Winlink Email to Gmail | Ham Radio for Preparedness

Hello Operators
Todays topic is Ham Radio for preppers, or perhaps ham radio for preparedness would be a better title. Either way, this video demonstrates how i send or receive winlink Email to a GMail email account. This is a great and cost effective alternative to sailmail Email over HF Radio system.
In this first episode, we look at using winlink email and ham radio to communicate with people who may not be ham radio operators themselves. We do this while being completely off grid ourselves.
73
Julian #oh8stn #hamradio
Share video url: • Winlink Email to Gmail...
Mentioned in the video:
Icom IC-705: • Icom IC-705 | Portable...
Xiegu X5105: • Xiegu x5105
XGGComs Dual Audio Cat control interface. oh8stn.org/blog/2020/12/04/ult...
Winlink Playlist: • WinLink Grid Down Emer...
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[@Ray-747]

I use winlink with my 705 daily to retrieve weather reports, send position reports to aprs and email. It keeps me familiar with the system for the times I am in the Aussie outback with no internet. I use a GPD windows laptop, powerful with a 8.7” screen but can be reduced to miserly power consumption if need be though I’m usually vehicle based with plently of power available.

[@phildurall7466]

Echoing ... Excellent as always. I love that you never loose focus of the mission to be prepared to leverage new and existing resources to survive! Charlie Mike!

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

This is reminded me I have a lot to learn. Since getting the digirig , I have been starting the actual digital road. I have winlink express installed on an old windows laptop.

[@MichaelMarko]

Great stuff. I like this independence vibe that I get from your channel in general.

[@skipwaisner5808]

Our local ham club, Lake Area Amateur Radio Klub (LAARK) sponsors a weekly Winlink Wednesday "Net". It occurs from 0000-2359 CST (0600--0559 UTC) each Wednesday. All you need to do to check into the net is send a Winlink message to John Hill, KF5VO. He then tallies all of the check ins for the week, and then sends out an update email to everyone who checks in. All hams worldwide are welcome to join and test out their Winlink equipment and skills. I hope we have a ton of new people connect to Winlink Wednesday. Thanks Julian for featuring this on your channel. Thanks and 73, Skip NA5W

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Thanks Julian! Always love your videos.

[@reidtillery2856]

Enjoyed this. Looking forward to watching the others. 73.

[@zoolkhan]

Julian, thanks again.. i am now in winlink and it works :-) This will serve me well once i am overlanding off the grid

[@OH8STN]

And you are very welcome.👍👍👍

[@hamspud35]

Merry Christmas Julian, I appreciate and learn from your messages and videos

[@davehammonds]

Excellent as always, thanks for posting! Looking forward to part 2. Dave, KI7OSK

[@G0GCQ]

This was brilliant. I knew nothing about Winlink, but I’m now going to try it out! Thanks very much 🎅🏻

[@nimroddiaries_]

Researching about digital. Got a XGG interface when I bought my radio. Not much out there on them. Cool to see you using one. Gives me hope I can make all this silliness functional. 73 and Merry Christmas

[@johnk8091]

Thanks Julian - I look forward to you hitting the trail in the great outdoors with your IC-705, and capturing it on video

[@OH8STN]

Thanks. Looks like Winter Field Day is the next adventure. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@maxs489]

Awesome stuff, Julian. I'll just echo the point you make at 8:19 - I highly recommend folks routinely test connections to different gateways, and at different times of day. You should know your usual gateways and when you can hit them - before you need it off grid!

[@OH8STN]

Well said Max. In the past, most of the trouble has happened because I didn't understand the relationship between connections, antenna configurations, and time of day to reach them. Making these connections a daily routine, was an excellent way to learn, and add some reliability to the system. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@rherman9085]

Great video. I saw the link for this on QRZ front page. Thanks & thank for your effort.!

[@OH8STN]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@bruehlt]

Thanks for sharing your experiences - great job!

