Winlink Basics

Confused by Winlink terminology? This video covers all of the basic Winlink terms.
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[@AD6DMDennis]

I was here before, and not too long ago. I had no idea what WInlink was about, how to get on it, what the terms meant, how to even get a computer to talk to (through) a radio. I just knew somehow hams were sending messages to each other and I wanted to see if I could do it. Got very discouraged at first because I thought HF was the only way. Super slow, S8 noise floor, and a low success rate finding a gateway that would respond. Then I tried my first packet gateway and I was hooked. Thanks for putting up this intro video. I could have used something like this when I was learning. I hope it helps many hams successfully get started with Winlink.

[@rickpellicciotti]

Awesome video as usual. When I retire and have more time, I am going to try to figure out how to use a dual receive radio as a digipeater on 2M and a Winlink node on 440 at the same time. The winlink node would see very little activity so the digipeater operation would not be interrupted very often. The radio would have to support CAT control and the transmit would have to be switched from side A to side B when a winlink connection is requested. Keep up the great work! 73, KJ4NWQ

[@joshhayes9570]

I’m having a hard time on what I need to type in for the host setting on the radio mail app I am using a Xiegu g90 radio connected with a Digirig to my laptop

[@shawnp6653]

Thank you for this one Jason!

[@temporarilyoffline]

I need to get back into Winlink

[@theodoreboyer2275]

Thank you

[@johnthomas3897]

Thanks for the video, very informative.

[@KM4ACK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jbammi]

Thanks Jason, Great window to establish the terminology. Can you please elaborate a little further on how to use the system with radios such as the Kenwood TH-D72A that have a built in TNC compliant with AX .25 protocol (that i understand is the basis for all packet communications). For example can VARA drive the TNC in the Kenwood (instead of being connected to mic and speaker and send sound to be modulated over the voice FM).. 73 de k1jbd

[@davidmerchant8245]

Check out K4REF's videos for the TS2000, that might answer some of your questions. Reference TS200 tnc

[@robertambrose2638]

I can not get ardop or vara to work with my icom 7300 via pi4 build a pi . Ive tried through flrig it doesnt seem to PTT.

[@TheRetiredtech]

Just saw you at hamvention today

[@jcvee15]

Great video, Jason. Thanks. Does Winlink allow the use of using more than one client program? I'd like to run Winlink Express on my Windows machine at my home station and also use Pat on my Pi for portable ops. The Winlink site (and a search of forums) is silent on this issue, stating only that an account is created with a client program (singular). Thanks again, and 73!

[@KM4ACK]

Yes. You can use multiple clients with Winlink. You can also create a new account from Winlink Express or Pat Winlink. One thing to note, the inboxes will not sync. If you download a message while portable, it won't be available to you on your home machine.

[@leo3times]

What would be the minimum version of Raspberry Pi to run programs like this? Doesn't look like it take a lot of processing power. Not that familiar with linux, but I do have 1 Pi and was thinking of getting a couple more. Thx

[@KM4ACK]

It will run on a Pi 3 but I prefer the Pi 4 with 4GB of memory. Others have successfully run it on a Pi Zero 2 but expect it to be slower.

[@ChannelofRichPierik]

Nice to see a basics video. Many folks start in the middle...At abou 2:04 The gateway "passes the traffic over RF".... If not to telnet (internet) what is the destination and how is the message saved for the target operator. (assumimg he is not on the air at the time) Maybe it is just P2P? Or does the message reside on the gateway system untill retrieved?

[@KM4ACK]

message is saved on the CMS servers. Then when the other operator logs in, the gateway checks the CMS for new messages for the operator logging in.

[@ChannelofRichPierik]

@@KM4ACK Thank-You!

[@uns3cur3]

I just used AX25 on 2m to send my first winlink email!! ARDOP and dire wolf can't run at the same time or they fight-

[@KM4ACK]

True. In fact, in the Linux world, only one thing can use the sound card at a time in most cases. There are ways to create virtual sound cards though so you can run two apps at the same time with one sound card. There's a group that does this regularly with JS8Call & FLDIGI/FLAMP utilizing the same sound card and radio. Google "virtual sound cards Linux" if that's something you need.

[@AL-kn4yx]

Is VARA HF fully supported or is it still limited?

[@KM4ACK]

With Linux Mint, the only thing that I haven't got working is P2P connections.

[@Lugeix]

How do you call CQ in winlink???

[@KM4ACK]

You don't call CQ in Winlink. Winlink is email over radio. You just use it to send emails to other people. It will work with other amateurs using Winlink and regular email like gmail.