Winlink 2000 Digital Messaging for ARES Presented by the ARRL ARESCOM Committee

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Winlink 2000Digital Messaging for
ARESPresented by the ARRL ARESCOM Committee
Our primary mission is to provide Global digital
communications for the benefit, safety and
well-being of the user community, anywhere,
anytime, anyplace.

• By
• Steve Waterman, K4CJX
• Winlink 2000 Network Administrator,
• Winlink 2000 Development Team
• (Member of ARESCOM)revised September 12, 2004

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Why are we here?

• July, 2003 In cooperation with its partnership
  with Homeland Security at their recommendation,
  the ARRL Board sought to provide a Nationwide
  digital system to enhance the communications
  capability of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
  (ARES) There are situations, the Board said, when
  ARES "must have the capability to pass digital
  traffic across the Nation quickly and
  accurately.

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• A new network should
• provide rapid transfer of emergency traffic
  between Sections,
• Provide flexible access between Sections,
• be automated as much as practical,
• use available and future digital modes,
• interface with commercial communications systems
  such as conventional telephone, cellular
  telephone, and the Internet, etc.,
• have speed, performance and accuracy,
• deliver the emergency traffic end-to-end,
• provide immediate traffic delivery (crucial,)

In harmony with the ARRL BODs wishes,the
following recommendation resulted from the ARRL
Resources Volunteer Committee (VRC final Report
to the ARRL BOD, July 2003)
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• September, 2003 ARESCOM committee formed by
  Jim Haynie, ARRL President.
• ARESCOMs Mission To recommend a National
  Digital network for ARES to the ARRL BOD for its
  July, 2004 meeting
• ARESCOMs Recommendation to the ARRL Programs and
  Services Committee The inclusion of Winlink 2000
  for the ARRL ARES.
• July 15, 2004 the ARRL approved the inclusion of
  Winlink 2000 into ARRL ARES.

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(Excerpts from the ARRL WEB Site, July 20, 2004)

• The ARRL Board adopted a resolution encouraging
  further development and expansion of an inaugural
  network to enhance the emergency communications
  capability of the Amateur Radio Emergency
  Service (ARES) The Board's motion encouraged the
  deployment of e-mail via Amateur Radio--as
  exemplified by Winlink 2000--"as an additional
  emergency capability provided to agencies served
  by ARES.
• In its report, the committee said situations
  arise when ARES must "pass message traffic across
  the nation quickly and accurately," and it said
  the need for such a nationwide capability within
  ARES is likely to increase in light of the ARRL's
  Citizen Corps partnership with the Department of
  Homeland Security
• Members of the ARRL Programs and Services
  Committee witnessed a Winlink 2000 demonstration
  at ARRL Headquarters the day before the board
  meeting. ARESCOM said it wants to adapt the
  already-proven communications network to meet the
  needs of served agencies and other organizations
  involved in providing disaster communications.
• "The digital network will provide a value-added
  service for ARES and will continue to be viewed
  very positively by our served agencies," the
  committee said in its report. "This allows ARES
  to be viewed as modern and necessary instead of
  antiquated and invasive."

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Winlink 2000 deployment for the ARRL Amateur
Radio Emergency Service

• Winlink 2000 has proven to be an outstanding
  addition to the capabilities of ARRL Field
  Services
• Provides nearly real-time radio email service for
  all served agencies and the public
• works in harmony with the resources of the
  existing manually operated ARES, NTS and NTS/D
  services
• covers all areas of the Country and beyond
• allows ARES to provide transparent, seamless,
  end-to-end digital email from the desktops of the
  served agencies within the Sections.
• greatly enhances the operation of all these
  combined resources
• Increased accuracy, Increased Speed, allows
  permanent Record, no learning curve for end-user,
  no invasive software in agencies
• Provides ease of use, works even when
  infrastructure is damaged
• Provides served agencies with what they need.