[@OH8STN]

Thanks for watching, and for your kindness. Very much appreciated. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@tlcgolden]

Great videos keep up the great job. APRS digipeaters set up all over heavens creation can relay messages 24/7 and Hams need to set em up and have ways to eavesdrop with the software provided . Try APRS IS 32 it's one great oldie but goodie to use all the time. I have great success with it. WC4FM 73's

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

I've been experimenting with VARA/'Winlink, as well as JS8Call. It has its place in one's "communications toolbox". Probably never use it in a grid down scenario, but its good being prepared. The holidays provided a lot of time to work on my portable setup with a computer, radio, batteries, and solar. I learned how much energy my setup uses and that I needed more solar---which I've addressed as a "Christmas" present to myself. My full power setup, based on an FT-897D/AT-897+ is anything but light. I will not be lugging this stuff into the woods.

[@J1mbo888]

Hi Julian. Just signed up and installed Winlink. Looks a great set up for simple e mailing. Thanks for the video. Cheers James DE G1JSP

[@DutchmanRadio]

Julian! You're missing a critical and free feature of this system! You can easily send text messages from emails to most providers, so theoretically you could text people using this system! So cool! 73 sir fantastic video as always!

[@OH8STN]

Thanks. I have not used that part of the system yet. Will do some testing. If it works globally, I'll definitely include an episode focused on that topic. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@DutchmanRadio]

@@OH8STN it's a general email feature, if you email someone's phone number (assuming their provider is ATT for example) and add at MMS dot ATT dot net, and the email will be texted to the recipient free of charge, when they text back you will receive an email! Hope that makes sense, 73!

[@OH8STN]

I'll give that a try. Hopefully it works in other countries as well 👍

[@lyfandeth]

@@DutchmanRadio I believe the MMS gateway is for multimedia texts. Most providers still also have a plain text SMS gateway, which varies with the provider. Something to check on Wiki as most of the cell support staff are too young to know what SMS was. FWIW.

[@AbenteuerSchottland]

Another great Video! Thank you 👍🏻

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Fantastic video as always. Thanks

[@OH8STN]

Thank you 👍

[@forthy62]

Excellent as always Julian. Yes a discussion Windows/Linux might be a never ending story. I am a Unix User since almost 35 years. But I have to admit, there are times when Windows is the better choice. I use a Dell Rugged Tablet 7212 when needing windows. Winlink Express is point'n'shot under Windows while PAT/ARDOP might be dificult for some users. At the end of the day it is the system you have available and to which you are used to. Looking forward to part 2. 73, Stephan, DF6PA

[@zazouille2264]

Same here. Ideally I would prefer running my system on a Raspberry Pie, but Winlink PAT not managing ICS - or custom - forms is a big no-no for my emcomm group. Same with Vara.. :-(

[@Liberty4Ever]

Thanks for another great video. I need to get started with Winlink. I was put off because it sounds like Windows software. 🤣 For the simplest configuration with the lowest power, there should be a Winlink app for Android. Ditto for JS8Call. Personal EmComm is hampered by a lack of Android developers for amateur radio. When the gateways use Starlink for internet access, Winlink should be very robust.

[@todd9524]

Great 👍 video. Times are tough. Wish we could get a hold of a raspberry pi.

[@OH8STN]

Thanks for watching and for the comment. One alternative to the Raspberry Pi is a Microsoft Surface. It has a higher in it will cost is much more reliable in the long run.

[@RESlusher]

Cool video, Julian. Something else that folks can consider is setting up their own VHF Packet, VARA or ARDOP gateway. I've got a VHF Packet gateway I've setup using an FT-8900R, SignaLink interface and a cheap RCA tablet I bought from Walmart for about $150. It might not necessarily be of use to you; but it can be of use to your fellow hams that are in VHF range. I still hit it from time to time when I'm operating remotely just to make sure it stays operational. Happy holidays to you and yours, my friend!

