WinLink - Get on the Air

[last updated: 2024-10-12]
WinLink home
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This page still in edit ...
• At this point, you have installed client software, and created a WinLink account via a telnet connection.
  Now you must get your radio and other hardware and software connected and configured.
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        On This Page:

  • Hardware:
  • Software:
    • Ardop
    • Hamlib
    • Direwolf
    • edit pat config
  • Start everything:
  
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• Hardware:
  • First, of course, you need a ham radio transceiver for the bands you want to use (VHF or HF)
  • Then you need a PC of some kind, from Raspberry pi to laptop (1 GB ram recommended).
  • Then a soundcard modem so that your radio, which speaks analog, can talk to your PC, which speaks digital.
    Some radios and PC's have soundcards built-in, so the variety of possible configurations gets large.
    But for an external soundcard:
    • SignaLink USB sound interface:
    • Find SignaLink device codes:
      $ arecord -l

      Prints out device info. Key details are:
      card 2:, and device 0:
      Record/save these. You'll need them for pat configure.

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• Software:
  • Pat winlink client: - already installed for telnet connection
  • Ardop - Download & Install modem software:
    Install Ardop:

  • Hamlib:
    • Install:
      • These steps extracted from KM4ACK video (link at bottom of page)
      • find latest hamlib.tar.gz file on SourceForge
        Download into your downloads folder
        Move it to some archive location (JWID)
      • cd into that directory
        $ tar -xzf [filename.tar.gz]

        new folder (with same filename minus extensions) will be created for the untar'd files

      • cd into that directory
        Execute these commands:
        $ ./configure
        $ make
        $ sudo make install
        $ sudo ldconfig
      • hamlib should be installed
        Note: hamlib rigctrl uses default port 4532

    • Find your radio's code in hamlib:
      These instructions are also from KM4ACK...
      $ rigctl -l

      This will list radio models hamlib can use.
      Scroll down to find your model,
      note the rig ID in left column.
      For my Icom-7000, it is 3060

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  • Direwolf:
    DireWolf
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  • Edit pat configure with rig details:
    • [see video for details...]

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• Start everything:
  • Start computer.
    Set mode to USB.
  • Turn on radio, turn on SignaLink.
  • Start software:
    • Start pat:
      $ pat http
    • Start ardop:
      $ cd ...wl2k
      $ ./ardopcf_arm_Linux_64 8515 plughw:2,0 plughw:2,0
    • Start rigctl daemon:
      $ rigctld -m 3060 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 9600
    • Restart pat:
      $ sudo systemctl restart pat@jay
  • Verify working:
    go to winlink mailbox:
    Open browser, enter url: localhost:8080
    You should see message at bottom that connection is made...
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  • Send a message:
    compose, connect, select ardop, recipient, freq
    per Kim: W6TQF gateway on Underwood Mt. 145.055
    per RAGS post: KD7ZDO, Clackamas Co. ARES Vara-HF station on 20m

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• Other references/addendums:
  • Winlink via radio always uses Upper SideBand
  • from web:
    The SignaLink USB can use a baud rate of 9600 if it's connected to a radio's 6-pin mini-DIN Data Port.
    To use this baud rate, the radio's "9600 Mode" or "Packet Rate" menu setting needs to be set to "1200" or "OFF".
  • SoundModem
  • EchoLink (Windows only?): (link 7)
    • svxlink.org for linux compatible echolink and other stuff (link 8)
    • RobsBlog for svx installation on Linux (link 10)
  • see also: IRLP: IRLP (link 9)
  • background info on linking ham radio to internet (link 11)
  • Byonics alternative to SignaLink: (link 5)
  • software modems:
    Vara
    Soundmodem (confused... is this only a driver for a hardware modem?)
    Direwolf
  • Local RMS hub here in TD has 80M, 40M, 30M and 2M
    • Since I don't yet have an HF antenna, I'll get it set up on 2M
    • WC7EC-10
      145.030
      Packet / Packet 1200
    • (best guess is that) The Packet connection will require my AX25 protocol
  • See Winlink LINKS #16
  • What is kissattach ???

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• Links: Connect to radio:
  • KM4ACK YouTube videos:
    rig control on rPi part-1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJJLfVz23k
    part-2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgqsTbxzR4E
    part-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMHeuNjhK0
  • https://digirig.net/
  • another soundcard modem to consider: 24 bit Behringer UMC202HD
  • https://hamlib.github.io/
  • https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib/wiki
  • https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib/wiki/Supported-Radios
  • Mobilinkd vs DigiRig vs SignaLink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPebOdyac5k
  • use baofeng as APRS and winlink radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfJHLJoyW9I
  • https://tigertronics.com/files/SignaLink%20USB%20&%20Linux%20Article%20b...
  • https://groups.io/g/linuxham/topic/setup_problems_using/74048946
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/HamRadio/comments/wx1yht/signalink_ftdi_not_wor...
  • https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuHams
  • file:///home/jay/Downloads/SignaLink-support.pdf
  • pat from command line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKMlHCNd-D8
  • https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib
  • https://hamlib.github.io/
  • Excellent. KM4ACK opn using cheap soundcard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_nIp5v7UeI
  • Debian rig control packages: https://blends.debian.org/hamradio/tasks/rigcontrol

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