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Todays Discussion

• What does the end-user need ( want) to be
  effective when normal digital communications are
  unavailable? That is really what its all about!
  Lets examine
• Traditional role of ARES
• Winlink 2000 System.
• History of Development
• Telpac VHF/UHF-to-Telnet Gateway with Paclink
  client for local area Last Mile coverage.
• Airmail Client for Longer Range HF Internet
  substitution.
• Specialized non-public local/Regional Winlink
  2000 participating station (PMBO ) to hub
  community digital traffic.
• Implementing Winlink 2000 for Emergency
  Management

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TRADITIONAL ROLE OF
HAM RADIO SUPPORT Hand the microphone to the
Serving Agencies whose radio systems will not
work. Voice communications among served agencies
(EOC, hospitals, shelters, and incident
command.) Report health and welfare of affected
public. Tactical support Incident Command,
search and rescue, damage and storm reporting
(SKYWARN.) This takes a lot of people!
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WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION ARE EXCHANGED? "Where
the _at_! is the tank truck that was headed this
way an hour ago?" What Specific food is needed
for people who are registered in the
shelter?" Parents and 3 children safe, but
children require specific medical attention .
Details to follow." "St. Luke's hospital has
taken in fourteen victims. Details to
follow". "Have you finished searching sector
seven? What can I report? "This city block is
about 20 percent damaged. Details to
follow" Standby for detailed Medical procedure
information. Standby for detailed instructions
for fixing the generator. TRADITIONAL MODES
USED CW voice on HF. Voice, Packet BBS on
VHF/UHF. TRADITIONAL NETWORKS EMPLOYED
Local/State/section/regional traffic nets over
wide areas. Specialized networks such as
SKYWARN. Can Traditional methods do the Job?
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A quote from the former FCC Director of
Engineering and Technology   "In the past, hams
have adopted more spectrally efficient
technologies - for example, by migrating from
double-sideband amplitude modulation to
single-sideband modulation and, more recently, by
shifting to more efficient modulation for digital
modes. I would urge you to continue shifting
towards more spectrally efficient communications
techniques - especially digital techniques. Such
a shift has a number of benefits First of all,
it demonstrates to policymakers and regulators
that you are good stewards of the public's
airwaves even without direct economic
incentives..Second, by using what you have
efficiently, it strengthens your case when you
need to ask for additional spectrum.Third, by
allowing more users to access the available
allocations simultaneously, it improves the
amateur experience and ultimately increases the
attractiveness of the service to new and old
users alike.  
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A quote from the former FCC Director of
Engineering and Technology (continued)
Fourth, it provides the opportunity or
"headroom" for increases in data rates to more
closely match those available on wire line
networks and, in the future, on commercial
wireless networks as well.Fifth, as the rest
of the telecommunications world makes the
transition to digital techniques - and there are
very few exceptions to that trend - the amateur
service will look antiquated if it is not making
progress in that direction as well.So looking
to the future of the amateur radio service in the
new century, I would urge you to continue your
traditional role in public service by being
prepared for and providing communications in
times of emergencies, conducting experiments,
providing training in radio communications, and
encouraging international comity. But I would
also urge you to focus particular attention --
for the reasons I just mentioned -- on
experimentation with digital techniques."
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Written documents impose their own kind of
disciplineAlbert Einstein
Moving into the 21st Century
Consistency
Accuracy
Record tracking
I cant work without a blackboard!
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Emergency Digital (written) Communications For
Community Agencies
With Telex? When was the last time they used
Telex? With a Telegram? When was the last
time they sent a Telegram? With a voice relayed
NTS Radiogram or MarsGram? (could be an
attachment) With Packet H-routing? The
accepted Global standard is now SMTP e-mail !

• We can keep Agencies connected without an
  immediate Internet connection.

Bottom Line Lets make EmComm as easy
transparent as possible for those who need it
during an emergency situation. Lets not
forget It is their party and we want to be
invited!
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(No Transcript)
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Agency Focus on Emergency digital communications

• Normal E-mail requires an internet connection

• Agency to Agency
• Agency to Field
• Agency to multipoint
• Agency to anywhere!

Critical
Routine
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Agency Focus

• If a community Last Mile internet link is
  broken, e-mail cannot flow.

Critical Medical Tactical Info sent!
What the ????
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Agency Focus
The Last Mile, an important part of Emergency
Communications The incident area where
conventional communications have been totally
disrupted or overloaded by an emergency situation.
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In todays World, we cannot predict the size,
nature or location of our disaster areas! We be
must prepared, Globally.
Local?
Regional?
Global?
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End-User Focus

• Amateur Radio can provide e-mail to any
  served agency without the internet within the
  Last Mile, across the Nation, or around the
  World.

HOW DO HAMS DO THAT?
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How can an Amateur Radio Emergency Service
provide a Local, State, Regional, National or
Global digital e-mail capability to its
communitys agencies when various normal
Internet links are broken?
?
?
?
?
?
?
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How do Hams do that?
Agency Focus on Emergency digital communications
Requirements

• It must look like e-mail.
• It must use an e-mail editor like MS Outlook
  Express or Outlook, etc.
• It must have an address book like e-mail.
• It must include multiple recipients (to, Cc)
  like e-mail.
• It must send multiple binary attachments like
  e-mail.
• It must have a spell-checker like e-mail.
• It must work on multiple computers within an
  agency with no additional desktop software, and
  not invade the security of the system.
• It must provide transparent, seamless,
  end-to-end email when there is no normal Internet
  path.
• It must be able to utilize tactical email
  addresses.
• It must NOT add to the stress or learning curve
  of those who are already stressed in an emergency
  situation.

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Welcome to the Power of Winlink 2000 !
Where in the World are you? It doesnt matter!
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Winlink 2000 Public use PMBOs
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Winlink 2000, a bit of History

• 1986 1st ApLink (DOS), then Winlink Classic
  (Windows 3.1) for long-haul HF to link
  community Packet BBSs.
• Used by the Military during 1st Gulf War for H
  W hidden ID troop movement detail. 1991 CBS 30
  minute documentary Last Voice from Kuwait with
  Charles Kuralt.
• NTS/MARS usage heavy. Still used by both ! Still
  the currently adopted system for NTS/D MARS.
• 1997 Winlink Classic with NetLink Airmail
  client Link HF digital radio messages to Internet
  SMTP e-mail.
• World adopts SMTP (IETF RFC822) e-mail. MARS/NTS
  did not. NTS/MARS dropped off The Internet is
  not ham radio.
• 2000 Worldwide Winlink 2000 network deployed
  using the Airmail end-user client to provide
  enhanced messaging over Radio while integrating a
  total Internet Interface.
• MARS, NTS/D continue using Winlink Classic 1986
  technology, however, Change is in the wind!

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Winlink 2000, a bit of History (Continued)

• 2001- Today Proven existing, mature, reliable,
  secure, working, Global radio messaging network
  system.
• Emphasis on expanded use for Emergency
  Communications.
• Seamless Global Internet substitute for EmComm
• Currently used by U.S. Federal, State, local
  Government others, including ARES/RACES.
• No Telex, no Telegrams, no NTS formatted ARRL
  Radiograms..only SMTP e-mail format is used.
  (Want NTS/MARS formats? Put it as an attachment.)
• Telpac gateway with Paclink clients developed for
  EmComm local last mile communications.
  (Expanded deployment into ARES RACES.)
• Commitment to continue to enhance the network
  topology and functionality for ARES.

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Winlink 2000 Today

• Approximately 150,000 radio message/260,000
  Minutes though system, Monthly. (more than all
  branches of MARS ARRL field networks combined.)
• Over 5,100 weekly users to over 75,100 email
  recipients.
• Over 43 Standard Participating locations (PMBOs)
  with 23 in USA. Many locations contain multiple
  stations.
• 2.1 minute Ave. est. delivery time to PMBO for
  Pickup
• Over 200 VHF/UHF Telpac nodes in operation.
• HF radio access, VHF/UHF radio access, Telnet
  Access, WEB Browser Access.
• New Inclusion of non-public EmComm PMBOs.
• Enhanced, more flexible redundant network
  topology currently under development with even
  less Internet dependency.

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Winlink 2000 Feature Overview

• Features
• Worldwide, proven, existing, reliable,redundant
  system with its own on-going management and
  support systems.
• Looks and works like common SMTP e-mail.
• Uses any combination of SMTP addresses mixed with
  Radio addresses. For EmComm, can use tactical
  addresses.
• Multiple to and CC addressing.
• Sends multiple binary attachments.
• Handles tactical addresses.
• Secure due to binary protocol secure user
  login.
• Easy to configure and use.
• Software is free, hardware is NOT!
• WEB browser/Telnet or VHF/UHF/HF access

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WL2K Features (continued)

• System is Fault tolerant completely redundant.
• Flexible
• Can use existing Packet nodes, or digis, or
  switches.
• Can use existing Participating Stations (PMBOs.)
• Has backup remotely located Central Servers
  (CMBO.)
• Older generation BBSs may be replaced with Telpac
  nodes.
• Intelligent follow me routing.
• Distance insensitive, transparent nodes Local,
  Regional, National or Internationalit does not
  matter.

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WL2K Features (continued)

• Highly adaptable for emergency use.
• May replace broken Internet links local,
  regional, national or international.
• Designed for mobile or fixed operations.
• The Winlink 2000 Catalog may be tailored for
  detailed instructions, policy employment, complex
  procedures or medical information for each
  community.
• Position Reporting for locating mobile users
• ARRS
• ShipTrak
• Text-based e-mail reply tracking system
• Auto non-published real-time Position Tracking.
• NOAA MAROB weather reporting system
• May be expanded for SKYWARN applications.
• Local Hubbing PMBO can maintain email
  connectivity among community Agencies with or
  without the Internet!

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WL2K Features (continued)

• Uses B2F binary Protocol
• It is in the public domain.
• Secure against hacking due to compression
  error correction.
• May be wrapped by most ARQ modes.
• provides approximately 44 percent data
  compression.
• Needs no special consideration in a secure IT
  Infrastructure. Works inside, outside the
  firewall (DMZ) or router.
• All user Interfaces may be password protected.
• Instant self-registration option can be turned
  on/off.
• Heavy virus/SPAM protection accept list, etc.
  can all be turned on/off.
• NO learning curve for end-user agencies. NO
  additional stress!

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Winlink 2000 in the USA and Part 97

• Winlink 2000 complies with 97.221 for an
  Automatically controlled digital station
• For Wider than 500 Hz 97.221 (b) A station may
  be automatically controlled while transmitting a
  RTTY or data emission on the 6 m or shorter
  wavelength bands, and on the 28.120-28.189 MHz,
  24.925-24.930 MHz, 21.090-21.100 MHz,
  18.105-18.110 MHz, 14.0950-14.0995 MHz,
  14.1005-14.112 MHz, 10.140-10.150 MHz,
  7.100-7.105 MHz, or 3.620-3.635 MHz segments.
• For 500 Hz 97.221 (c) A station may be
  automatically controlled while transmitting a
  RTTY or data emission on any other frequency
  authorized for such emission types provided that
  (1) The station is responding to interrogation by
  a station under local or remote control and (2)
  No transmission from the automatically controlled
  station occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.
  
• Winlink 2000 complies with 97.109 Station
  control, for 3rd Party traffic rules
• (e) No station may be automatically controlled
  while transmitting third party communications,
  except a station transmitting a RTTY or data
  emission. All messages that are retransmitted
  must originate at a station that is being locally
  or remotely controlled.
• Winlink 2000 complies with Section 97.219(c) for
  3rd Party traffic Content Rules
• 97.219(c) provides protection for licensees
  operating as part of a message forwarding system.
  "...the control operators of forwarding stations
  that retransmit inadvertently communications that
  violate the rules in this Part are not
  accountable for the violative communications.
  They are, however, responsible for discontinuing
  such communications once they become aware of
  their presence.
• Winlink 2000 complies with 97.309 for data
  emission codes.
• (4) An amateur station transmitting a RTTY or
  data emission using a digital code specified in
  this paragraph may use any technique whose
  technical characteristics have been documented
  publicly, such as CLOVER, G-TOR, or PacTOR, for
  the purpose of facilitating communications.
• Winlink 2000 complies with Sub-Part E when so
  designated (i.e. 97.403 Safety of life and
  protection of property)
• No provision of these rules prevents the use by
  an amateur station of any means of radio
  communication at its disposal to provide
  essential communication needs in connection with
  the immediate safety of human life and immediate
  protection of property when normal communication
  systems are not available.

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Paclink, with multiple computers in a served
agency, either behind or in front of a router
and/or firewall.
Mobile Paclink
MS Outlook Or Outlook Express User Interface
Very Important!
Multi-channel VHF/UHF Packet w/ B2F Protocol
All it takes is one computer, TNC, the Paclink
program and an antenna!
Airmail High Speed HF
All it takes is one Laptop, a Transceiver, SCS
TNC, the Airmail program and an antenna!
Telpac
Telnet
Local Hubbing PMBO (Allows all hubbed traffic
to continue with loss of the Internet.)
CMBO Server
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Telpac Paclink
TelpacWL2Ks Telnet Packet Bridge
Telpac
WL2K PMBO
HF (Future)
Telnet server
TELnet PACket
Bridge
Radio
Telnet
Client
Programs
or
RS232
TCP
AirMail
Key Features Easy set up No local
database Multiple active connections Supports all
WL2K functions AGW Packet Engine support
AGW
Packet Engine
AX.25
Paclink
AX.25
TNCs/Packet Radios
Terminal
AX.25
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Paclink A Windows Radio E-mail Server for the
user Interface
Telpac Paclink
Key features Mixed radio/E-mail Packet Engine
support Multiple user E-mail interface5 levels
of auto-alternate routing

• Priority routing example
• 1. Telnet via Internet
• 2. 9,6kb Packet-to-Telpac
• 3. 9.6 kb Packet-to-backbone
• 4. 1200b Packet
• 5. HF Pactor to distant PMBO (future)

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Current Paclink
New Paclink

• Paclink consist of one Module.
• Paclink has unlimited number of Channels.
• Paclink uses call letters as email addresses 
  (One channel one call one email account.
• Call SSIDs are significant in defining an email
  address.
• The path of communications for Paclink is
  manually set to either Telnet or Packet via the
  AGW Packet Engine.
• Paclink-to-Paclink now possible.
• Paclink must be installed manually.
• Available now.

• Paclink consists of  2 separate modules, the
  Paclink Post Office (email server) and the
  Paclink AGW Communications module.
• Same.
• Email addresses are separate from from Calls. A
  'single site callsign' handles all the tactical
  email addresses at a given site. When a Paclink
  Post office is set up, the local site call sign
  is set up as a 'default' account, which is
  usually the sysop address. However, no other
  radio call can be used for  an account name at
  that site.
• The PMBO pays on attention to the call sign, but
  looks for the actual email address.  Therefore,
  Call SSIDs are not relevant and may change in
  nodes or switches with no adverse effects.  This
  will allow the inclusion of most formerly
  unusable complex Packet paths.
• There are 5 user-definable auto-routed priority
  paths for Paclink communications (Example
  Telnet, 9,600 Baud Packet direct, 9,600 baud
  Packet indirect, 1200 Baud  Packet direct, HF
  Pactor (future).
•  Paclink only communicates to the Winlink 2000
  network.
• Paclink now has an install Wizard.
• Available soon!

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New Paclink Automatic Alternate Routing
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Complex View LOCAL Hubbing PMBO with Co-Located
Telpac node
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A complex view Internet OK
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Complex view Internet Failed!
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Complex View Multiple Section Assist
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• A BASIC WINLINK HF LONG RANGE FIELD STATION
• You will need the following equipment
• Amateur radio High Frequency (HF) transceiver
  (IC-706KIIG, great!).
• Pactor capable modem (Pactor II _at_ 800 bps. P3 _at_
  3600 bps. Highly recommended over Pactor 1 _at_ 200
  bps. (Example an 80 Kbyte file on Pactor 1
  approx. 80 Min, On Pactor 3, approx 5-7 min.)
• HF multi-band (mobile/portable) antenna, and
  possibly an antenna tuner (SGC 230 is great)!
• 12V DC power source
• Laptop Computer (Win 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP)
  and Airmail for HF.

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Winlink 2000 Future Enhancements Currently Under
Development

• CMBO Backup will become 6-8 multiple CMSs
• PMBOs will become RMSs
• Less complex RMSs will randomly route to CMSs
• Ability to alternate route from Internet to RF
  only during EmComm.
• Telpac Add HF forwarding.
• Paclink Add HF forwarding.
• Additional High-speed protocol.

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So, what does all this look like?
Real life examples
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Harris County (Houston,) Texas
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(No Transcript)
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Winlink 2000 is a proven, existing, operational,
dependable, redundant, secure, reliable Amateur
radio email messaging network that is being made
available to the ARES community. (However, each
community of interest must put it in place.)
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So, Whats Next?

• ARES what other options are available for
  Seamless Radio email? Do they provide
  end-to-end, transparent, SMTP email throughput to
  the community Served Agencies desktops?
• Make a yes/no decision about Winlink 2000. If
  yes, then...
• Learn to use Airmail, Telpac and Paclink.
• Deploy local Telpac gateway(s).
• Deploy mobile Paclink stations fixed Paclink
  LANs in places where it will be used during an
  emergency.
• VHF/UHF new or existing links to bring it all
  together.
• Deploy self-powered, mobile/fixed Airmail,
  long-range HF Stations
• Consider a non-public hubbing PMBO for the area
• Meanwhile..

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Devise a Plan!

• Insure that there is no duplication of efforts in
  your last mile coverage area.
• Set up an strategy for implementation with your
  local ARRL ARES organization. Set up a time-line
  for each task.
• Coordinate efforts with the Winlink Dev. Team,
  ECs,SECs,DECs/SM, etc.
• Ask other ARES communities for assistance.
• Set up personnel responsibilities with
  Time-lines!
• Handle the finances. How much will it actually
  cost?
• Involve and commit the end-user. They are the
  ones to benefit!
• Implement the plan in stages.
• Test it, and Test it again.
• Provide a presentation and demo for your served
  agencies.
• Continue to promote your capabilities.

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Related Links Additional Information

• Winlink.org
• Winlink.org/status (real-time monitoring of the
  network)
• Winlink.org.features.htm
• Winlink.org.stations.htm (public Winlink
  participating network stations)
• Winlink.org/news.htm (articles publications)
• Winlink.org/client.htm (downloads of client info
  and programs.)
• winlink.org/Emergency.htm (includes this
  presentation)
• http//www.arrlstx.org/digital/HCARESDignet.htm(H
  arris County Digital Plan)
• http//www.fadca.org/ecomm/index.html (Floridas
  digital Packet network and plan)
• (EmComm presentations by the Florida Amateur
  Digital
• Communication Association)
• Related Yahoo Groups
• http//groups.yahoo.com/group/telpac-paclink/
• http//groups.yahoo.com/group/wl2kemcomm/
• EchoLink Discussion Group, Wednesday, 0000
  UTCCourtesy of the W8FSM conference Server.
• ARRL
• "ARESCOM" Plan to Enhance Emergency Communication
  Capability
• http//www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/07/20/2/?nc
  1
• July 15, 2004 ARRL Board of Directors Minutes

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Any Questions?