[@OH8STN]

Hi Richard. Always nice to see you drop by. Actually, I have thought about putting a Vara FM gateway up at my home QTH. The tower is still setup for VHF/UHF, with the antennas mostly unused on those bands. I like your idea of using the ft-8900. Can the signalink get up to maximum speeds of Vara FM? Anyway, I like that idea, and may do a video as part of this series. Do you have a video on your setup? 73 Julian oh8stn

[@RESlusher]

@@OH8STN Hmm...good question. I'm not sure what the max speed of VARA FM is. I don't have a video of either of my setups (my VHF packet gateway or my portable HF setup. Maybe that's something I can take care over my holiday break. I'm working from home this week then am off until January 4th. After that who knows! :) 73 DE KF5RHI

[@markg6jvy135]

Nice info Julian 👍👏👏

[@davidefinland6886]

Thank you!

[@romanhar4151]

Thanks Julian for the great video 73 de Roman HB9XBK

[@danielroossa6ros844]

Superb 💪

[@kenrnet6706]

Thank you

[@HamTechRadioScannerDrones]

Thanks loads this helped :)

[@OH8STN]

Happy if it was helpful for you. Thanks for watching. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@lairdnigelplawrence1447]

Hello Julian I do chat with your friend OT7T Teme on Amateur Logic TV soundcheck net on Tuesday 20;00 CET Wednesday Morning's 02:00 GMT UTC thank you for your video's over many years 73's KG0PL /G0MEJ

[@gonzopj]

Question please. If the winlink gateway is a grid dependent service, what would be the completely grid free way to do this? An exploration by you of how to off grid tx and rx different file types, eg. jpegs, would be fabulous I'm sure. Thanks for what you're doing!

[@uli8537]

Hi Julian, nice video, i like your calm way to clarify things - the chronology of this video gives the impression, that you are using the raspberry pi (linux) running vara hf (which i thought is not possible, see also the comment of Anthony), if so, please be so kind and clarify; however, using the pi with vara may be possible after installing windows 10 on it. vy 73, uli, dd5uk

[@OH8STN]

Thanks for the question and feedback. We were seeing the use of several different systems in the video. Some Winlink express on Windows 10 with Vara HF. Others on Raspberry Pi with PAT winlink and ARDOp. Each of those systems was explained towards the end of the video. I reached out to the developer. He has no plans to make a Vara HF modem for Linux. Honestly, this is a serious bummer, one which has forced me to rethink my critical comms gear. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@gonzopj]

Aha, just saw your p2p vid. Great! I'll be getting into Winlink for sure. Still, I'd love to see what you would use to send a picture file, and what the limitations and optiins are. Thanks so much.

[@va2wlt]

Requesting automated weather reports is how I practice using WinLink. For instance, Catalog Request -> WX_NORWAY -> NOR_COWARN_E -> Post Request

[@OH8STN]

Awesome point. This might make an excellent episode. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@timferguson2682]

Hey Julian, I like your introductions where you say what you are going to talk about before the count down screen. Your organization is contagious. Tim KC1IJC (inactive)

[@tompodgorski3598]

👍

[@thomasweigel2328]

Julian, Just beginning to build my portable system. Have the FT-891 and LifePO4 battery, Wolf River Coils Platinum vertical. Minor question, though, can you please comment on the multipurpose knife/tool you use? Maybe a Leatherman, or else? Tom ABØJ

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@expert244]

Julian - In your opinion, would Winlink or JS8Call be better for long term, extensive SHTF comms?

[@k8osradioscience545]

Well Done.. Many Thanks! 73 de JB/k8os

[@Inkling777]

What you describes illustrates the frustration many of us have with what fellow hams have been doing with digital communications. They're failing to make their systems hardware independent or to keep up with the technology. Most are built for Windows computers, typically "with a sound card." They also involve cabling connections, which necessitate additional hardware. The result looks to many of us like the hobby is living circa 2000. The connections should be via Bluetooth and and the software should be designed to easily run on tablets and smartphones (Android and iOS) as well as laptops (Windows, macOS, Linux and Unix). The result would be far more portable and less expensive. I've tried to communicate that with developers and all seem to be waiting for someone else to make the move from those circa-2000 schemes to something up-to-date.

[@jonathanp906]

What you just described, a cross platform application, takes a LOT of technical know-how of all of those different operating systems, which most developers do not have. And, if you do, it would still take a LOT of time, which you would not be getting paid for. Most do not have the time. Are you going to pay for it? Send me 10K and I'll get started lol.

