Q590 Let’s assume that there is a total internet crash. Is Winlink of any use to me?

A590 Yes, Winlink still has value, even in this very unlikely scenario. In an event as you described, each PMBO or RMS equipped with RMS Relay stores messages received from users before sending them to the Common Message Servers. Therefore, each PMBO or RMS would act as a “Hub” for Winlink users who can access that station by radio. If N3ABC and K3KK can both access RMS K4CJX via radio, then they can exchange emails by using their normal Winlink email addresses. If it is a PMBO they are connecting to, they cannot send or receive an internet e-mail from someone like mother@earthlink.net. When a path to the CMS is restored all stored messages will flow to and from the PMBO stations.

However, given the more likely scenario that the internet is gone only across a large region--even a whole continent--, and if it is an RMS with RMS Relay they are connecting to, their messages are forwarded by radio to another RMS that does have connectivity to the CMS. Local messages, as well as those bound for internet destinations outside the WL2K system, are delivered.

PMBO stations are being phased out in favor of RMS.