Sending email via HF: Winlink Winmor Protocol Demo - Ham Radio Q&A

How do you send and receive email when there is no easy connection to the Internet? Winlink allows you to send and receive messages using either VHF or HF radio waves. Having Winlink for HF at your disposal is a great addition to your emergency communications capabilities.
This video demonstrates the same technologies deployed to Puerto Rico in the the wake of Hurricane Maria to send and receive messages in and out of the affected area.
Resources:
Winlink Express:
www.winlink.org
Signalink USB Interface
www.tigertronics.com
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[@BFD378]

Thank you so much, I was really starting to scratch my head about my settings, but after about 24 hours of trying, I watched this video & was finally able to successfully send an email over hf, albeit with ARDOP since winmor is no longer an option

[@gregory7207]

Thanks for building J-POLE antennas.. I bought one from you about two and a half years ago and I've been very happy with it.

[@cogitoaprendo1017]

Thank you for the basics video explaining Winlink in a simplistic manner.

[@amitpatelpatel144]

All Information in 10 minutes. Nice demonstration . Thanks from VU2LVI India.

[@gortnewton4765]

Excellent! Just what I wanted and you described it beautifully. Thank you.

[@trev777]

That is so cool! Thanks for the great video. I'm set to take my retest for Technician in two weeks lol. Missed it the first time by 4 questions.

[@JulietNovember9]

Great video. Just getting started with Digital Modes this weekend and this was exactly what I needed to get going with WinLink. Thank you! 73

[@dans810]

Great video; I am ready to set-up Winlink using my RigBlaster.

[@straightkey]

Thanks for the video Michael.

[@HewesNews]

Good job. Very helpful for us learning about Winlink. Well lit also.

[@S_e_a_n]

Excellent video Sir! Great explanation of Winlink and winmor. 73

[@mxv2015]

Very informative, and easy to understand. Thanks

[@dazzacam9307]

Fantastic video once again , Thank you 73`s VK4DCC

[@ColbyHiggs]

Thank you! Once again, another great helpful video!

[@WD3D]

Michael you are so good at this. Keep going man. 73, WD3D

[@richardbogert7675]

I really appreciate the way you lead us through the operation of Winmor. I opened my program up and followed along taking notes. I think i can use it now if I can find a station that will connect. I know I am transmitting on my IC-7300 but have yet got a reply but I will not give up. Band conditions are not great this morning.

[@MrThemeddleman]

One of Dave Castler's videos explain that if your radio had a sound card use it (instead?). That video goes into discussion of using Singnalink and even older radios. Also uses USB instead of RS 232.

[@MrThemeddleman]

Also, audio for the internal soundcard might be controlled by the radio itself.

[@jaywardjulian6163]

Hello there I found your feedback that could help me easier coz I use an ic7300 also one thing I noticed is that I dont see the WINMOR winlink on my software, that and also would like to ask what other settings I should have the radio on. I'd be grateful if you could assist me with this settings. Thank you and 73 de KH2ZZ

[@WI9LL]

Is that a new intro? I like it. I’ve been hearing a lot about winking lately but don’t know much about it. Thanks for the overview.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

My first few videos had a different intro, but I've used this one for more than a year now. Winlink is great resource for the emergency communicator and something you should have a familiarity of even if you don't use it on a regular basis.

[@roshansinghrawat2155]

THIS IS VERY NICE I COULD HELP THE COP WHILE IN NO INTERNET ACCESS ZONE..............

[@Tubbe96]

Thanks for a very good video. Solved some of my first attempts questions. /73 de SM3EQF

[@bhamptonkc7]

I have winlink using winmore via a Signal link to an icom 706mkIIg, I can hear and see that the 706 is transmitting but after several days of trying with various RMS sites on 80m I have yet to make a connection. I have watched several videos on the subject to pick out what might be wrong, no luck.

[@dennisjoiner3717]

Great video. Got a question. Does anyone have any videos on how to set this stuff up. Man I can't find them. I've got the hardware, cabling, and the software, I just can't seem to find out how to configure it. I run FT8 with a FT DX-3000 but the program won't key the radio. I actually want to set up using my FT-817, a SignaLink, and Laptop. Just need info on setup. N9XFX

[@JamesHannibalKH2SR]

I wish someone would create an iOS TNC modem app to run winlink from an iPhone. This would be extremely useful for those on small boats with limited space, emergencies, or even backpackers using a QRP rig.

[@daa3417]

FYI Winmor does have support for ARM, or so they say I haven’t tested it on any of my Pis yet so I can not verify. I’d imagine a pi 3 compute module is the smallest and lightest model that would handle it but it shouldn’t be any issue for a Pi 4.

[@lulzypher]

If you're watching this in 2021, props.

[@reidtillery2856]

Also, Michael, I was trying to figure out a way to have Winlink automatically search the different channels to find a free one it can send and receive with, and send my messages. Will Winlink do this automatically, or do I have to painstakingly search for channels manually? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

[@rickloberger7739]

Has anyone else had issues linking this week? Am I doing something wrong or is the winlink system having issues? I can normally link daily, but am struggling for about a week.