[@clintelawson]

Awesome video. I had to edit this comment because I just watched the part 2 vid. Coms without any Internet dependency. This is so awesome.. ! Thank you!!!!!! I want to see if I can get encryption working!

[@OH8STN]

If I show the encryption aspect, I'll be demonetized and probably deplatformed.

[@RechargeableLithium]

@Patriot - encryption is illegal for US hams. All transmissions must be publically readable. Why? Because we're a public service operating on publically-owned radio spectrum. 73

[@t-lm]

KiwiSDR should support RF-Internet Winlink gateway as there are many Kiwis around the world then we would have lot better Winlink coverage. Kiwi only RX but that would be enough to gate the messages. Request this feature at Kiwi.

[@OH8STN]

Winlink is a connected mode. Would require misdirection connection & acknowledgements. It's a great concept though.

[@t-lm]

@@OH8STN yep i know, however if they change a concept a bit to allow "broadcast" mode then all SDRs could act as gateway.

[@caffrey9]

Winning bra

[@jasonhowe1697]

This is all fine and dandy, though I wish we could get something that can uses where MIRC, ICQ, paltalk, skype, and the rest can be used, rather low data high latency baud rate and have it translated over every band of the communications spectrum..

[@OH8STN]

What are you talkin about Jason? Perhaps you can clear up your comment it's incoherent

[@OH8STN]

I mean I don't know what you're trying to say

[@dvcrash]

Hello Julian, I sure wished VARA was ported so that it could run nativlely on a Linux computer. I would love to jump into VARA but I don't have a Windows computer. 😁

[@OH8STN]

100% Agreed, and I am right there with you. I "HATE" Windows for communications, but love the Vara HF capability. Being able to decode as such low SNR is amazing. It is also impossible with ARDOP or Winmore. I reached out to the developer, but he is not having any of it. He suggested running windows, or using crossover, on Linux. It is a real bummer. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@FunInSC]

Yeah, don't think the developer wants his source code out there or something. You can run it on Linux through Winegard but not on Raspberry Pi. :(

[@WadeAbout]

Great Julian. The other thing I am doing is a couple of dot points on how to contact me via winlink ( text only email mail. No need for long reply threads, if this was our first email to use the //wl2k subject line etc. and reply all’s are the devil.

[@OH8STN]

Hi Wade.. Great point Wade. On a slow connection, all that extra jabber can make getting that message impossible. Will you do a video on this point? I would love to share it. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@WadeAbout]

@@OH8STN well I guess now I will :D. It won’t be as sexy as yours. But I have done a view videos recently on winlink, pat, and why winlink in vk is wayyy different to the US (similar to your situation. Rms are pretty much HF only).

[@helijim]

I suspect when Gunny next logs on he's going to have a big surprise in his inbox.

[@hamhouke]

That looks like a Pi Juice Hat with a larger capacity battery than the BP7X. What is it and where can you get one?

[@OH8STN]

That's exactly right. And the battery also comes from pi juice hat shop.

[@ruckedupg9166]

Where are the settings video????

[@lyfandeth]

Instead of the tablet & the pi, wouldn't you save power and simplify the system by using a MS Surface Go and just a data cable? Optional keyboard case also makes text entry easy.

[@OH8STN]

Sure. Take a look. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGOVqZyilsySb6M

[@lyfandeth]

@@OH8STN Thanks, just did see that one. Catching up on your vids.

[@rdy4change]

Great video! P.S. It's pronounced Jew-lee-et not Jolly-et

[@Mash101uk]

What setup in Vara are you using for the IC-705 please 73

[@OH8STN]

ic-7300 94h address 73 Julian oh8stn

[@Mash101uk]

@@OH8STN Many thanks Julian 73 de Jon G7RUP

[@catalinalb1722]

Hello would I be able to just receive winlink emails since I am just a SWL? Is some confirmation sent back like the TCP network protocol? Thanks and 73! DE1CTL

[@OH8STN]

You can receive winlink email through a telnet connection, without connecting over RF to a gateway. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@FunInSC]

Some of the modes will let you monitor signals through Airmail.

