Why it is important to have
Winlink in Australia
A: Winlink Explained
Winlink is a high
frequency (HF) digital communications radio service operated by licensed
radio amateurs via about 30 Participating Mail Box Offices (PMBO). The
system operates almost globally and is being expanded to now include the
Australian continent and surrounding world oceans.
Winlink's primary purpose
is to provide communication facilities for those in extremely remote
locations where other services are just not available. This includes
recreational cruisers traveling the world's oceans, outback travelers and
explorers, and others located at inland missions, like development aid
workers and those on humanitarian missions around the world.
Winlink allows:
(a)
sending
and receipt of email messages by anyone in the world to and
from Amateur Radio Operators with Winlink email addresses, including those
at sea, thus allowing travelers to stay in regular contact with family and
friends;
(b)
filing of Position Reports
(latitude, longitude and place names) by travelers from wherever they are in
the world at sea or on land, and for their family and
friends to obtain this location from Winlink by email or view the traveler's
location on maps or charts on the Internet;
(c)
downloading
weather reports, in text and graphic format, showing weather
conditions ahead at sea or on land - a great safety feature; and
(d) sending
and receiving emergency reports under conditions where voice
and even Morse code communications would fail. This important safety feature
allows the traveler to report problems while underway and, equally important,
it allows family and friends to inform the traveler about emergencies at home.
B:
Importance of Australia
Australia holds an important
geographic position in the southern hemisphere. It is a huge continent
surrounded by some of the world's major oceans and stormiest seas. It has on its
near shores major geographic areas that at times can be in turmoil. Travelers in
these volatile land and sea areas can be extremely well served by Winlink PMBOs
based in Australia.
It is hoped that at least four (4)
Winlink PMBOs be established in Australia; specifically:
-
the North
Coast to serve the Arafura, Banda, Celebes, Ceram, Java and Timor Seas,
the Melanesian waters and an additional very large area of the South
Pacific;
-
the West
Coast to serve a large part of the Indian Ocean, possibly as far as Sri
Lanka and Madagascar;
-
the East
Coast to provide additional coverage of the Coral and Tasman Seas, the
Polynesian waters and other heavily cruised areas in the South Pacific;
-
the South
Coast to serve Bass Strait, the Great Australia Bight and the Southern
Oceans and Seas.
Station
Location: The radio stations could be in the coastal areas but would
function equally well if located inland in the Australian States and
Territories, that is, in the Australian Capital Territory; New South Wales;
Northern Territory; Queensland; South Australia; Victoria; Tasmania and West
Australia. The Christmas and Norfolk Islands, administered by Australia, would
also appear to be ideal locations for a Winlink PMBO.
National
Emergencies: In another role, Winlink
PMBOs in Australia can serve the Australian and the international community, in
general, during times of major emergencies by handling emergency traffic like
text and graphic messages, including, photos, sketches and maps. The need for
digital communication of text and graphics was amply demonstrated during the 11
September, 2001 emergencies in New York and Washington DC. Subsequent
evaluations of emergency operations concluded that the breakdown of both
public and official communication facilities, was one of the most serious
failures hampering rescue operations.
C:
Current Winlink Coverage
At present the Southern Hemisphere
is served by only a few but well functioning stations, that is, one (1) in South
Africa (Joost - Callsign ZS5S) and two (2) in New Zealand (Arnold - ZL1MA and
Basil - ZL2UT). A PMBO in Thailand (Rudolph - HS0AC), located 14 degrees north
of the equator but covers the South China Sea and Bay of Bengal but significantly
assists by filling the current gap in the Mid-Pacific.
The North Pacific Ocean is served
also by two Winlink PMBOs operating out of Hawaii (Bill - AB7AA and Richard -
AH6QK) and by many stations operating out of mainland USA (California, Florida,
Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas and Washington
State.)
All in all, the Northern Hemisphere
is exceptionally well covered with Winlink Stations. Not only by those located
in North America (the US and Canada) but also by those in Europe (Austria,
Croatia, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden) providing coverage of the Atlantic.
Two Winlink PMBOs (Bernie - WG3G and Frank - ZF1GC) located in
the Caribbean, serve this extremely busy cruising area. All Winlink stations
around the world are interfaced through the Internet. Therefore, messages are
passed on seamlessly from one to another ensuring instantaneous communication
around the world. To complement the network, new Winlink stations in Australia
would contribute significantly to improve cover in the Southern Hemisphere.
