The Winlink gateway network is a massive system of radio to email gateways which is used by a variety of systems to be able to send and receive emails when there is no internet access. Think of the possibilities....
N7GV Winlink Information
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9/12/2022
Some parameter mods were made yesterday to the gateway software that makes it easier to connect to N7GV-10 in packet mode. The fix involves handshaking and response delays and not any RF related issues. VARA-FM continues to perform very well. If you've previously had connection issues in the past, please try again. Positive and negative feedback are always welcome including other connection issues or assistance on both packet and VARA-FM. Thanks to Larry K7LRB who previously had issues and was able to retest and verify that he can now successfully connect on packet after the mods were made. 73, Mike WA9TKK A big THANKS Mike!! Yes, all is working GREAT now! Just a couple of notes to members: Please keep in mind that you can connect to the N7GV-10 Winlink Gateway "node" via packet OR VARA (VARAFM). All you need is a sound card (internal to your computer, SignaLink, RigBlaster, etc) to connect using BOTH modes (packet and VARA). You can also connect in the packet mode using a "hardware" TNC such as a Kam, the AEA "PK-" series, MFJ, etc. These 'older' TNCs can be found on QRZ, eBay, etc. for around $50 +/-. As a matter of fact, the Club owns a PK-232 which is, and/or will, be made available via the Country Store in the near future. If you would like any assistance getting set up for these modes (as well as other digital modes) please feel free to contact me; I'll be glad to help. Again, thanks Mike. You know your 'stuff' and it shows! 73, Larry 8/31/2022
Larry K7LRB and I found the problem to be a power outlet problem on the UPS that connected the Astron power supply which powers the Winlink radio. We moved the power supply plug to another outlet and all appears good now (except for a slight glitch with the gateway software which required reconfiguration). Packet and VARA-FM testing were successful. Top data transfer speed was measured at 12,750 bps using a test radio at the site. This would be the maximum speed anyone can achieve using VARA-FM in the narrow-mode (256QAM with a 64 box constellation). If anyone has any problems with the gateway please contact me asap for further investigation. Thanks., Mike Bass WA9TKK - Below are 15 photos of the Elephant Head site taken by Mike on their recent trip. 6/29/2022
The new Pima County OEMCOMM Winlink Post Office was made operational on Monday. (6/27/2022) It is located at the Pima Emergency Communications Operations Center (PECOC) in Tucson. For more details on this operations center, please visit http://oemcomm.org. This PO is sending out a packet beacon "N7OEM-10 WINLINK POST OFFICE" every 10 minutes on the output of the 145.150 MHz Mt. Lemmon digital repeater. You are welcome to connect to this PO to test your packet capabilities, but note that it is set up primarily for Emergency Communications. Messages will be retained at the PO for only a limited period based on emergency needs. Format any outgoing messages as a standard Winlink Message. In the To box, messages must be directed to an amateur callsign that has been registered with the Winlink organization AND has the capability of retrieving 2M packet messages via Mt. Lemmon. No messages can be sent to any other email addresses (e.g. no emails directed to anybody@gmail.com or any other emails with the "@" symbol). If someone has posted a message for you at this PO, you can retrieve it by connecting to the PO. To connect to this PO, open a Packet Winlink session. Set the connection type to Direct and connect to N7OEM-10. Set the radio to the Mt. Lemmon digital repeater channel 145.150/144.550 MHz. Hit Start. Although this PO uses a Winlink service code PECOC, you will not be able to view this gateway on the Channel Selection list since this gateway is not connected to the internet and is not visible to the Winlink CMS network. This was the intent of this gateway - to be entirely free of the internet and any related outages that may happen during emergencies or other issues. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact: MIke Bass, WA9TKK, wa9tkk@gmail.com, or Greg Peters, W9GRG, kc5zgg@cox.net 73, Mike Bass WA9TKK PS The GVARC 2m Winlink Gateway at Elephant Head is still operational and is set up for Public/General amateur use. 7/23/2021
Hi Folks. Randy Walker K7NOJ Has documented his process for connecting to our Winlink Gateway using a SignalLink. His information is in the pdf document to the right. |
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5/16/2021
I have upgraded the gateway and my home station VARA FM versions to 4.1.2 and both tested OK. So please go ahead and update your home station versions to the new version. You should get a prompt when you launch the old version to do an update directly from the program and not have to use the link below from Tom N5TW on the Winlink Development Team. Thanks.
73, Mike WA9TKK
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VARA FM has been undergoing beta testing versions to transition from a 16-bit callsign encoding to a 32-bit encoding. We have been beta testing stage 1 code (which can recognize either encoding but always uses 16-bit for transmitting to ensure compatibility and stage 2 code which can recognize either encoding but always transmits with the new 32-bit encoding that will fail calling pre-stage 1 releases.
