Helpful Hints

MIDTN Message delivery using Winlink

 

I will assume that we all have downloaded Winlink and are able to run it on computer that we have FLMsg loaded. If not Winlink is a very handy and powerful radio based message email system and we should all consider having it in our toolbox. 

Back a few years ago we had no problem finding phone numbers for people we were passing traffic to. Now its almost imposable to find a phone number and finding an email address is an easier alternative.

If the message is going to a ham radio operator you can go to QRZ and in most cases the email of the person can be found. Sending a Winlink message does not have to be going to just a ham radio operator, it can be used to send a message to any email address.

In the worst case the traffic can be sent to a NTS net in the persons area and just maybe someone in that area will know that person or will live close to the persons address and it can be delivered that way.

Using Winlink we can send the Radiogram as received to the email address listed on the Radiogram using the Radiogram template in the Winlink program. All you need to do is run Winlink, load the template and copy and past the FLMsg data to the Winlink template.

I will run you thru the steps in sending a Radiogram via Winlink.

1.      Open the FLMsg that you want to send via Winlink along with the Winlink program.

2.      At the top of the application you will see MESSAGE, click on it and then on New Message, a ENTER NEW MESSAGE window will open.

3.      Select TEMPLATE and then select RADIOGRAM then RADIOGRAM.TXT. Radiogram Text Creator will open.

4.      Copy and paste all FLmsg data into the creator. In the Op Note about this Radiogram: type that this message was received on the Michigan Digital Traffic Net. After you enter the message text hit enter and the check will fill in automatically.

5.      In the Signature (name) of person for whom message originated: this is the name of the message originator.

6.      In the > NOW CLICK HERE and select a Liaison Station: place the email address of the person that the message is going too in standard email format, (xxx@xxx.xxx).

7.      When all necessary boxes are filled hit Submit. The form will go blank and can now be closed.

8.      You should have returned to the Enter New Message window and the data from the Radiogram Creator should be displayed with the message in text format. On the top of that window you will see Post to Outbox, hit that and you will returned to the Winlink window.

9.      What you want to do now is select the method of delivery, Telnet Winlink will deliver via the internet. If you have Winlink setup to do Packet Winlink it will be delivered via packet. Probably in most cases Telnet Winlink would be your selection. At this time select Open session, Telnet Winlink Session window will open and hit START and you message will be sent.

 

Traffic Handling:


If there is a piece of traffic that you can or want to handle that is listed on the net let the net control operator know that you will take that piece of traffic. You will be asked to call the sending station at which time you would sent the sending stations call and indicate your are QRV or ready to receive the traffic, “K8USA de W8DW QRV”. The sending station then will send the traffic. After you receive the message correctly you will then QSL the message number and turn the frequency back to the net control. You may not be done at that time. If there is a letter in the HX section, the handling instructions section of the radiogram, check and see what needs to be done by your station or how you the traffic needs to be handled. If you are the delivering station and the radiogram indicates HXC that means that you should send a radiogram to the originating station with the date and time of delivery. If you place the traffic on another net the delivering station should take care of the HXC. Another suggestion on handling traffic. If the station is in your area and there is a phone number you can pass the traffic that way. You can also put the traffic onto another traffic net and pass it that way. If there is just an email address you may just want to email it yourself. A lot of our traffic is just practice messages so USPS is not necessary. I had a piece of traffic a couple years ago with no phone but the recipient was only a couple miles away so I delivered in person. No matter how we handle traffic its always good to keep in practice so send a radiogram. You never know if the practice will come in handy so keep practicing. Another thought send a radiogram to a participant in the net, keep 2 people on the net in practice.

Flamp message process:


1. Members will have Flamp running with the RECEIVE TAB screen visible on the right of screen.
2. Sender will switch to MFSK32 - you should too, just in case.
3. Sender will send a long TUNE to help you get set.
4. When the file is sent, you can watch it land in Flamp.
5. After the transmit ends, NCS will send; " REPORT" or PASS To EACH member, ONE AT A TIME. Each member will click on the REPORT button on the receive tab screen of Flamp. (Alternative response = "PASS" )
6. The reports will be parsed by the Sender's Flamp and missing blocks will be readied for re-transmission. (Fetch process)
7. The Sender will transmit the missing blocks.
8. Members with missing blocks the first time around will be polled by NCS to repeat the REPORT process to be sure everyone shows "CONFIRMED".
9. And so on until all are successful.
10. If anyone still hasn't received the file, someone else, located closer to the member needing blocks, will be asked to relay the missing blocks.

Net Frequency:


 There was a discussion about the frequency that the net is held on. Let me try and clarify that. The exact frequency is 3.584, that being said lets explain how we get there. In FLDigi if you have it setup to show your rig frequency there is a box next to the large frequency display that reads Freq. that box should read 3.584. In the picture below it shows the rig frequency at 3583.000. OK how do we get to the 3534.000, well I use a offset of 1000 Hz that's how I get to 3.584. The standard is 1500 Hz offset so the rig frequency would be 3582.5 to get to the 3.584 net frequency. I use the nonstandard for a couple reasons, first I have hearing loss at the higher frequencies so its easier for me too hear the lower 1000 Hz the second is on my K3 I have discovered the filtering works better at the lower frequency. Bottom line is it doesn't matter how you get to the net frequency as long as you get there. I hope this clears up the confusion.

Reed-Solomon (Rx). TxID and RxID:


 A Question was asked about Reed-Solomon (Rx). TxID and RxID should be turned on for this net because we do change modes during the net. During the preamble we normally send the first part of the preamble in MFSK32 to get us through that fairly fast and the second part in the Olivia 8/500 mode. We also pass traffic in the faster MFSK32 mode if band conditions permit. It is also suggested that you set the pre-signal tone at 1.0 seconds or better, This can help eliminate doubling. That setting can be found in the configure section under ID RxID. Make sure you are not using the AFC function. We ask that you use the Olivia 8/500 mode during comments. Olivia is more robust for pourer band conditions and the faster modes may not be copy able by all members of the net.