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From the Bahamas to Churchill A chance encounter of two cruising sailors in Marsh Harbour, in the northern Abacos of the Bahamas Islands, set in train a series of events beyond their imagination. Tony (VK1VM/KN4VM), who later founded this website, had set out on a sailing cruise that would take him and his wife Genie from Annapolis, on the Chesapeake Bay on the mid-Atlantic East Coast in the US, via the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the Bahamas Islands. That 8-month 3000 mile journey had taken them to Marsh Harbour and back, after safe crossings of the Atlantic Gulf Stream and some mishaps in the Abacos Islands. They explored many inhabited and uninhabited islands and after having stayed for several weeks anchored in a sound in Green Turtle Island they proceeded to March Harbor for refuge when a threatening weather pattern approached from the northwest. “Bojangles” their sailboat is a South African Miura 31 that they had bought about ten years earlier and refitted when retirement made the cruising escape possible. On arrival in March Harbour it was difficult to find a good anchorage in the otherwise spacious inlet. Many cruising boats had come in from the outlying islands to find shelter and re-supply at this convenient staging point. They had listened to the local Cruising Net, called Blue Dolphin, that operated each morning to welcome new arrivals, provide weather reports, make community announcements and bid farewell to those departing. There weren’t many departing that day. One caller asked for help in establishing radio contact with the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club (WRCC) that operates out of Florida. The caller’s amateur radio was malfunctioning. Ham and SSB radios are used by many cruisers for maintaining voice radio contact with other cruisers, and sometimes with land-based stations like that operated by WRCC, when voyaging. Tony has his amateur radio onboard Bojangles and offered to assist in establishing contact. When the weather had somewhat settled the two cruisers met on Bojangles, made the radio contact with WRCC and when this contact was successfully concluded they talked about amateur radio on boats. The guest introduced Tony to Winlink. Tony had not earlier heard about Winlink but found the information fascinating and decided that on returning to his homeport he would look into the features offered by the Winlink system for cruising sailors. Tony and Genie completed their eight-month cruise on July 4, 2001. They had great plans to continue cruising north but after battling with accumulated postal and email backlogs they fell back in the normal land-based routine. When ready to depart for the next leg it was too late in the year to travel further north. Instead the time available was productively used to read up about Winlink; install it on Bojangles (a relatively simple job when a suitable radio and antenna system is already installed) and then experiment with Winlink from a boat underway or in an anchorage in the Chesapeake Bay. What was learned was
truly astonishing. While on their Bahamas cruise, Tony used his amateur radio
for voice contacts and a system called PocketMail (said to have originated in
Australia) for digital email. However, the latter can be used only on land where access
to a public telephone is available. While PocketMail is relatively inexpensive
when used in the US, when international telephone connections are needed, for example in the
Bahamas it becomes quite expensive. Compare this with Winlink. Winlink provides
international email from the boat to anywhere in the world; handles weather
reports and charts; has links to services that offer medical and veterinarian
support; disseminates piracy reports and news digests; and all that without cost
to the Users. All that is needed for joining Winlink is for the User to hold the
appropriate amateur radio license. Getting an amateur radio license is no longer
as difficult as it used to be. The Winlink Development Team (WDT) informs that
many cruisers, particularly, those that are a little older, do not find it
difficult to obtain a amateur radio license and many have done so just for the
privilege to use Winlink when cruising on land or at sea.