Today, Jose has formally released the stage 1 version of this code and we encourage especially sysops to upgrade to this version before stage 2 gets released. Here is the link for the new stage 1 code:
https://mega.nz/file/yTgxUaaS#llf3xlBsVT5evLKxExDOit8LFFQ8AHk7QdUsOYffmBM
I personally have a lot of confidence in the still beta Stage 2 code and have been working to upgrade all RMS stations and digipeaters to that code to save having to do two upgrades but your choice. User stations should definitely holdoff on going to stage 2 until you are sure that all RMS stations (or P2P stations you intend to work with) are at least on Stage 1 code.
Tom N5TW
I have upgraded the gateway and my home station VARA FM versions to 4.1.2 and both tested OK. So please go ahead and update your home station versions to the new version. You should get a prompt when you launch the old version to do an update directly from the program and not have to use the link below from Tom N5TW on the Winlink Development Team. Thanks.
73, Mike WA9TKK
====================
VARA FM has been undergoing beta testing versions to transition from a 16-bit callsign encoding to a 32-bit encoding. We have been beta testing stage 1 code (which can recognize either encoding but always uses 16-bit for transmitting to ensure compatibility and stage 2 code which can recognize either encoding but always transmits with the new 32-bit encoding that will fail calling pre-stage 1 releases.
Today, Jose has formally released the stage 1 version of this code and we encourage especially sysops to upgrade to this version before stage 2 gets released. Here is the link for the new stage 1 code:
https://mega.nz/file/yTgxUaaS#llf3xlBsVT5evLKxExDOit8LFFQ8AHk7QdUsOYffmBM
I personally have a lot of confidence in the still beta Stage 2 code and have been working to upgrade all RMS stations and digipeaters to that code to save having to do two upgrades but your choice. User stations should definitely holdoff on going to stage 2 until you are sure that all RMS stations (or P2P stations you intend to work with) are at least on Stage 1 code.
Tom N5TW
4/6/2021
The WinLink gateway on at the repeater site is now fully operational. The site is on 2meters simplex on 147.46 MHz.
For those of you conversant in WL please give it a try and let Mike Bass, WA9TKK and or myself know how it went.
Many thanks to the following members who contributed materials and time to the project
Mike Bass, WA9TKK
Gary Carroll, W0QN
Tom Smith, K7AFA
Randy Walker, K7NOJ
Jack McGowan, AD7NK
Ron Phillips, AA7RP
Rick Rogers, K7RCR
GVARC, N7GV
Thanks also to the beta testers as well.
A tremendous amount of thanks goes to Mike Bass, WA9TKK. Mike did all of the coordinating with the WL folks to get us authorized in the WL system and with ARCA to get us an approved frequency. Mike also did all of the software and hardware configuration and coordinated all of the beta testing for the gateway.
This gateway is the only WL asset in southern AZ that will cover southern Pima and much of Santa Cruz Counties. It's a plus for EMCOMM services in our service area.
So get on the air and make use of this club asset. If you want to try it and need some assistance, there are many folks around that can help. Don't forget YouTube as well for help.
Rick Rogers, K7RCR
Vice President
The WinLink gateway on at the repeater site is now fully operational. The site is on 2meters simplex on 147.46 MHz.
For those of you conversant in WL please give it a try and let Mike Bass, WA9TKK and or myself know how it went.
Many thanks to the following members who contributed materials and time to the project
Mike Bass, WA9TKK
Gary Carroll, W0QN
Tom Smith, K7AFA
Randy Walker, K7NOJ
Jack McGowan, AD7NK
Ron Phillips, AA7RP
Rick Rogers, K7RCR
GVARC, N7GV
Thanks also to the beta testers as well.
A tremendous amount of thanks goes to Mike Bass, WA9TKK. Mike did all of the coordinating with the WL folks to get us authorized in the WL system and with ARCA to get us an approved frequency. Mike also did all of the software and hardware configuration and coordinated all of the beta testing for the gateway.
This gateway is the only WL asset in southern AZ that will cover southern Pima and much of Santa Cruz Counties. It's a plus for EMCOMM services in our service area.
So get on the air and make use of this club asset. If you want to try it and need some assistance, there are many folks around that can help. Don't forget YouTube as well for help.
Rick Rogers, K7RCR
Vice President
Some of our members are working on a Winlink Gateway for member usage and Emergency Communications. This page is dedicated to this effort and linked to the Member's Page
