ARRL Michigan Section Digital Radio Group (DRG)

WinLink2000 2005 Year End Report

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*From:* K4CJX [mailto:k4cjx@comcast.net]
*Sent:* Saturday, December 24, 2005 2:48 PM
*To:* adnmt
*Subject:* [adnmt:331] 
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 All,
 
 2005 was quite a year for Winlink 2000. The Winlink development group 
is most appreciative to all those involved for their dedication and good 
input. Here is a glimpse of what took place during 2005, and what we 
expect in the future .

*The Network:
*
*-*  As requested by the ARRL and as promised by the Winlink development 
team, there is completely new network topology in place, 
which should virtually /eliminate /network downtime.  Specifically, the 
move from  the concept of a Central Server with a standby backup, using 
an MS ACCESS database, to a  totally mirrored, redundant Common Message 
Server (CMS) system, now using a more powerful and diverse MYSQL 
database, has been implemented. Year 2005 will end with two fully 
operational, mirror image Common Message Servers . The PMBOs now 
continuously alternately seek all CMS systems should one of the servers 
become inoperative or its Internet path interrupted. A third Common 
Message Server is now being prepared in Perth, Australia,  for 
implementation during the first quarter of 2006, and it is anticipated 
that a fourth such system will be located in Europe shortly 
thereafter.   Even with its two current redundant CMSs, the system uses 
only a small fraction of its total capability.

*-*  Implementation of very powerful Common Message Server tools, which 
will allow direct administrative control, and information extraction, 
from all CMSs from a remote computer anywhere there is a working 
Internet.    
 
*-* Message batching as an attachment was added to the tactical address 
schema for messages /without /e-mail addresses. The NTS leadership has 
made recommendations about how to use this facility and is in the 
process of working toward getting the organization in tune with their 
wishes. The need for the distribution of non-email addressed messages 
was brought into the limelight during the Tsunami disaster and with the 
recent domestic hurricane disasters. Manual distribution of such 
messages is a tough nut to crack, especially when there is little local 
coordination or agreement between the Amateur communities and 
their agencies.  Hopefully, many lessons were learned and positive steps 
are being taken to rectify problem areas. Regardless, the facility now 
exists for end-point distribution  of such non-email addressed messages .
 
*-* The PMBO has evolved into a hubbing Mail box server for both long 
distance and "last mile" coverage anytime the Internet fails, but 
especially, during a disaster. When connected to the Internet, these 
Radio Message Server PMBOs, communicate directly to any operational CMS 
whenever a message is pending in either direction. 
 
 *-* There is now a robust suite of client programs, including Paclink 
AGW and Telpac, which will allow community EmComm groups to offer great 
benefit to their served agencies and the community at large. Airmail has 
been enhanced and is in the process of further enhancement. 
 
 *-* A stand-alone WEB server now resides in a caged harden site, which 
has greatly enhanced the Winlink 2000 WEB site, WEB Access, and a secure 
FTP server . 
 
 *-* The first Winlink 2000 program to contain a completely automatic 
download feature has been successfully implemented with Paclink AGW and 
Paclink PostOffice. The plan is to complete this auto-download feature 
to all Winlink 2000 modules during 2006.   This is accomplished with an 
out-only, high range TCP port opening, which is favored by agencies 
hosting the these modules. 

*-* Real-time Status and versatile Google maps have been added to show 
the current status of the entire network and its major components. 
www.winlink.org/status     A password 
protection is available for the EmComm PMBO view.  Current status 
information is available as a text-based  Catalog item downloadable 
by all radio users.   
 
 *-*  In addition to the APRS mapping system, Position Reporting 
directly from the Winlink 2000 system is now available: 
www.winlink.org/positions/PosReports.aspx 


*-* The PMBO replacement,  called the "Radio Message Server" or RMS, is 
being coded in several different varieties, which will make deployment 
much easier for those who have an interest in becoming a part of the 
network.  At  the request of the ARRL and others, we will deploy manual 
"local and remote" control operator initiated HF polling should the 
Internet be lost by the Radio Message Server type containing its own 
database. Completion of the Radio Message Server suite is planned for 2006. 
 
*-* The LINUX platform has entered the Winlink 2000 arena this year. 
There is currently an operational Telpac gateway available and a client 
program being coded on the LINUX platform. These efforts are not part of 
the Winlink Development Team's direct efforts, but the team is ready to 
assist and encourage those who wish to code client modules for the system. 
 