Tony’s reception in Australia, representing Winlink, was initially not welcoming. The then Regulator of amateur radio in Australia wouldn’t grant him a meeting and the officials of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), the organization supposedly representing the interests of radio amateurs, was almost hostile. Discussions with individual radio amateurs showed that there was almost no respect for WIA and many had resigned from this umbrella organization. Amateur radio was a dying hobby. This situation appeared totally inconsistent with the enterprising nature of Australians as well as the local ideal of “giving a fair go” to other people and different ideas. Fortuitously, it was possible to advance the interests of radio amateurs, in general, and Winlink, in particular, through Australia's transparent system of government inquiry. The Productivity Commission was conducting an inquiry into, among other, the use of the available radio spectrum in Australia. This provided the opportunity to make formal public submission. Rather than do so as an individual, Tony established "AussieWinlink" (www.aussiewinlink.org) and sought the support of the WRCC in Florida; by the 10,000-member Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA); and existing Winlink Users. From these sources came more than 400 submissions in support of changing the Australia regulations to allow Winlink operation in Australia. The inquiry had several effects. Opponents of Winlink in Australia misinformed the Government Commission. As a result the Commission issued a Draft Report that opposed the introduction of Winlink in Australia. However, because the system of inquiry requires the submission of public submissions, those opposing Winlink were forced to come into the open and give their reasons. Also, the procedures allow respondents to comment on the Commission's Draft Report. AussieWinlink made further submissions to the Inquiry to critically repudiate the objections voiced. It is a credit to the Commission that it was prepared to reexamine the issues and had the moral fiber to change its position. The Commission’s Final Report concluded that there appeared to be no solid reasons why Winlink should not be allowed to operate in Australia. Significantly, the Commission held that the onus of proof to show that Winlink should be allowed in Australia did not rest with its proponents but rather that opponents should make the case why it should be prohibited. However, the Commission’s powers are limited to advising and it cannot force the Government or the Regulator to accept its recommendations. However, with the Commission’s report in hand it was now possible to make representations directly to the Australian Government. To advance the introduction of Winlink in Australia, “AussieWinlink” made written submissions to the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as, to the Minister responsible for Communications. But not even these high government officials could dictate the Regulator what to do. However, Aussiewinlink’s submissions were forwarded to the Regulator and, it seems fair to guess, that the Government might have provided supportive comments. In the meantime, at a lower level, a rather acrimonious battle was waged through email and public relations between Winlink supporters and opponents. Aussiewinlink lead the proponents and an influential group within WIA were the most vocal opponents. Despite the bitterness displayed these exchanges were not a total waste of time because it provided the opportunity for the exchanging of information and better understanding each other’s position. The amateur radio regulations and the Regulator’s interpretation and policing of the rules were open to interpretation. Both supporters and opponents of Winlink did interpret the situation to support their respective opinions. Progressive radio amateurs; especially, those with a broader international outlook that recognized the role of radio communications in supporting the safety of people in remote locations, like for recreational boaters, supported Winlink and came forward with offers to assist. At the time this was quite a courageous act because opponents, using WIA as the conduit, made dire predictions that Winlink supporters could face confiscation of their radio equipment and worse. The first Australian radio amateur who came forward to assist was John (VK8HF). He volunteered to establish a Winlink ground station in Darwin at the “top end” of Australia’s Northern Territory. His station was soon operational and because of the excellent setup and advantageous geographic location immediately proved a hit with cruising sailors in the South Pacific and the archipelago nations to Australia’s north. Unfortunately, for personal reasons and some guess, because of pressure from local radio amateurs, John was forced to close his station down. That represented a dramatic loss for the many recreational cruisers that had come to rely on John’s station. It had enabled them to stay in touch, from their remote locations, with family and friends back home and regularly obtain weather reports. Very fortunately, just at that very moment