WinLink2000 (WL2K) and its Adaptation to MEMA Digital Communications By ‘DoC’ Willard, W1EO And Tom Kinahan, N1CPE

Agenda What is Winlink2000 How do we plan to use it What’s running now Call to Action!

So What is this Winlink ? “Last Mile” of 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, 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 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 , the World’s standard for written communications. Provides “last Mile” local radio digital messaging directly for served agencies, using existing 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 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 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

Laptop Compute r Radio Data Interface A typical radio “last mile” station is composed of simple components, even for an Agency with multiple computers. VIA VHF RADIO using Winlink 2000 Laptop for a Portable Station. Desktop for an agency. Paclink and your favorite 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 , this station makes a connection with a Winlink radio node or PMBO. VIA VHF or HF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Compute r

VHF Radio Data Interface VIA VHF RADIO PMBO VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r For the “last mile,” use VHF radios and the Packet mode as a pathway to carry .

VIA HF RADIO VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r 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 Compute r 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 ed over Winlink 2000 to update list of available PMBOs and frequencies. Airmail “client Program

VHF Radio Data Interface VIA VHF RADIO PMBO VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r The PMBO is connected to the internet at all times. The Internet

VHF Radio Data Interface VIA VHF RADIO PMBO VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r 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 Internet VHF Radio Data Interface TELPA C g TELPAC stations may communicate to the PMBO via any Internet Protocol link, including private Wide Area Network or WiFi.

Radio Data Interface VIA VHF or HF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Compute r Other computers, or CMSs, organize and manage the network traffic. The 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, CA Detroit, MI Perth, Australia CMS

Radio Data Interface VIA VHF or HF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Compute r You can send radio directly to internet users. The Internet

VIA VHF or HF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Radio Data Interface Compute r And you can send radio to other Paclink or Airmail stations like yours. The Internet Radio Data Interface Compute r

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 . PACLINK is now an (POP3) server. The Internet VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r Served Agency LAN with Outlook or Outlook Express PACLINK may be placed in the “DMZ” zone in front of the firewall.

VIA VHF or HF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Radio Data Interface Compute r The PMBO forwards radio between its radio users, even if its internet connection is gone. The Internet Radio Data Interface Compute r

The Internet VIA HF or VHF RADIO PMBO Radio Data Interface Radio Data Interface Compute r 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 TELPA C

The Internet 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 TELPA C NODE

The Internet VIA HF RADIO PMBO VHF Radio Data Interface Or… you can use an HF station to get to a distant connected PMBO using Airmail Compute r HF Radio Data Interface

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 Internet VHF Radio Data Interface Compute r TELNET 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 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

YAGI OCF Dipole Passive Antenna Switch TS-920 SCS PTC-II Scanning # # Pentium II WL2K XP 80, 40, 17 M20 M KPC DMZ Internet Omni W1ON Node

The User View

Radio Modem Computer Client/User Equipment Configuration SCS PTC-II HF 3600 baud VHF 1200 baud KAM, KPC3 Airmail Program

NODE USER INTERNET Digipeater TELPAC HF VHF Internet CMSs

What did HAMs do during KATRINA/RITA? Voice/FM initially Several VHF FM voice repeaters stayed on the air Replaced cell phone service Supplemented/replaced fire/police radio Police/Fire used ham repeaters directly all fair in love, war and disasters Digital ( ) Teams got ready, moved but were refused entry initially (AMATEURS?) No local NODEs used - no Internet! Used mostly HF client software to remote NODEs Five teams from TN, CO, MO, TX and Baptist from GA Assisted SA, RC, local EOC and government authorities

What about Massachusetts? Amateur Radio voice FM/VHF and SSB/HF network exists staffed as needed Periodic/monthly activation and test Several voice repeaters Voice not directly applicable to electronic messages Amateur Radio digital Primitive KB-KB digital network in place Served agencies adopting electronic messaging Winlink demonstration being implemented

The MEMA Demonstration Demonstrate Amateur Radio Winlink RF RACES first MEMA subsequently Winlink NODE has been installed at MEMA SEOC Winlink NODE has been installed at MEMA SEOC Develop a plan for the whole state to provide: Backup digital network via RADIO Use Internet only when available Continue to operate when the local Internet fails Implement a network that is glued in place Champion NODEs using RF to contact other NODEs

Equipment Configuration State EOCRegion 1 Remote PMBO ActonBedford HF VHF Breaks Internet Digi SEOC running PMBO all other stations running Airmail Region 1 Airmail polls Bunker mobile

How can we do it? Supplement current three man team for demo Implement two NODEs and test Develop meaningful scenario Two State HQs with NODEs Two town EOCs as client/users Mobile as client/user Create a MITRE team for designing state plan MITRE help MEMA in grant proposals

A WINLINK 2000 HF LONG RANGE FIELD STATION You will need the following equipment: Amateur radio High Frequency (HF) transceiver. Pactor capable modem: Pactor 800 bps bps. Highly recommended over Pactor 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 interface to allow radio operators and EMA personnel to communicate among each other and with any internet 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: or VHF Airmail access on MHz 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 N1OTX-10 WOBURN,MA W1GMF-10 ABINGTON,MA N1XTB-10 MIDDLEBORO,MA N1YHR-10 FORRESTDALE,MA KE1AB-10 CRANSTON,RI

Winlink 2000 (WL2K) More info and Follow up System Details and Downloads: Winlink 2000 web site: Join the member EmComm WL2K reflector: Take the On-line course for using WL2K modules for EmComm: Review and promote the Published Information about Winlink 2000: Review the Presentations and examples of EmComm use:

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?