Profile of a Winlink PMBO  

How I Got Started Using Winlink

Next to yachtsmen, ham radio operators are one group of the most publicly-spirited individuals that can be found. There are thousands that use Winlink but equally importantly, there is a group of more than 30 dedicated hams who establish, equip and operate Winlink Participating Mail Box Offices (PMBOs).  They devote their time, equipment and money to serve those who stand to benefit from the communication services that are provided by Winlink. The whole effort is driven by a small group of exceptionally gifted and dedicated individuals that make up the Winlink Development Team. In alphabetical order these are: Hans Kessler (N8PGR); Rick Muething (KN6KB); Vic Poor (W5SMM); and Steve Waterman (K4CJX). The latter, works virtually fulltime, as the Winlink System Administrator.

Winlink would not work without the support of Jim Corenman (KE6RK) who developed and supports AirMail, including the GetFax and ViewFax software. The realization of, and gratitude for, the contribution made by all those involved inspired the founder of www.aussiewinlink.org to provide a hand in getting Winlink established in Australia. Each supporter has his or her own motivation but they have one thing in common, that is, to serve the wider amateur radio community. AussieWinlink's motivation is to get Australia on the Winlink map.

Karl (VE6KBS), who operates a Winlink PMBO in Calgary, Alberta, Canada describes how he became interested in Winlink. In his words:

“ I was part of a group of six who went to Kenya and Tanzania on September 7, 2001 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya and to safari while in transit between mountains – we returned September 30, 2001.  It was only because of the very generous and able assistance of Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU, and Ralph Karhammar, 5H3RK, that I was able to get my amateur radio licenses on very short notice for both Kenya and Tanzania.   Our group was on the move virtually every day, so we needed a relatively light station which was easy to set up and tear down quickly and which did not consume a lot of power.  I took the following equipment:  Yaesu FT-817 radio (5 watt maximum output QRP rig), SCS PTC-IIpro TNC, two 10 watt solar panels, IBM Thinkpad computer Model A20m Type 2628 including two lithium ion batteries, two gel cell batteries totaling 10 AmpHrs of capacity, LDG QRP Automatic Antenna Tuner (original non-latching relay version), 20 metre dipole antenna and a MP-1 manual screwdriver vertical antenna by Super Antennas.  All the station components were protected while on the move in two Pelican cases (one Model 1500 and one Model 1520).
 
Shortly after we arrived in Africa, the tragedy of 9/11 happened which dramatically increased the value of the Winlink 2000 system to us as it was our only source of daily communication with our families back in North America for the majority of our time in Africa.  As a group we sent and received in total about 180 emails via Winlink 2000 – about 90% via Joost Schuitemaker, ZS5S, near Durbin, South Africa (about 2,000 miles away) and the balance via Rudolph Kruggel, HS0AC, in Bangkok, Thailand (about 4,000 miles away).  A big “Hats Off” to these two Winlink 2000 PMBO operators for the absolutely exceptional service which they provided our group in this period of high anxiety. 
 
I now have the privilege of serving a very special group of amateur radio operators as a Winlink 2000 PMBO operator.  I’d like to say a big thanks to the Winlink 2000 Development Team for their support, patience and trouble shooting with me as I’m still coming up the learning curve.  Lastly, and lest we forget, none of us would be using the Winlink 2000 system without the superb client access software called “Airmail” which Jim Corenman, KE6RK, has crafted and continues to enhance.”

Shown below are some photographs of the mobile Winlink station that Karl and his group operated when in Africa.

 Mt. Kilimanjaro: My first Experience with Winlink 2000!

Mobile Winlink 2000 Station – Mt. Kilimanjaro in the Background – Used MP-1
Screwdriver Vertical Antenna on Top of Tent to Connect with Winlink PMBO,
ZS5S, in South Africa.  - September 2001.

Mobile Winlink 2000 Station on Mt. Kilimanjaro – A Dipole Antenna was mounted on Top of a Rock
September 2001

For more information about this and other Winlink PMBOs visit www.winlink.org and follow the links > Winlink Stations > VE6KBS. Australian radio amateurs who would like to join this humanitarian service by establishing a Winlink PMBO in Australia should contact Steve (K4CJX) directly or they can make preliminary enquiries first via www.aussiewinlink.org.

AUSSIEWINLINK

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