Phil (VK6PHS) came forward and offered to set up a Winlink station, based in Perth Western Australia (WA). While John’s interest was purely concerned with amateur radio, Phil’s interest came from his interest in tracking the Australian outback and coastal areas of WA in his four wheel drive (4WD) vehicle. Perth is not quite as good a location as the one lost in Darwin. Neither was the technical setup. The antenna had to be strung up from a Blue Gum tree in Phil’s backyard. The location also suffered from interference from a nearby transformer in the power grid. Nevertheless, the new station had a good outreach to the north with excellent coverage into the Indian Ocean. The latter later proved to be a Godsend. If anyone in Australia needed proof that amateur radio operators can play a heroic role during national and international disasters and emergency relief operations they got that proof in December 2004. THat was when the tsunami struck Southeast and South Asia. Almost immediately the station in Perth received a lot of traffic coming from cruisers in the tsunami-affected areas and from frantic friends and family who wanted to check on the welfare of missing cruisers. Phil immediately established an Internet presence publishing the names of vessels and crew, location and conditions of cruisers that had been able to make contact through his station. In another development, shortly after Phil’s tsunami disaster relief operations, the World Radio Conference (WRC) was held. It dramatically liberalized the international guidelines for the operation of amateur radio. Regulators around the world followed suit. Many lifted the earlier prohibitions against the passing on of what is called “Third Party Traffic”; that is, messages on behalf of others that are not radio amateurs. They also abolished the need for intending radio amateurs to pass exams in the, by now, defunct Morse code. The Australian Regulator went one step further. In anticipation of the outcome of the WRC, the Regulator announced that a wide-ranging inquiry would be conducted about amateur radio regulation in Australia. However, the Regulator did not follow the same procedure as had the Productivity Commission. The latter was to call for submissions; analyze these; place them in the context of broad government policies on the subject; publish a Draft Report; invite comments on the Draft Report; and, finally, publish a Final Report showing recommendations made to the government. Instead the Australian Regulator followed a more restrictive procedure. At the start of the inquiry it published what it believed its decisions might be, that is, before having polled the opinion of the amateur radio community. Nevertheless, or maybe because of that approach, hundreds of individual Australian radio amateurs, WIA and AussieWinlink made submissions. Unfortunately, neither did the Regulator issue a Draft Report. Therefore, there was never a real opportunity to comment on the Regulator’s decisions. Despite these apparent flaws, the outcome of the inquiry lived up to the Australian passion for encouraging innovation. Regulations were dramatically liberalized. The amateur radio license structure was substantially simplified; a new lower entry-level license was introduced to make it easier to become an amateur radio operator; the Morse code proficiency requirement was dropped; the Third Party Traffic restriction was virtually eliminated; and, most importantly, the interfacing of amateur radio with the Internet were permitted. The liberalization removed the earlier ambiguities and opened the door to the more widespread introduction of Winlink in Australia. Another, no less
important development, was the rejuvenation of the Wireless Institute of
Australia. It elected new officers; abolished the “federal” and introduced a
"national" structure of governance; and actively reached out to the amateur radio
community. It appears that its reform efforts succeeded beyond expectations as
many former members rejoined and new radio amateurs joined the organization. AussieWinlink, which had been a fierce critic of WIA, became a staunch ally. The latest step in invigorating amateur radio in Australia was the award of the prestigious Winston Churchill Trust Scholarship to Mike Harris (G0HOC; KB2SED; VK7ACQ). The award was for the study of developments overseas, primarily the US where Winlink was founded and accepted, especially for civil disaster and emergency relief operations. The assignment was to assess the applicability of implementing these new techniques in Australia. Mike was the ideal candidate for the award. He has been active in amateur radio; recreational cruising; weather and position reporting and, for many years, had been teaching these skills to others. He hosts the "Pangolin" position reporting system and his system supports the transmission of actual weather observations by cruisers to weather forecasting agencies. These services are facilitated by Winlink. Mike has since lodged his Report with the Churchill Trust which accepted and allowed it to be published. Shown below, with permission of the author, is a section of the Report where it discusses Winlink.