[@MrCofresipirate]

Nice video thanks ....73s

[@tomwood5393]

Nice Video. I have an ICOM 718 and signalink that I cannot get working. Did you ever do a video for setup? I use Winlink on VHF a lot, but I would like to send messages out of my area. And I do have two separate signalinks that were factory set for their specific radio. Thanks.

[@reidtillery2856]

Hi Michael, Maybe you can answer my question. I have sent a couple of emails via Winlink, but generally all the channels are busy. Once in a while one will be momentarily free, and before I can hit START, it is busy. I've worked for hours trying to get a connection. Spent about two hours tonight, for example, but couldn't log on to a channel. Am I doing something wrong? Or is this par for the course? Thank you.

[@lyfandeth]

HF radio to get The Internet in the middle of nowhere. At a very reliable 300 baud. 1200 on a good day.

[@mr.josephZfruean]

How can you set the transmit frequency, trying to set split frequency but wont save

[@midnighttutor]

This video is well done and very informative. Can you please help me with one question: around the 5:30 point where you check the signal quality and strength of all the repeaters, presumably you are using your internet connection to get that data. In a situation where you have no internet, what is the recommended procedure to find the destination to send to on HF? E.g. do you have to download this data on a regular basis, establish some preferred destinations ahead of time, etc? Thank you.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Good point. This directory and propagation forecast would not be available to you if you don't have an internet connection. This is the reason why you will want to practice using Winlink so you have a list of stations and a good idea of which ones will work best depending on time of day and band conditions.

[@johncrosswhite3561]

I'm new , really new! Where's the "start" button?

[@donsmith667]

could you please show in another video the cable connections between the ic 718, signal link, and computer? thanks

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks for the suggestion. That's a great topic and I'll be coming out with another HF digital video soon

[@kulubloomfield6925]

for those of us in the remote part of the world the this will be very helpful

[@n6hpx]

IS THERE A PDF FOR THE SETUP(SORRY FOR THE TYPE SETTING)

[@kb3svj]

Michael: When sending an email in the manner you demonstrated, can it be decoded by those who are not the intended email recipient(s)? Thanks for the video. 73 John KB3SVJ

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yes it can. The winlink protocol itself is not encrypted so anyone with the proper equipment could potentially decode the signal and view the message. But, the likelihood of that happening is probably pretty small.

[@kb3svj]

Thank you Michael. Your reply above was what I expected since it is taboo for we hams to send encrypted emissions: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions/ 4- ----" messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein;"

[@CarlosMartinez-ro3fx]

What is the minimal Ham Radio license to use this kind of technology?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

In the US you will need a General class license to send email via HF.

[@andrewperron5503]

Awesome video, thank you AB1YN

[@TXLorenzo]

Have you tried VARA yet? faster and more robust than winmor and is supported by winlink.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks for the heads up on VARA. From what I've read so far, it looks interesting. I'm going to have to check it out.

[@lazydave137]

So, does it mean that only one person can send an email at one point in time? What if someone else is already sending a message at the same time?

[@MrThemeddleman]

Guessing there are many stations to connect and bottle necking should not be an issue.

[@hzilla5550]

Your radio indicates you are sending USB signal in the digital section of the 40 band. What mode are you transmitting? And when I try to get started, the Winlink web site looks nothing like what it was just a few years ago. The ARRL book on digital modes is 3 years old, so I don't think that will help. Before getting into JT 4 and JT8 etc, probably need remedial set up and exhibit of FLDIGI and Winlink. 73, AF5LQ

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The standard convention for digital modes with a sound card is to use USB, even on bands that traditionally use LSB for phone operation (like 80 and 40 meters). Unfortunately this Winlink video is a few years old and the software has changed considerably. I do plan to make an update to it, most likely this fall.

[@maxprepper9126]

What type of antenna are using?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The antenna is a G5RV. I've got an average sized city lot so that antenna fits my space perfectly.

[@ApexLight7]

This is cool stuff. Is it possible to send Winlink email messages between to HF stations directly without going through the public Winklink stations?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yes, Winlink does support a peer to peer mode so you can send a message directly to another station without going through a mail server.

[@KB6YAF]

at the beginning of your video, you mentioned that you need a computer. I have an iMac and a MacBook Pro. Then, a bit later, you mentioned Windows 10. Well, I do not have Windows 10 because it is not an Apple operating system...What to do?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

As a fellow Mac user, I feel your pain. Many ham radio applications run on the windows platform and there aren't that many good alternatives for MacOS. That's why the computer in my shack is a Windows machine. Winlink Express will also run on older Windows operating systems, such Windows XP, 7, and 8.

[@KB6YAF]

Thanks for your quick response. Well, I might have to dig out my ASUS touch screen computer. A friend of mine gave it to me just for this reason. I just wish there were smarter fellas than me out there that would create something for us Mac users. One of my good friends is actually on the Winlink 'team'. When I discussed this with him, he just said..."Get a real computer" So, there is A LOT of biased out there, and not enough compassion for Macs.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Our local university has a surplus department, so I purchased a used Windows computer cheap. It's good enough for ham radio. As for Mac software, modern application development tools allow for cross platform creation, but I imagine that many of those amateur radio applications use old code and methods that it would be difficult to support more than one operating system.