- The investigation and testing of new digital protocols took 
place during 2005, and much was learned about the further development 
of such protocols. One such protocol, "SCAMP," was developed and tested, 
only to be put on hold while its author contributes to the enhancement 
of the Winlink 2000 component system and topology. SCAMP was a beginning 
step toward developing a ready-to-use ARQ protocol which may use 
existing computer soundcards instead of external modems. It won't be 
long before such higher speed ARQ soundcard protocols will be made 
available, crowding the narrow domestic sub-bands into complete chaos.  
With the proposed band plan by the ARRL, room for such development and 
operation of these new protocols will be practical, but with today's 
domestic regulatory restrictions, understandably, there is 
little purpose for this development.

*The Environment:* 
 
 *-* The WL2KEmComm Reflector, which was conceived  by one of our ARES 
users, has grown from approximately 400 to over 1050 members thus far 
this year. This reflector is there to assist those Amateurs who are 
interested in deploying Winlink 2000 for EmComm. The WL2KEmComm 
Reflector continues to expand, offering 
explanation,  presentation, planning, configuration, and implementation 
assistance to its members. To join, visit 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wl2kemcomm/

*-* The ARRL ARESCOM committee and BoD objectives for the network 
topology have been met completely, and with the assistance of those 
experienced in EmComm, additional features are now being coded to make 
Winlink 2000 much less Internet dependent, and more robust where 
emergency situations demand.  Last year, the Winlink Development Team, 
through the former ARRL ARESCOM committee agreed to keep source code 
with the ARRL per the BoD minutes.
 
 *-*  The new APRSLink, www.winlink.org/aprslink.htm 
 has been thoroughly tested and 
implemented with an announcement pending, shortly. This short text-based 
messaging system ties APRS ,worldwide, directly into the Winlink 2000 
e-mail system for short message e-mail deployment  to and from the APRS 
messaging system. 
 
 *-* There are now 22 Emergency only hubbing PMBOs, many residing in 
hardened sites such as County EOCs, all sitting idle until needed 
for periodic testing (exercises) or emergencies. 
 
 *-* Public PMBO deployment is continuing to be optimized to the 
Worldwide user community during the low sunspot cycle period. This 
process will continue, with the deployment of a Public PMBO in the 
Philippines this January. 
 
 *Activity:* 
 
 *-* The aftermaths from the Tsunami disaster, the failure of INTELSAT 
804, the four hurricanes that played havoc with Florida and the 
Caribbean, and the current domestic Katrina/Rita disasters continue to 
illustrate the importance of Amateur radio's ability to deploy digital 
communications during emergencies. The US Coast Guard, the United 
Nations, NOAA, remote missionaries, Health organizations, governments 
with remote Research facilities, and other government and 
civil agencies, worldwide, continue to use Winlink 2000 when other means 
of communications are not available.  We are very proud to be able 
contribute in making Amateur radio a useful tool for emergency 
communications for these and other agencies when the need is there.  It 
will be the responsibility of the WDT to continue to provide 
easier to deploy modules for the EmComm community as we move forward 
into 2006.  In fact, In addition to the self-updating facility for 
Winlink 2000 modules, at his own initiative, one of our PMBO SYSOPs has 
started a successful on-line class to make the deployment of Winlink 
2000 client programs in  the EmComm environment better 
understood.  The ARRL continues  their direct involvement in assisting 
and publicizing their commitment to digital communications in general 
and Winlink 2000 in particular. We look forward to working with the ARRL 
through the ADNMT committee set up by their BoD for this purpose.

Winlink 2000 now consists of over 8,400 Amateur radio users. This is 
almost a 25 percent increase during 2005.  Worldwide, there are now over 
217 /active/ VHF/UHF Telpac gateways in the Winlink 2000 network, 22 
active EmComm PMBOs, 50 active Public PMBOs, and approximately 98,000 
e-mail recipients, who, for the most part, only know of Amateur radio 
because of the Winlink 2000 service. This has certainly helped the 
Amateur community gain recognition, especially during emergencies, and 
has brought many into the Amateur service. 
 
 *The Future:* * * 

As SSB was viewed in the days when the AM mode reigned supreme, any 
digital communications greater than interactive typing speeds has been 
viewed by some as an  intrusion.  Much misinformation has been spread 
around on the public reflectors, causing much misunderstanding and 
confusion. However, with the current ARRL proposed band plan now before 
the FCC, perhaps there will be a chance for further entry of a younger 
and more progressive mindset to enter the Amateur service.  As it is now 
with other communications services, and most likely in the future of 
Amateur radio, there will be "wired" and "wireless . "What is really 
/excellent /is that the  proposed ARRL band plan allows for those who 
wish to /preserve/ their current operating modes, but it also allows for 
new and enabling technologies to be explored, developed and implemented 
on the Amateur bands.   
 