QUOTE 11. Winlink 2000 In essence, Winlink 2000 is a system for sending and receiving email over HF Amateur radio frequencies, but this is an oversimplification as it has many additional facilities and advanced features that have yet to appear in equivalent commercial systems. In true Amateur radio tradition, Winlink 2000 was developed as a hobby project by professional engineers as a test bed for ideas and it has grown from there. Advantages of the system are: Independence. Can be run from a car battery and its operation does not rely upon the national power grid, telephone or satellites; Transportability. All components may be fitted into a suitcase and are easily setup; Worldwide system. The nearest gateway into the Internet system may be located in another country, hundreds or perhaps even many thousands of miles away from the local user; and Low cost. As an amateur service, there are no service charges. Equipment costs are comparable to that of a satellite phone. On the other side of the coin, a point to be kept in mind is that the Amateur Radio License stipulates that frequencies are not to be used for commercial purposes. HF bandwidth limitations also mean that data speeds will always be very much slower than those achieved by regular telephone or satellite services. For this reason emails are strictly plain text only. That means no fancy fonts or decorated ‘note paper’, although small binary file attachments, such as GRIB files showing weather patterns can be sent without difficulties. The attachments may be drawings, or spread sheets but acceptability depends upon connection speed. Typically, for a Pactor-2 modem (see below) this will be in the region of 800 bits per second, thus a 10K picture would take approximately 10 minutes to download. Occupying the system for long periods inevitably affects other users so big downloads are discouraged. However, since HF propagation is dependent upon ionospheric conditions, from time to time communications are made worse or substantially better by solar events such as flares or sun spots. For users without access to regular telecommunications services, these points are not obstacles. Such users might include: Outback communities; Vessels at sea; Land travellers in remote regions; and Disaster relief and emergency service workers. Necessary equipment The basic equipment needed to setup a
mobile Winlink 2000 terminal consists of an HF radio, antenna, Pactor modem and
computer. Antenna In common with other services that use HF, the antenna is a critical component. For those who understand the principles involved, a simple dipole strung between trees or an insulated length of rigging wire can be very effective. Commercially produced whip or beam antennas are another option but unless the antenna is correctly matched to the radio and frequency in use lack of signal strength is likely to make communications difficult. Pactor 3 modem Pactor is the name of the protocol that is used to send data over voice channels. Over the years there have been several variants of Pactor but 3 is the most recent and, although the system still supports earlier versions, they should not be used for a new installation. About the size of a pack of sandwiches, the device is a self contained computer and digital signal processor that carries out the task of encoding text as audio tones and conversely decoding audio back to text. Such modems, sometimes known as data controllers or Terminal Node Controllers (TNCs), are not difficult to install, having only a connection to a power supply, computer port and audio output and microphone inputs on the radio. Superficially, they appear to have few controls but most adjustments are done by software commands from the computer giving them great versatility and the ability to handle a variety of other codes and protocols (e.g. Morse, telex, weatherfax) in addition to Pactor. Computer: Since most of the signal processing is carried out by a modem, the purpose of the external computer is mainly just to provide a keyboard and screen to monitor and control operation of the modem. For this reason, demands on the computer are quite modest and it doesn’t need to be particularly fast or have lots of memory. Often an old machine will do though most modem access programs are written for Windows so it should be able to run a current version of the operating system. The software that is generally used to control the modem and radio and to provide the user with message boxes for sending and receiving emails is Airmail. This has also been developed by an Amateur (Jim Corenman) and is available as a free download from www.airmail2000.com.Recent developments: SCAMP (Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol) As a proprietary code, marketing and development of Pactor equipment is the intellectual property of its originators at SCS (Special Communications Systems GmbH & Co Germany). Costing several hundred dollars, modem costs are a burden for many potential users which, along with the need to have control of the standard has motivated some Amateurs to look for public domain alternatives. Most computers these days include a sound card for processing audio signals and which already has connection jacks for audio output and microphone input. In principle, one only needs some suitable software to carry out the encoding and decoding functions and the entire job of the Pactor modem could be carried out aboard a PC. This approach is not new and is already used by a number of programs to process, slow scan television, weatherfax images, and the various forms of telex (for an example see www.jvcomm.de).Unfortunately, most current non-proprietary data codes lack an adequate error correction or speed versatility needed for efficient transfer of email traffic over HF. However, as a