D:
Old Barriers Removed
Following the Inquiry into Radio
Communications by Australia's Productivity Commission, the Australian
Communications Authority (ACA) has started to work on a Amateur Information
Paper ,referred to as Amateur Radio Interconnection System (AILS). The ACA has
now determined and has approved (for example, the Internet Radio Link Project)
that Australian amateurs may link their stations to the Internet and also that
Winlink is NOT required to pay network or any other fees.
From a hesitant start more than a
decade ago, the US is now particularly well advanced in supporting Winlink.
There are many Winlink PMBOs operating in the States and the system is linked
closely with several official Search and Rescue organizations, including the
United States Coast Guard and the National Weather Service, as well as, with
Marine Radio Nets around the World. The advanced status of Winlink in the US is
due to the enlightened attitude of its regulatory agency, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), and the organization representing the interest
of the US amateur radio service - the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Because of this supportive environment, Winlink made great strides in the US
that resulted in many innovative developments. The Winlink Development Team (WDT)
is the driving force and has significantly contributed to the advancement of
amateur radio in the USA.
The FCC and ARRL are currently in
the process of further supporting the Amateur Radio Service by addressing ways
for promoting digital communications by radio amateurs in the future. In
response to a request by the FCC, the ARRL is to put together a band plan that
will further support the current and future enabling digital technology. ARRL
voted unanimously that it's President be authorized to appoint an ad hoc working
group to study the new HF data modes in the Amateur Radio Service. The Terms of
Reference are: "to develop recommendations for introduction of
voice-bandwidth data modes and to advise the board on amateur-Internet linking
and HF automatic control with a final report to the Board by January 2003."
Members of the Winlink Development Team have been asked to join the Working
Group.
There are tentative signs that
Australia's Communication Authority and, hopefully, the Wireless Institute of
Australia, are taking similar initiatives to clarify the support for amateur
digital communication in Australia.
E.
Becoming an Australian Winlink PMBO
Amateurs:
By joining the Winlink PMBO worldwide network of dedicated radio
amateurs, you will be working at the cutting edge of amateur radio. Winlink uses
the Pactor protocol that is the world's first and foremost digital
communications system. You will be working also at the forefront of the
convergence between amateur radio and the Internet. As a Winlink Station you
would be interfaced 7/24 (seven days a week - 24 hours per day), via the
Internet, with each of the more than 30 Winlink stations operating already in
the US, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Professionalism:
While this is an amateur service, Winlink is operated in a highly
professional manner. Steve (K4CJX) is the primary contact for the Winlink
Development Team (WDT). The Central Mailbox Office (CMBO) is operated and
maintained by Hans (N8PGR). Professional operation means that potential
Australian Winlink PMBO Operators must have the appropriate Amateur Radio
License allowing them to operate on the HF digital frequencies. Stations must
meet their national equipment quality control and emission standards. Antenna
systems should be adequate and tuned for HF traffic. To provide reliable
round-the-clock services, stations must be on the air 24 hours per day (apart
from routine maintenance shutdowns). Stations must have an 7/24 connection to
the Internet for continuous sending and receipt of traffic sent via the
Internet. Stations will operate in automatic mode. Special precautions will be
employed for Australian Winlink PMBOs to ensure that operation is within the
current interpretation of their amateur radio licenses.
Non-Profit:
In the spirit of amateur radio, the system is operated on a voluntary
basis. Stations may not make a monetary gain from their contribution, and Users
have access to the system for free. Similarly, the Airmail software, developed
by Jim (KE6RK) is available for free by downloading it from the Internet. There
are no costs whatsoever to governments or national taxpayers anywhere for this
global public service. Cruisers who wish to pass traffic of a commercial nature
should consider alternatives such as Globe Wireless or SailMail.
F:
How to Join as
Australian PMBOs
Australian Amateur Radio Operators
who would like to know more about joining the Winlink 2000 international
network, should contact Steve (K4CJX) via www.winlink.org
and look up www.airmail2000.com for
downloading, for free, a copy of the Airmail software. To keep www.aussiewinlink.org
in the loop, please send a copy of your inquiries to support@aussiewinlink.org.
For a start, several slots for stations will be available in Australia. Other
stations may be added as traffic demands.
"Becoming a Winlink 2000 PMBO Operator will be
the greatest thing that you ever did in Amateur Radio. It places you in the
forefront of technological developments and earn you the gratitude of thousands
of Users."
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