 In its Order from RM-10740, 11/2004, the FCC plainly states, "As an 
initial matter, we note that one of the purposes of the amateur service 
is to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.[1] We believe that 
amateur radio operators using amateur service spectrum to develop new 
communications systems are using the service in a manner that is 
consistent with the basis and purpose of the amateur service. We also 
believe that our Rules should not be an impediment to amateur radio 
operator's development of new or improved communication systems. In this 
regard, we note that the reason amateur radio operators currently may 
not transmit communications that combine image emission types and data 
emission types on HF frequency segments where data emissions are 
authorized is not a technical reason, but rather is because our Rules do 
not authorize stations to transmit both image and data emission types on 
any HF frequency segments.[*2] We also note that amateur radio operators 
apparently have developed communication systems and technologies that 
transmit both image and data emission types, and that they are using 
these systems for communicating*. *For this reason, we are persuaded 
that our Rules are not in harmony with current emission and operating 
practices, and that our Rules may be impeding amateur radio operators in 
advancing the radio art." * 
 
 In this same Order, they continue by making the following remarks 
regarding formal regulation, "Voluntary band planning allows amateur 
stations that desire to pursue different operating activities to pursue 
these activities by dividing or segmenting the amateur service spectrum. 
Voluntary band planning also allows the amateur service community the 
flexibility to 'reallocate' the amateur service spectrum among operating 
interests as new operating interests and technologies emerge or 
operating interests and technologies fall into disfavor."   
 
 This clearly places some additional responsibility on the Amateur 
community, but really, /it is already there./ For Winlink 2000 on HF, a 
great majority of its domestic operations are crammed into the very 
narrow auto forward sub-bands  even when it is not always illegal to 
move them out,  It shares these narrow segments  as a "local and remote 
control" operation with  various  fully "automatic" non 
Winlink operations. The small portion outside these sub-bands that 
operate a more narrow Pactor mode, operate between the /voluntary/ RTTY, 
PSK, and CW portions of the HF bands. Domestically, the current part 97 
rules allow such "local and remote control" "data" operations all the 
way to the bottom of the bands, but each service has worked out its own 
spots, /voluntarily./ How do we know?    Winlink 2000 has never received 
a citation from the FCC or any other government agency regarding 
anything it has done.  It has, in fact, been encouraged  to continue to 
expand.    Even Australia has moved into the current century, now 
allowing Internet connectivity, and had written to the WDT prior to the 
rule change, encouraging its operations in their country.  
 
 With the move toward automatic signal detection techniques, such data 
transfer systems will most likely will never have issues. Frankly, even 
now and in the US, the current /voluntary/ arrangements are actually 
working, and even to the extent that RTTY, CW stations are 
literally  "forgiven by mutual agreement" during contests for their 
intrusions into other /voluntary /areas. However, with the propose band 
plan initiated by the ARRL, much more progress may be made, and with 
much less conflict. Fact is, faster data communications are going to 
happen, and such local and remote control or "semi-automatic" operations 
consists of /any/ operation that is greater than typing speeds. This 
does not mean that new developments will take place at the expense of 
those who wish to deploy past and current technology, but what it does 
mean is that with separation by bandwidth, it will not be necessary for 
a modern communications system that utilizes state-of-the-art error 
control coding such as pulse shaped OFDM, which to date yields the best 
spectral efficiency on HF today, to compete  in the same spectrum with a 
relatively primitive, uncoded, single-carrier DBPSK system without ARQ.  
Each will have its own place and space, and each may shrink or expand, 
dependent on its popularity at the time. 
 
 How does Winlink 2000 fit into this schema, domestically? As long as 
there is a commitment to allow new technologies to expand, Winlink 2000 
will continue its quest for higher efficiency operations. This, really 
is /not /a Winlink issue, but one that has an effect on all digital 
communications, be they voice, image or data, and the future of how our 
Amateur service will be perceived. No one knows what the future will 
hold, but as the FCC clearly states, with current and future blocked 
opportunities due to their current hardcode regulatory environment, such 
progress is currently  " impeded the radio art," and if left in 
place, will make future developments impractical.  
 
Thanks to all those who have contributed in making Winlink 2000 a 
premier communications methodology for Amateur radio. 
 
 
 
    Steve, k4cjx

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    Steve Waterman, k4cjx@comcast.net
    Home: 615-665-0952, Cell: 615-300-5296
    http://www.winlink.org
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