replacement for Pactor, Winlink 2000 development team member Rick Muething is working to perfect a high performance alternative known as SCAMP. Other codes such as CONTESTIA and a modified PSK63 are also being examined. At the time of writing, test trials have been conducted, prospects look good and it is hoped that a release version will be available within the coming year. Since this would involve the computer in real-time signal processing, a higher specification computer than that required to drive a modem would be needed. Certainly, it would need a suitable sound card, though Rick reports that in addition to the computer a 1GHz Pentium processor with minimum of 512Mb of RAM would be sufficient. Sending and receiving emails via Winlink 2000 As mentioned earlier, Airmail provides the interface through which users send and receive emails. It is directly comparable to other familiar email software such as Microsoft Express, Outlook, Eudora etc. These may also be used with Winlink 2000 (see later), but a major difference between using an HF radio link and regular dialup or broadband connection is that one only connects for the time needed to download any pending incoming messages and to send those that have already been written and queued off-line. The send/receive process proceeds as follows: A) After starting the computer and radio, the first step is to establish a Pactor data connection to an available Winlink 2000 Participating Mailbox (PMBO) station. These are computer controlled HF radio stations, comparable to the Echolink stations mentioned earlier, but using email instead of voice messaging. PMBOs have been established in many countries around the world. Their frequencies, times of operation and beam headings are published but the choice will depend mainly upon radio propagation conditions and availability for use. B) Queued messages are sent to the, PMBO computer where they are picked up by their respective recipients. Messages waiting to be received are stored on the PMBO computer and are sent to the user. For the user, the session ends at this stage but for the Winlink 2000 system there are a number of house keeping jobs to complete. Firstly, incoming messages when picked up by the user are automatically deleted from the PMBO being used as well as every other PMBO that the user may have chosen within the last 90 days since last used. Management of messages is handled by another layer; the Common Message Servers (CMS). The CMS also filters spam and protects users from malicious attachments. The user can control spam options which can be set remotely. Opportunities for Australia Following recent changes in the licensing conditions, Australian Amateurs are now permitted to establish PMBOs within the country. As well as covering the continent, Australia’s important strategic location enables them to provide Winlink 2000 email services to large parts of the Pacific, Antarctica and Indonesia. The following plot showing radio contacts made makes this point well:
HF propagation knows no boundaries. Note the many contacts in countries such as New Zealand that have their own established PMBOs. HF radio works best over distances greater than a few hundred miles so connection via a PMBO in another country may often be easier than connecting to one in your own. Once a Winlink 2000 PMBO is established it becomes available for use by all sections of the community. As an example, users of Charles Leahy’s Sydney station include 4 wheel drive travellers in the bush along with boats in the pacific and small island residents. Sailing Club PMBOs For some groups, the benefits of Winlink 2000 are so significant that they have generated the motivation for an active participation in Amateur Radio. In Australia however, although boating, sailing and marine organisations encourage education in the use of marine radio, Amateur Radio is seldom considered at present. In contrast, a number of sailing clubs in the US have established their own PMBO stations which operate alongside their regular marine band radio communications. The California Yacht Club is but one example. Managed by Scott Stolnitz(K6CYC) this station provides a service not only to club members but also to a broad community of users in the North Pacific and US East Coast. Winlink 2000 and the emergency services As a basic principle, the US national body, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) place great importance on encouraging ways in which Amateur Radio can provide community benefits through public service. This is evident from the many nets dedicated to relief operations and structured organisations that exist at local, state and federal level for managing various aspects of emergency communications. These include: Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)® Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Military Affiliate Radio Service (MARS) Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATURN) Hurricane Watch Net (See map below for US Hurricane Watch Net.) SKYWARN (weather reporting net)
