The WINMOR testing program has begun as of February 25, 2009 with the initial Alpha test phase. All individuals interested in contributing to the test program should:

1. Signup for the WINMOR Yahoo group, where the all testing will be conducted, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WINMOR.
2. Review the documents in the FILES area of the WINMOR Yahoo Group. In particular, the "WINMOR Testing and Evaluation Plan," which is also available for download below. You may not want to participate during the Alpha testing period. Please educate yourself before making requests. Thanks.
3. Direct your communications regarding testing and your participation to the WINMOR group.

Thanks to all who expressed interest in assisting the Winlink Development Team! You can learn more about this new open HF protocol here.

Alan Isaachsen, KB2WF, and Brad Wilcox, KJ7NO, have contributed an easy step-by-step tutorial for setting up Airmail software to use packet radio. For EmComm operators, this is often the first approach a new user takes when getting started with Winlink 2000 radio e-mail. This is a great guide for EmComm operators with nearby VHF RMS Packet gateway stations.

As the authors say, “Three minutes before the party is not the time to learn how to dance.”

The document is available in the "Downloads" menu under "Training aids" as a PDF file named "Getting Started on Packet Airmail.pdf." Or, you can click on the attachment below to download it immediately.

NOTICE: Starting MARCH 1, 2009, all network support for both Windows and Linux Telpac software will be discontinued. Telpac software will cease to function on the Winlink 2000 network system. With this action the transition to the RMS system architecture will be complete.

Telpac has been obsolete since August 1, 2008 and has been replaced by RMS Packet for Windows and Linux RMS Packet Gateway. See this page for more information on RMS software.

To obtain a copy of the RMS Packet module, please see the "DOWNLOAD" menu on www.winlink.org WEBSITE after using your callsign and a site Password (different than the WL2K e-mail password) to log into the site.

Thanks,

Steve, k4cjx, aaa9ac
For the Winlink Development Team

Effective January 1, 2009 all AF MARS call signs will change, as you know. AF MARS members with Winlink accounts should manage them as follows:

It is the time of year when we open those end-of-year letters from local agencies… the ones asking for donations for 2008. What about Winlink 2000?

This is a tough year for many. Add this to the fact that many things are costing us more. Still, it has been a HUGE year for Winlink 2000. We have managed to completely revamp the WL2K network with new routers, bring the redundant Common Message Server systems total up to five, and completely replace the software used in the system--from RMS for sysops to Paclink for users. And important work has been completed on WINMOR, a new soundcard protocol for WL2K on HF that will be going into beta testing soon. We also got out of a few networking and maintenance jams (par for the course) with unnoticeable disruption to radio e-mail service. You can well imagine that little coming in and more going out has affected our finances. While we are not in bad shape, we ask you to appeal to your inner sense of fairness. The Winlink Development Team has shouldered most of the expense. Our appeal is that you look at your personal and business’ financial situation, assess how you value the service you get from WL2K, and then help us out by making a donation. It will come back to you through continued WL2K service and allow us to deliver all the features you keep suggesting.

As you know, any donation to our nonprofit entity, ARSFI, is tax deductible for US citizens as we are a 501(c)3 organization. Everything gets done by volunteers. There is no waste, ever. There are no payments to anyone for services, but there are some serious expenses to bear. Please click here to go to the ARSFI web site and make a donation: http://www.arsfi.org/donate.aspx

The Winlink Development Team and the people we serve worldwide thank you!!

Happy Holidays!

With this new version, Paclink MP becomes simply "Paclink." The name change for the multi-port program is changing in anticipation of WINMOR, the new sound-card mode, that will be supported by a future version of Paclink. Besides the name change, the program now includes improvements important for field operation. Thanks to all who use Paclink MP for their excellent feedback. Paclink is now better than ever!

Paclink 3 does NOT require the Internet for initial configuration and operation, and it operates offline much smoother than did Paclink MP. It initializes at startup much faster, and it operates on HF with ease. For instance, there is now an option to keep the Channel Status Form up until it is manually taken down. This allows the operator to try multiple connections with multiple stations on multiple frequencies without having to continually bring up the form. It also does not require a Winlink 2000 password for callsigns or tactical addresses unless one uses secure login. Paclink has two options for passwords: the WL2K secure login password, and the necessary password used by your email program to identify any account. Of course, they can both be the same. The previous requirement for a WL2K account password is gone. When configuring accounts and tactical addresses, the form stays up until you manually take it down so that multiple accounts, addresses, and callsigns may be placed into the process without having to bring it up after each complete entry. Much better!

Your old installation of Paclink MP will continue to function properly after Paclink is installed so that there will be no breakdown in communications as you transition between the old Paclink MP and the new 3.x version. We suggest keeping your present Paclink MP installed as a backup until you are completely comfortable with the new program. Do not try to run both at the same time, however. Unless you have many accounts or addresses in your existing Paclink MP configurations, we suggest starting over with a fresh install in a separate directory (the default).

Upgrade today! Paclink 3.x.x.x is available under the "Downloads" item on the main menu, if you have logged into the site. See "Site Login > Create new account" if you have never logged in before. See the User Software page for more information about the program.

At its June 2008 meeting, the IARU Administrative Council endorsed and recommended principles to encourage all radio amateurs "to operate to the highest levels of proficiency, with proper consideration for others using the amateur radio bands." These principles are now available in an IARU-endorsed booklet, "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN, and Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW. You can get it free from the download area of the WL2K Web site. Do a "Site Login," and then go to "Downloads > Documents > How-to."