[@n2dabloo]

I’ve got a G-90, a windows laptop and the xggcomms digital interface. Is that all the hardware I would need?

[@OH8STN]

That's right sir. You don't need anything else the digi mode 4, your laptop, and the radio👍

[@invizibl]

what exactly is acting as the email server in this system? and what happens if it becomes unavailable?

[@OH8STN]

Hi AK. This video focuses on RF to Internet, and Internet to RF email. The email server for the radio operator, is the Winlink CMS. That is where all gateway based email messages are stored until they are retrieved through a gateway. For the Internet user, their email provider is the "email server". This type f conneection is most valuable when the radio operator is the one "off grid". It is also valuable when there is a regional internet outage. In the video, I connected to a station in Norway to retrieve messages stored on the winlink CMS. In the next video in the series, we will demonstrate connections which have no dependency on the internet at all. Does this make sense? 73 Julian oh8stn

[@invizibl]

@@OH8STN Sure does! Thanks for the explaination/clarification!

[@anonymous_friend]

Can anyone capture the winlink signal and grab a copy of your email to read?

[@OH8STN]

Definitely, but they'll need to know when you're going to transmit, what frequency you are going to transmit on, what mode you're going to use, and what station you're going to connect to.

[@andrephilipp23]

+

[@WilsonBradleyTheOfficial]

Hi Newbie here.. Question: Is it possible to encrypt emails over the airwaves?

[@OH8STN]

It is 👍 unfortunately it's illegal

[@WilsonBradleyTheOfficial]

@@OH8STN Humm, interesting. Why did they do that? Tanx

[@OH8STN]

Control I suppose. Paper laws have never stopped anyone from finding a way.

[@RechargeableLithium]

@@WilsonBradleyTheOfficial The basic reason, at least for US-licensed operators, is that the amateur radio service (service - not hobby) is licensed by the federal government and we operate on radio spectrum owned by the US citizen. Public license and public spectrum means publicly readable comms. Encrypted comms are available for folks in the military, and there are recruiters just about everywhere if you're interested. 73

[@donniebrugge8117]

How are you able to run winlink on a andriod tablet since it is windows based? thanks

[@OH8STN]

"PAT Winlink" which we have in parts of this video, runs on Linux systems.

[@donniebrugge8117]

@@OH8STN ok I get it yes Linux. have not gotten into that. but yes a PI with Linux. ok great small system

[@user-sq8yl3ml9l]

Is there a technical reason you wouldn't run Winlink on a Windows 10 tablet in order to do away with the RasberryPi ?

[@OH8STN]

Not at all.

[@justinb7940]

what winlink software is available that is free and open source? is winlink express proprietary software? I couldnt find the source code or the license information

[@OH8STN]

Hi Justin. This is a hard topic, but I get it. PAT Winlink is free and open source. Winlink express is free but not open source, which is a bummer. It is a tool many of us have been forced to use. PSKMail was the open source option, but it has fallen behind technologically, Winlink Express. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@aahicnow]

Does pat winlink require cat control on a g90 , I am using vox for most of my digital comms but would link to add pat winlink to my Pi

[@cdkufd5366]

Warning. The yoga laptop is NOT water or soda proof!!!!

[@OH8STN]

Doesn't need to be. It's primary job is video editing.

[@zazouille2264]

On a side note, Winlink PAT does not handle ICS Forms.

[@OH8STN]

Not yet, but that functionality is coming. Check my winlink playlist in the description. There is a new video on PAT winlink forms there. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@zazouille2264]

@@OH8STN great news!

[@finnmacky7106]

Is there any way to make this more private? This seems to be pretty cool but awful unsecure.

[@OH8STN]

It's a valid question, but one Rabbit Hole I'm not willing to go down on this channel. It's easy enough to figure out on your own though. I would suggest checking out the commsprepper's cipher machine 👍 kzbin.info/aero/PLfrteFE0V6mVU74dMwwAYhL7u5VQh-m1g