ARRL West Central Florida Section

Bernie Huth - W4BGH
Asst. Section Emergency Coordinator for Digital Communications
w4bgh@arrl.org
14246 Creek Run Drive
Riverview, FL 33579
(813)xxx-xxxx

 

A  STATE-WIDE INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INCORPORATING

WINLINK 2000 (WL2K) EMAIL OVER RADIO IN

ARES EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

(It starts at the local ARES group level, one member at a time.)

Bernie Huth, W4BGH

Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator/Digital Comms WCF ARRL SECTION

This update Feb 8, 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – All local ARES groups include WL2K Email over Ham Radio capability to support local Emergency Management Authority (EMA,) other served agencies, and the general public.  This means establishing one or more Email accounts @ winlink.org for fixed sites (i.e. EOCs, Hospitals, etc.) and in transportable gear for supporting incidents in the field.  Each such site or portable is a WL2K Client.  All WL2K Clients use the local Packet Network for access to Radio Mail Servers – WL2K RMS Packet Gateways - to the WL2K Central Mail Servers (CMS) on the internet.  When the internet is down in the local area, a WL2K Client may utilize any WL2K RMS Packet site along the network, thus using a distant site that is still internet connected.  For long-haul applications, WL2K Clients use Pactor or Winmor modes on HF to connect to distant RMS HF RMS sites hundreds of miles away.

WL2K CLIENT PROGRAMS - - Per the WL2K Development Team (WL2KDT)

PACLINK - Full featured Client - Multiple user accounts, interface with existing mail clients (e.g. Outlook etc), LAN compatible, manual and auto polling (user defined timing), prioritized channel structure, more difficult to set up but once set up can be accessed by less skilled "email only operators". This might be a better choice for a well run and managed emergency system.

RMS Express - Simplified Client - Primarily one user, but support for additional call sign / tactical address, manual operation, no auto polling, no channel priority.  Simple integrated mail manager, fairly simple set up and operation; does not support automatic navigation of complex packet networks.

Both will support Pactor, Packet (including KISS only TNCs,) WINMOR, and Telnet.

WHAT IS REQUIRED – Critical WL2K–equipped sites at Emergency Operations Centers, Hospitals, and other agency-supported fixed sites are on the local packet network 24/7.  These Critical Sites have co-located WL2K Client and RMS Packet Gateways, and one or more in each district would provide RMS Relay which activates when the local internet is lost.  The packet Local Area Network (LAN) supports additional RMS Packet Gateways.  It is imperative that the Critical WL2K Client sites run 24/7 in order to be immediately available during an incident.  This also facilitates training, Mutual Aid Communications (MAC,) and automatic updating of WL2K programs, thus assuring current program versions and link information for any incident.

LOCAL ARES GROUP SUPPORT - The only responsibility a local ARES group has is to establish, maintain, and periodically test local Critical WL2K Client sites and the local packet network LAN sites.  Each District (or ARES group) should have an experienced WL2K-go-to-person to: (1) provide guidance for installation, configuration, and training, and, (2) oversee maintenance of critical sites.  This is no different than maintaining infrastructure to support local voice repeaters.

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT - It is important for individuals to support WL2K Email just as they would voice communications on simplex or using repeaters.  This insures a pool of trained operators that can handle both voice comms and Email assignments at Critical WL2K Client or tactical sites (i.e. shelters, mobile communications vans, incident command, etc.)  While not every individual needs to have hardware (TNC, data radio, etc.) each should be experienced in the use of the Email client program (i.e. Outlook Express, etc.) and understand the functions of the WL2K Client programs running on the WL2K Client sites.  This training and experience may be accomplished at home with or without a data modem/radio.  Training may be done on a regular basis – as is the case with weekly or monthly voice training nets – but no scheduled net meeting is required!  It can be done at the individual’s available time without the need for other members to be available at that time.  Several ARES groups in the Section are doing this now.

How the various programs are put together and used for WL2K Email

[You may view a five minute Power Point show on this.]

1.       Paclink Program (Client) is installed on a WL2K capable computer. The program is configured with a ham radio call sign, and has an e-mail account using callsign@winlink.org.  (20 minutes)

2.       A new Email account (callsign@winlink.org) is configured on the existing Email Client program (i.e. Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc.)   This account uses the Paclink program as the Email Server to the Email Client for Winlink Email. (5 minutes)  The Paclink program can link to the Winlink CMS via internet or over ham radio once a data modem is added.

The above configuration is all that is required for a WL2K Client where the internet is available.  Individuals are encouraged to set up such a WL2K Client, obtain an Email account@winlink.org, and utilize the system at home for training.

3.       Add a TNC/data terminal, radio, and antenna for a WL2K Client Station over radio.

Set up a WL2K Client Station that can be taken portable or mobile to establish a deployable WL2K Client Station.

4.       On a site with internet connection 24/7 install and configure RMS Packet program.

RMS Packet sites provide a bridge to the WL2K CMS for Paclink Client users in the vicinity.

Combining 1, 2, 3 and 4 above on the same computer is all that is required for a Critical WL2K Station at Emergency Operations Centers, Hospitals, etc. Only one TNC and one radio required.

TRAINING AND PRACTICE - (No regular net meeting required!)

INDIVIDUALS - Individuals with a WL2K Client established at home may use the local @ winlink.org account at anytime for practice.  This includes sending Emails to:

            other individuals with @ winlink accounts

            the Critical WL2K Client sites anywhere in the State

            any Email address in the world. 

Note that this does not require a data terminal (TNC) or data radio – only an internet connection.  Those with WL2K radio capability would use the local packet network and/or HF Pactor or Winmor for training and practice.   Several N FL ARES groups have an assigned individual to send a weekly test message to the GROUP.  Each member of the group can then REPLY to ALL, thus being sure all members’ gear is operational.

CRITICAL WL2K CLIENT SITES - With critical WL2K Clients established 24/7 and periodically polling for Emails, verification of site operation at these remote sites is as simple as any WL2K Client sending an Email to any Critical WL2K Client site.  Using Message Rules in the Email Client, the Critical WL2K Client sites can be programmed to automatically REPLY to specific incoming Emails resulting in replying with a ‘canned’ return message.

Combined with periodic voice net training, this will result in an ARES group having experienced voice and Email operators for deployment to Critical WL2K Client sites.  Those individuals who establish and maintain over the air WL2K Clients will be able to deploy to agency offices, shelters, incident command, or other locations where full-time WL2K Clients are not maintained.

PICTURE THIS - An ARES member sends a single Email message from his/her @ winlink account addressed to all six of the unmanned, fixed, Critical WL2K Client sites in his/her ARES District.  Ten minutes later an automatic polling for new Email on the @winlink.org account results in receiving automatically-generated REPLY Emails back from those sites that are operational.  If a site has not responded in 30 minutes, then that site needs to be investigated.

AND THIS –  All the members of a local ARES group who have WL2K Client capability at home (with or without radios) can use WL2K Email to keep in touch on a routine basis.  Rather than send Emails to each other using commercial accounts this elite group just uses the winlink accounts.  This can be extended to the entire District, Section, or the State!  Confirmation of a working system is inherent by routine use of the system.

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Last Updated 23 February 2011