Winlink Basics for EmComm
Learn the basics of the Winlink Email system from an EmComm perspective.
In this course instructors KK6DA, W0DHG, NR6V, and W6AH guide you through the basics of setting up your ham radio station to send and recieve email via Winlink. The course starts with an overview of Winlink, then shows you how to get your Amateur Radio Station connected to your computer. Once connected, an entire class session focuses on sending and recieving emails via RF using Packet, VARA FM, and VARA HF. The course wraps up by teaching you how to create custom paths for your Winlink traffic using Digipeating. Special Guest W6BI covers how to send Winlink Email using the ARDEN MESH.
Conducted via Zoom by members of ARES LAX and Ventura County ACS/ARES. This course focuses on the uses and best practices for Winlink from an EmComm perspective. A heavy emphasis is placed on the use of Winlink Forms and Templates for sending and receiving EmComm Traffic. Learn how to send common forms including: ICS-213, USGS DYFI, SHARES SpotRep, Winlink Check In, and more.
Key Topics Include
- Installing and Configuring Winlink / RMS Express
- Setting up your Winlink account
- Sending email via Telnet, Packet, VARA FM, VARA HF, and Mesh
- Using Winlink Templates and Forms including:
ICS-213, USGS DYFI, SHARES SpotRep, Winlink Check-In - Configuring a Signalink USB SoundCard
- Using SoundModem by UZ7HO
- Checking connections with APRS
- Using RMS Gateways with Packet and VARA FM
- Configuring VARA FM
- Sending email via VARA HF
- Digipeating with VARA FM
- Hybrid Voice and Digital Net Best Practices
Download and Install Winlink for Windows
Links
Instructions
- Navigate to Winlink.org and download the latest version of Winlink Express - aka RMS Express.
- Create a new folder in C:\ called "RMS Express"
- Unzip the content of the downloaded zip file into your RMS Express folder
- Run Winlink_Express_install.exe
Please note: in this course we will only focus on running Winlink Express on the Windows. Therefore you will need a copy of Windows to install Winlink Express and follow along with these instructions.
It is possible to install and run winlink on other platforms via a virtual machine. For example, on a Mac you will need to use either Parallels, VMWare, or have a dedicated BootCamp install of Windows in order to get Winlink running. To install Winlink on Linux additional configurations are necessary that are outside the scope of this course. Running Winlink Express on a Raspberry Pi is not not officially supported and thus is also outside of the scope of this course.