1 May 1, 2008
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The WinLink 2000 system, using AirMail 2000 software, is an excellent system designed for emergency communications when other means are unavailable. When disaster strikes it is all too common for the affected area to lose phone and cable service along with internet access. Cell service is often lost completely or is too congested to be useful. . When other means of communications are lost and you have time sensitive messages that are urgent and cannot wait to be relayed through the MARS or Amateur message systems, you need a method to handle this traffic quickly. Even if all phones and local Internet service are down, email can be sent in near real time via HF or VHF (TELPAC) radio to the Internet using the MARS Amateur WL2K Systems. The preferred way to do that is with a free program called AirMail 2000. Airmail is very user friendly and works much like your regular email program such as Outlook or Outlook Express. After you have composed your email message you set your radio to a frequency of one of the many Winlink stations (if you set it up for radio control the frequency of the radio will be set automatically), and with one mouse click you are connected to the Winlink MBO (now referred to as RMS or Radio Message Server), your messages are uploaded and sent out via the internet email system immediately, any waiting messages are downloaded and the link is automatically broken. To the email recipient, the system is totally seamless and transparent. The message arrives as normal email. If that is not enough reason to look into WL2K, consider the planned implementation to use WL2K to supplement or replace our current MDS. |
Army MARS uses a version of the Winlink System, referred to as ‘MARS WL2K’, as their primary digital message system. Although the ML2K system is not yet completely ready to replace the NAVMARCORMARS MDS, it is authorized for testing and limited (see CM BCST 02-08) official and semi-official Navy-Marine Corps MARS traffic. Due to the fast changing status of WL2k in Navy-Marine Corps MARS use authorization, stations are advised to check the National Web Site for the latest information. Recent (as of 24 April 2008) updates from NNN0ASA include:
CHNAVMARCORMARS BCST 02-08
CHNAVMARCORMARS BCST 04-08
CHNAVMARCORMARS INFO BCST 12-08
CHNAVMARCORMARS INFO BCST 13-08
CHNAVMARCORMARS INFO BCST 19-08
ALL ALABAMA BCST 04/08
further clarifies current use of WL2K in Alabama, and access of the Alabama
state routing address is restricted to designated traffic reps.
To get started, you’ll need:
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MARS Capable HF radio station Whatever
you are using now should be just fine.
There are plenty of WL2K PMBOs operating on a wide range of
frequencies so you will generally be able to make a connection, day or night. (or) If you live near a 2-meter Telpac node, you can
access the system with VHF packet.
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Computer with Windows 98 (or better) operating system. |
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A modem (TNC) (A Packtor modem is needed for HF) Airmail supports KAM+, KAM-98, KAM-XL, PK-232,
PK-900, DSP-1232, DSP-2232, MFJ-1278, DXP-38, PTC-I, PTC-II. HF Modes supported include Pactor (I,II,and III),
Clover, G-tor and Packet. There
are some differences in mode options between stations and that information is
available for each station in a drop-down window within the program. (or) (A Packet modem can be used for VHF access if there
is a Winlink 2-meter Telpac node in your area.)
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1. Go to http://www.siriuscyber.net/ham/
and download the latest version of
Airmail. For MARS, Be
certain to use version 3.3.080 or greater! 2. Go to http://www.navymars.org/
, select “Winlink 2K Info” and download BASIC SETUP AND USERS GUIDE FOR THE MARS WINLINK 2000 RADIO E-MAIL
SYSTEM. This
is a clear and complete guide to MARS-WL2K. It is very well written, easy to follow and will get you
set-up quickly. 3.
Follow the step by step directions in the setup guide to install and
configure WL2K. 1.
Take special note of the instructions for the
system.MARS.ini file. 4.
Join the MARS WL2K Yahoo Group at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mars_wl2k/join. You will need to go the group’s files
section to obtain the latest system.MARS.ini files. This group offers a good forum for questions and problem
resolution and will keep you up-to-date on MARS WL2K. |
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maintained by NNN0TJC |