[aprssig] winlink

[Ray McKnight]

This is an alternative to the using "keyboard mode"
For sending and receiving e-mail using Winlink.  This
Makes using Winlink transparent to the user.  The
Interface is a standard e-mail client like Microsoft
Outlook or Airmail.

So far it's generally been concluded that a D7 or D700 isn't
Likely to work well with Telpac, the VHF/UHF access node
For Winlink.  But there *is* some info indicating that these radios
In fact can be used, although they won't be as easy or provide
As much functionality as a true radio/TNC combo, or sound card
Packet solution.  But as Bob and others say, use what you've got,
Right?

We're talking about full e-mail client access, such as Airmail (the
recommended way to access Winlink), or any POP3/SMTP compatible e-mail
client, a computer, And using the D7/D700 as the radio/TNC combo.  It's
*supposed* to work.

DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!
And I haven't tried this but can point you to all the links where this info
originates to help yourself.

So how's it done?
First, you have to put the Kenwood into KISS mode.
I'm not the D7 expert here, and all it says is give the radio these
commands:
KISS ON
RESTART

Now I'm not sure if this can be done from the front panel or 
if it needs to be done by computer.  One of the Kenwood experts can answer
that.  It's sort of unclear, you may also be able to do this by software in
them Packet Engine Setup menu.

Now, you need to be running AGWPE.
You select the radio type as either PacketEngine Pro or TNC for AGWPE.
You select TNC Commands tab, select "let me control parameters" and set 
Maxframes to 1.

You need to download and install Paclink AGW from the Winlink site.
You may also need to install Microsoft's .NET Framework if not already
Installed on your computer.  In the Paclink setup, select Packet
Properties/Channels menu set the packet length to a max of 255, 128
recommended, and set Max Outstanding Frames to 1.

You will need to configure AGWPE and your e-mail client.
>From what I gather, you'll be adding a new e-mail account
That looks at Paclink as the e-mail server, but can access 
A wide range of various TNC's or share single TNC with several
Computers on a network.  There are specific instructions for
Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express.  It should be fairly
Trivial to configure any other e-mail client as long as it has 
POP3 or SMTP compatibility.

So what will this give you?

Almost transparent e-mail using your existing, familiar e-mail program.
But it will be over 1200 baud packet and your Kenwood radio.
You *may* also be able to send and receive binary attachments over 1200
Baud packet depending on the Telpac server you use.  You will be able
To send and receive e-mails about as easily as you do at home through your
ISP.  Standard addressing, point and click e-mail client just like we know
and love.

If you want to get really fancy, there's even a Paclink "Post Office" that
can be installed To turn yourself into a mail server that others on a
network can use through your Telpac/Paclink setup.

The disadvantages of using your Kenwood instead of a "real" TNC?
The TNC's in the Kenwood's have limited buffers and memory.  So you'll be
sending and receiving shorter data bursts, and don't have
Much room for buffer overflow or retries that might be out of sequence.
It will be somewhat slower but might allow you to use what you have.

I realize this is somewhat of a kludge, but aren't so many other things we
do?  Hope it helps, and BTW this isn't recommended for the faint of heart or
total Computer illiterate.  

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Bruninga
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 07:53
To: aprssig at lists.tapr.org; spider at rivcom.net
Subject: Re: [aprssig] winlink

>>> spider at rivcom.net 1/1/05 2:13:31 PM >>>
Regarding using D700/D7's to send email via WinLINK:

>Bob, let me ask you this.
>
>You are working an event or an emergency, etc.  
>You are known to have WinLink Capability.
>The event coordinator has your winlink email address 
>and sends you a file that needs to go to the sign-in desk.
>This file is 35k.  How are you going to handle that with 
>the D7/700?

Maybe I am confused.  I thought WinLINK was for anyone
to use any time to send and receive Email.  But I am also
hearing some people say it is ONLY for emergency use
and only for those people invloved in EOC's and established
emergency nets.

My comments relate to the use of packet Email by anyone
at any time who may occassionally need to logon to a WInLINK
node and send more than the half-line Email capability used in APRS.

My comments do not apply to fixed stations designed 
for the explicit and dedicated purpose of established
Emergency nets who should gear up for maximum throughput.

Now, if both of these applications are allowed on WinLINK,
then I strongly believe that in order to have people able
to use WinLINK during emergency conditions, you also
then have to expect them to use it occassionally for familliarity
and in that case to use what they have.  

With what, say 10,000 mobile packet people with
the Kenwood D7 and D700, it seems ludicrous to 
pruposefully try to exclude them from the WinLINK
Email system by publishing statements like the
D7 and D700 "dont work with WinLINK" when such
statements are very missleading.  They work fine to
send and receive reasonable Emails of a few K each.

Bob

My original message:
> We must get people (especailly Amatuer radio users)
> away from the idea that they have to have specialized one-of
> a kind softare to communicate digitally!  And beacuse of such
> missunderstanngs to ignore and abandon the 85% of mobile
> packet users who could potnetially use this system..
>
> thanks.  I hope someone
> who uderstands plain ASCII can correct his missinterpretation
> that you refer to over on the W2LK discussion group.
>
> In otherwords, there are  many inccorect interpretations of the
> "wont work with Winlink" coment.  Yes, they wont work
> with specialized softrware at the user end not designed to
> use them.  But they WILL WORK just fine for the end
> user who uses simple terminal mode (without any special
> software) to send and recive WinLINK traffic and Email via
> any WINLINK system.
>
> Bob, WB4APR


_______________________________________________
aprssig mailing list
aprssig at lists.tapr.org
https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig