Winlink in Australia

Some time has elapsed since the first experimental operation of Winlink in Australia started. It was a significant step for amateur radio in Australia. It's usefulness was amply demonstrated in the aftermath of the Tsunami disaster that struck South and South East Asia. In addition hundreds of cruising sailors and quite a few land-based travelers have availed of Winlink.

Winlink started seriously in Australia about a decade ago with a radio station based in Tasmania operated by Phil [VK3PG). He moved to the mainland and because of the move and the controversy at the time about the role of amateur radio in promoting the convergence of amateur radio and the Internet the station did not start up again.

Following the awareness campaign sponsored by AussieWinlink and the positive response from the authorities several new Winlink amateur radio relay stations were launched. In order of appearance these are John (VK8HF) operating out of Darwin; Phil (VK6KPS) operating out of Perth; Charles (VK2SYD) operating out of Sydney; and the next to follow soon is when the Winlink pioneer, Phil (VK3PG), will rejoin the Winlink network by setting up a station in Melbourne. The latter will obviate the need for a station in Tasmania that had been talked about for several months. This only leaves an opening for a Winlink station on Northern Queensland. This is not strictly necessary because the other stations, including those operating out of New Zealand, reach out a long way into the South Pacific. All in all, the stations in Australia and New Zealand (Australasia) now successfully cover the Indian and Pacific Oceams; the Southern Oceans; the archipelago nations to Australia's north; and the Great Australian Bight, Bass Strait, the Tasman Sea; plus, all of Australia's outback and alpine areas in Tasmania and New Zealand.

The presentation given below shows the improving coverage provided by the three currently operating stations:

1.    Phil (VK6KPS): Phil provided some graphics of when he first started up in exploratory mode in late 2003.

Examples of Winlink radio contacts made in September 2003
	Comment: What is truly remarkable about this chart is that almost immediately after getting on air this station had a large following. This indicates that by far it was the best accessible Winlink radio station for many cruisers in a couple of thousand miles radius around Australia.
Examples of Winlink radio contacts made in October 2003
	Comment: It's interesting to watch the tracks of recreational yachts apparently leaving New Zealand; those that are on the southwest - northeast path from and to Fiji and nearby archipelago nations; the traffic from Java in Indonesia across the Indian Ocean; and many traveling in the Strait of Malacca.
Examples of Winlink radio contacts made in November 2003
	Comment: Traffic had settled down with clusters of yachts in New Zealand; around Phuket in Thailand and Langkawi in Malaysia and spread all over to southwest Pacific, presumably just enjoying the scenery or settling down for the Christmas Season. The tracks along Australia's northeast and southeast coasts, presumably, comprise 4WD or caravan travelers.
Examples of Winlink radio contacts made in September - November 2003
	Comment: What is remarkable about that early period is that Phil (VK6KPS) at the time was the only Winlink station operating out of Australia. During the period contacts were made with vessels as far away as off the south of Japan; some more than halfway across the Indian Ocean; and to the east beyond the international dateline to Western Samoa.

Some interesting Winlink Graphs provided by Phil (VK6KPS)
Band Usage Graph	Pactor Usage Graph
This chart shows shows that the vast volume of radio traffic is clustered around the 20 meter band and another group at 10 meters.	This chart shows that Pactor I use is minimal. Pactor II use appears reasonably stable; while Pactor III, clearly, is the preferred mode.

2.    John (VK8HF): John supplied a graphic of more recent date, that is, February 2005 or two months after the tsunami disaster:

Examples of Winlink radio contacts made in February 2005

Comment: John's (VK8HF) chart, covering Winlink radio activity some months after the tsunami disaster clearly shows the heavy cluster of activity around the areas that were most severely affected by the tsunami. This includes: the coast line along the Thai-Malaysia peninsula that includes the popular cruising destinations around Phuket and Langkawi; in Sri Lanka and South India; and a number of archipelagoes in mid-Indian Ocean including Maldives, Chagos and Seychelles. This indicates that many cruisers appear to have stayed around to provide communication and other support to victims and authorities. Also note the station's "connects" with Winlink Users in South Africa and the Mediterranean.

3.    Charles (VK2SYD): Charles provided an interesting graphic that covers all of 2004, While this doesn't show the seasonal variations it gives a tremendous impression of the volume, density and range of Winlink radio traffic by his station.
 

Examples of Winlink radio contacts made during 2004

Charles' (VK2SYD) chart shows that he operates an exceptional station. Not only in respect of the volume of Winlink radio traffic but even more so for the tremendous area that is covered by his system. Looking to the north his station has made radio contacts almost up to the far North Pacific close to the Aleutian Islands. To the west the station has to its credit two contact in northern Europe in Denmark and Belgium. To the east the furthest radio contact is close to the US Mainland and what looks like Tahiti. And to the south - take note of this - two certified contacts with Winlink users in the Antarctic. As is to be expected the largest volume of traffic comes from the South Pacific nearest Australia and New Zealand. Phil writes that most of the radio contacts along the coast of the Australian mainland are from Winlink-equipped 4WD vehicles. Charles is a keen 4WD enthusiast and several of the land-based "connects" are from his Winlink-equipped 4WD.

AussieWinlink is conducting a "demand" study to assess where efforts should be made for establishing additional Winlink stations. In addition to the above stations, the new station that is being established in Melbourne can be expected to adequately cover the waters to the south of the Australian mainland as well as Tasmania and take care of any contacts in the southern oceans including Antarctica. On the surface it therefore appears that, at least until such time that Australia takes seriously the need for digital emergency and disaster relief operations, requirements are reasonably well met. However, as stated elsewhere, Winlink as a volunteer service, believes that there should always be some reserve capacity to take care of unusual circumstances. Therefore, applications for new stations will always be considered.

Internationally, the new station that AussieWinlink has recruited in India will fill a significant void in the Indian ocean. In AussieWinlink's opinion additional stations could play a useful role in South East Asia and the Central Pacific. Winlink's remaining void is in South America where stations may be needed at both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean coasts of this southern hemisphere continent. However, because of the potential language barrier, AussieWinlink does not propose to devote resources to finding potential operators in South America; except, that a circumnavigating Winlink-equipped sailing couple that are due to visit Peru later this year have been asked to look at the feasibility of establishing a Winlink station in Lima. A station in that location would fill the void between the west coast of South America and Tahiti.

Cruisers having difficulty connecting to Winlink stations from anywhere in the world are invited to inform AussieWinlink by email at support@aussiewinlink.org. This will help in planning the expansion of the Winlink network.

AussieWinlink
14 March 2005

Copyright © 2002-2008 AussieWinlink. Material may be quoted with acknowledgement of its source. Last modified: September 28, 2008