Through a number of its own publications the ARRL has worked to ensure that volunteers assisting in emergency operations adopt high standards of professionalism and are able to work effectively alongside other professional agencies such as the police, ambulance or fire services. To this end they have produced the “Emergency Communication Handbook” and “Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course” This is a three level course designed to develop skills and present a range of communications tools that can be built upon to match specific community needs.During natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, floods etc, public phone lines and power utilities are usually among the first casualties. At the same time demand for these services increases and simple “are you ok?” type enquiries can overwhelm what remains, leaving no capacity for requests for assistance. It is in situations such as these that Winlink 2000 is especially useful. By linking through services in other countries, local disruptions are circumvented. In the case of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, the two Australian PMBOs both reported large increases in traffic to affected areas. Two months later, John Goda (VK8HF) in Darwin reported that his PMBO was still handling greatly increased traffic to stations along the Thai-Malaysian peninsula and affected Indian Ocean archipelagoes; an indicator that many cruising boats had remained in the area and were providing local assistance to victims and relief workers. This same assistance was made available throughout the Pacific when a major communications satellite, INTEL 804 failed. “Last mile” coverage – VHF and UHF Winlink 2000 Winlink 2000 was already a robust global messaging system but to improve its utility as a system that could be used by emergency recovery managers, two important points needed to be considered: a) “The Last Mile” To communications engineers, this is a term that refers to the final link between individual local homes and agencies, and the local exchange or data hub. It consists mainly of a network of copper cables sometimes buried in the ground but often strung between roadside poles. Built up over decades, this infrastructure is the most difficult and expensive to replace. Winlink “hubbing” PMBOs will replace Internet links when such local links fail. b) Compatibility with familiar software. All of us who use computers regularly are familiar with the difficulties that can be experienced in learning to use new software. To have to do this while managing a civil emergency would be intolerable. For effective use by emergency workers, the system must transparently and seamlessly use software and procedures that the operators are already familiar with. As an email messaging system, Winlink 2000 needed to be able to use industry standard de facto email software items such as Microsoft Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape or Eudora, all items with which the vast majority of regular email users would already be familiar. To address these issues, two pieces of key software were introduced; i.e., Telpac and Paclink. Telpac Unlike HF, a characteristic of VHF and UHF signals is that they are effective over short line of sight distances only. While this may seem like a disadvantage, it also means that transmissions can be made between stations in one locality which will not interfere with those in another even if they use the same frequency. VHF and UHF frequencies are ideal for covering local last mile links and for at least two decades have been used by amateurs to provide local messaging services though a system known as Packet radio. Telpac is a software tool that creates a bridge between local Packet radio data networks and a remote Winlink 2000 PMBO. Responding to what services are available, Telpac makes the connection via the internet or wireless data c Paclink is the tool that allows use of familiar client email programs. Working with local Packet networks and placed behind a router but sometimes in front of the firewall (DMZ), it can enable single or multiple computers to access local packet networks for sending and receiving emails. It may do this as any other email server, without any additional software on the computers on the LAN using it. With Paclink and Telpack, Winlink 2000 forms part of a worldwide messaging network. The internet is used to speed data transfer and freeing up the valuable but limited HF radio bandwidth. However, should parts of the internet fail, the system has the agility to switch to radio routes and thus maintain a service of high integrity. WinLink 2000 services as part of a county emergency communications plan Williamson County Tennessee is one of a several US administrations that have adopted Winlink 2000 as part of their emergency communications network. Great confidence has been placed in its integrity and reliability, and it thus forms an integral part of their overall communications plan by providing seamless cover for internet failures. UNQUOTE The above quote gives a good indication of the work by the Winlink Development Team (WDT). That group, with Steve (K4CJX) as its Administrator, develops ideas faster than can be implemented on a volunteer basis. It welcomes ideas from Winlink Users. The latest contribution by the WDT was the redesign of the system’s topography to rapidly overcome any failures in part of the infrastructure (radio or Internet) by re-routing traffic. For this reason Winlink has changed its earlier centralized server to a series of interrelated servers strategically located at a number of international locations. One of these is proposed for Australia.
The future direction for Winlink in Australia is in the hands of Australian radio amateurs. The test will be whether official government organizations and the amateur radio community recognize and accept that they can team up and spring immediately into action when national or international emergencies occur and disaster and emergency relief operations are needed. Winlink has earlier reported on the natural, political and economic risks that are faced by Australia. The two recent cyclones that struck Queensland and the north of Western Australia are recent examples. All would gain, we think, from critically reading and discussing Mike Harris’ Report.
AussieWinlink Note: For the full text, photographs and informative graphics in Mike Harris' Report to the Churchill Trust visit: www.pangolin.co.nz/downloads/churchill_project.pdf
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