

Questions?

[email protected]@winlink.org

[email protected]@winlink.org

winlink2000 (wl2k) and its adaptation to mema digital communications by ‘doc’ willard, w1eo and...

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