[@rebeccarainharrod]

@@KB6YAF I'm not a ham, but I am an IT professional by trade. If you are able / willing to purchase some extra software to make this work, might I recommend Parallels for Mac. It allows you to install Windows inside of Mac OS, and you can run your Windows programs through that. It integrates nicely with Mac OS, allowing you to launch *most* windows applications straight from within Mac OS. It appears as though your Windows programs are running natively in Mac OS, but in reality it is running the programs through Windows. Of course you have to purchase the application itself, and then you have to purchase a Windows license on top of that.

[@daviddickey9832]

So if I want to do this but dont want the rest of the world to read my email and therefore use crypto such as SSL, what license would I need and what band would I need to be set up in?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Using any type of crypto to obscure your message on the amateur radio bands is not be permitted. Perhaps a commercial or marine license would allow that purpose.

[@keithviglucci8306]

Also all winlink emails I believe are viewable to the public to their website so that the amateur service can self police.

[@VU3ZNL]

KB9VBR PLSE MAKE A PHONE CALL IN HF RADIO FROM YOUR RADIO TO YOUR PHONE AND ALSO HF RADIO TO HF RADIO

[@daveborchard2019]

Can Winlink Winmore be used for keyboard to keyboard communication? The data speed seems very slow compared to PSK31. Is it possible to use ARQ? About 30 years ago, when PSK31 was a new mode, I used AMTOR ARQ. The AMTOR ARQ was an extremely robust mode! You could get through drastically better than any other modes on the HF bands. Unfortunately, the popularity of AMTOR died with the sound card modes. When calling CQ with AMTOR, FEC would be used. During the QSO, ARQ would be used. The reliability of FEC was poor compared to ARQ! There’s a huge difference between FEC and ARQ. A modem that can be used with PACTOR 4 costs between $1,500 to $1,800. Due to the high cost of the SCS PACTOR 4 modems, PACTOR is not a popular mode, and will never be a popular mode. Please let me know if Winlink Winmore can be used for keyboard to keyboard communications. If the data flow rates are too slow, like JS8CALL, then it would be impractical for keyboard to keyboard communications. Dave KY0L

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Winlink isn't designed to facilitate a keyboard to keyboard more- so there is no facility to do that. It's sole purpose is to transmit and receive pre-formatted messages‚ such as email. Data speeds with WINMOR are either 500 or 1500 bps. Not very fast but it is robust. PACTOR is a proprietary mode‚ hence the reason why the modems are much more expensive. PACTOR 4 delivers some amazing speeds for HF data communication- but it's use is questionable on the amateur bands as it's bandwidth occupies more space than what the FCC allows.

[@michaelmontisfortis]

O.K. !

[@bntravelin2]

really wish winlink worked on chromebooks

[@machoneboard]

How does pactor compare with winmor and vara?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Winmor and Vara are open source software based implementations that work with a sound card. PACTOR is a proprietary protocol that requires a hardware modem. Winmor is roughly equivalent in speed to PACTOR II. PACTOR III is faster but produces a signal that is wider than what is allowed on the amateur bands for digital operation. PACTOR is also more robust due requiring PACTOR modems on both ends of the communication.

[@machoneboard]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks for the reply - answered all my questions. Probably still a good choice for satellite alternative in long distance marine use by the sound of it, despite the extra cost.

[@reidtillery2856]

Most informative video. Thank you. KG4YFE.

[@Scotscan]

Ah but you didn't show the message had been received to your yahoo account just as proof of the pudding.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I edit the videos for time and content. Not sure if showing that is necessary to convey that the system works to send and receive messages.

[@alec4672]

All hail the cheese state!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Keep 'er Moving.

[@doversailplanes]

My favourite thing about winlink is how it stomps on all my packet qsos nonstop because nobody who uses winlink checks to see if the frequency is free before ruining the band

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I guess that begs the question why is a Winlink station running on a packet calling or BBS frequency.

[@doversailplanes]

@@KB9VBRAntennas from what I can tell, winlink nodes are placed essentially at random within the digital or lower ssb portion of the bands. 14.105USB and 7.104 MHz are the old packet bbs frequencies, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they are un-usable more than half of the time now. It’s too bad really!

[@dixiedog1179]

I run Linux ,,much easier.

[@WHNorthcote]

Just got hold of a Icom IC-718. Nice radio. Also have a Signalink also. So how is your radio connected to the Signalink? Was it home brewed or purchased? Be interesting to find out how you have set it up so I also could do Winlink with the VARA mode. de 2M0WHN

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'm using the cable and jumpers that Signalink sells to connect the unit to the transceiver.

[@WHNorthcote]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Maybe a walk through of your setup from radio to PC. Not many people show that type of setup and explain the more subtle part of doing data modes.