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WinLink - Get on the Air

[last updated: 2025-09-09]
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: ??? Can Direwolf, which is a "software sound card", replace the need for a hardware (eg. Signalink) sound card???
        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:

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    • Links: Connect to radio:

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