WINLINK 2000
(WL2K) E-MAIL FOR EMCOMMS SUPPORT
Last update February
8, 2011
PREFACE (VISION)
STATE-WIDE INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INCORPORATING WL2K IN ARES
WL2K SYSTEM
WL2K CLIENTS
RADIO MAIL SERVERS
CENTRAL MAIL SERVER
Paclink
RMS Express
CRITICAL WL2K SITES
RMS RELAY
LOCAL PACKET NETWORK
MUTUAL AID COMMUNICATION
CRITICAL
WL2K SITES
NETWORK
SUPPORT
WL2K
GO-TO-PERSON
EMAIL SUPPORT FOR EMCOMMS
WL2K
CLIENT AT HOME
EMAIL
CLIENTS
DEPLOYMENT
WITH WL2K CAPABILITY
INDIVIDUALS
CRITICAL
WL2K SITES
HANDS OFF
VERIFICATION OF NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
WL2K EMAIL OVER RADIO
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR ARES Email
Operator
CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR DEPLOYMENT USING
PACKET, PACTOR OR WINMOR MODES
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
The following document is Our
vision for implementing
Email messaging in local ARES EMCOMMs plans throughout the state of Florida.
Modern Email is a valuable tool in many EMCOMMs toolboxes throughout
Hams who have not
at least reviewed the
Winlink 2000 (WL2K) Email over Ham
Radio System will not intuitively understand our vision or how to
get there. Those who are computer challenged may also have an
initial problem. To these Email over Ham Radio may be
considered as too complex, too time consuming to set up or likely
too expensive. To
those I offer the following comments for consideration:
Ø
Voice repeaters were a “hard sell” to the ham
radio community in the early 1960s.
Ø
Voice repeaters are far more complex and
expensive.
Ø
If a ham has a computer with Email – that
computer can be used for a WL2K Email account with no additional
hardware. (No TNC or radio required.)
Ø
Establishing and configuring an Email account
@ winlink.org requires 20 to 30 minutes depending on the user’s
facility with keyboard and mouse.
Ø
With a power supply, VHF FM radio, and
antenna, the only additional hardware required to use WL2K Email
over the air is a legacy TNC (data modem) from a swap table.
New TNCs may be purchased from about $90.
As you review my vision, keep an open
mind and consider how widespread the use of Email messaging is in
the 21st century. Your group will not have any
served agency that does not use Email routinely and will expect to
be able to do so during times of communications emergency.
The use of Email for EMCOMMs is not a
replacement for voice communications, but a means for efficiently,
effectively, accurately, and routinely exchanging large amounts of
information. The purpose of WL2K in an emergency is to bridge
to the Internet Email system from where local infrastructure is
damaged or not otherwise available.
From the
“All Formal and Record Traffic should be
handled and processed using the following criteria:
1. the least taxing of human resources
for handling, relaying, and processing
2. automatic error-correcting means
3. the most reliable means for minimum
delay in delivery
This clearly indicates the use of e-mail
or FAX where available for all Formal and Record traffic.”
Support EMCOMMS using WL2K.
73,
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator
WL2K