This is a new and updated Telpac Node/LinuX, now called Linux RMS Gateway as it conforms to the new RMS WL2K system, and has been released for public Beta testing.

The Linux RMS Gateway software is independently developed and maintained by Hans-J. Barthen DL5DI and Brian R. Eckert, W3SG, in cooperation with the Winlink 2000 development and administration team. It is distributed mostly as source code under the GNU General Public License (a small component is distributed as a binary only library).

The new software carries the same requirements as its predecessor, as well as a few new requirements, but also has the same flexibility as before for packet-radio in a Linux environment. To build and run the software, you will need:

The WL2K spam control feature we often call "the whitelist" is no longer optional for WL2K users as of today. The new changes have been implemented and are working well, including a new version of WebMail here on this site. You will notice that the options to enable the whitelist on one's account, and to receive rejection notices are gone. Please report any odd behavior.

Please see this previous article for complete information.

--The Winlink Development Team

From the ARRL: When Tropical Storm Dolly turned into Hurricane Dolly, various Amateur Radio Emergency Communications groups, such as WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center, the Hurricane Watch Net and the VoIP WX Net, began tracking the storm. One other group -- the Army's Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) -- was also on the scene.

The Winlink 2000 system carried much of the traffic and the new RMS Relay program was tested under fire. Read more of the story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/31/10238/?nc=1

The Washington Common Message Server (CMS) has been down for several days for router upgrades and maintenance. It is now fully operational, with better performance. (To check current status go here, or "Reports > CMS Status" on the main menu.)

In the near future the San Diego, Halifax and Perth CMS systems will be rotating through downtime for similar upgrades and maintenance. If you have your client software configured to use the rotating CMS host (server.winlink.org), you may notice delays in making a connection to the remaining on-line systems. If so, you also may want to use an alternate configuration. Look here for some alternatives. Thanks for your patience while these upgrades take place.

--The Winlink Development Team

Paclink MP has been in Beta test for many months, and is now ready for general release. Paclink MP (MP means Multi-Port) is a new implementation of a streamlined radio e-mail client that interfaces with most popular e-mail client programs, like Microsoft Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird. It is exceptionally easy to install and use. It supports user connections with the WL2K system via telnet, VHF/UHF packet radio, and HF Pactor radio channels. You use your favorite email client for reading, composing and managing your messages.

The program is adaptable for MARS use with a special configuration file that is available to authorized MARS operators by contacting Steve, AAA9AC.

Paclink MP is supported by the WDT and by the Winlink community. It is licensed free for amateur and MARS use by the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation. Commercial application of Paclink MP is not licensed and not permitted. For commercial use contact the authors. Paclink MP was developed by Victor Poor, W5SMM, and Rick Muething, KN6KB, of the Winlink Development Team (WDT).

To download the program, you must have a site account on this web site. Go to 'Site Login > Create new account', to create one if you have not done it already. The program is available in the 'Downloads' area on this site after logging in.

As of this posting...
Number of WL2K users in the world: 11720
Number of on-air RMS gateway stations in the world: 849
Number of on-air HF RMS gateway stations in the world: 162
Number of unique stations seen in the last 7 days: 2137
Number of messages handled last month: 96235

IMPORTANT - ATTENTION ALL WINLINK 2000 USERS - IMPORTANT
(A similar message was sent to all WL2K users on June 25.)

Guarding users from the effects of internet SPAM is an important and daunting task for any normal internet email provider. For a specialized service like WL2K, it takes a different twist because of limited bandwidth for radio circuits and legal regulations on content over the amateur airwaves. Even our brick-wall whitelist with option to switch it off, is failing to limit the SPAM that infects our system. We are swamped with unwanted messages, which number from 60-100 to each legitimate incoming message. Our quest (your quest) to eliminate SPAM from our airwaves is not only important, it is required.

The WDT has tried numerous approaches to control it using the top software and commercial services available. Our "whitelist" has been the most effective, yet too many users do not use it properly and nothing has yet worked to eliminate the offensive (and illegal on-air) messages that leak through. In urgent and emergency situations, isolated WL2K users can not afford to have clogged message queues on slow radio connections.

Beginning August 1, 2008 all users with amateur callsigns will have the whitelist (accept list) activated permanently. Turning your whitelist off will no longer be optional. Also, whitelist reject notices will no longer be forwarded to WL2K users. The whitelist will function in all other respects as it has, with the exception of a "whitelist bypass word". You should tell your correspondents about this.