Content provided by: Chris, K6OZY
This demo is to show how to send email via WL2K.
Download and install RMS Express here: http://www.winlink.org/RMSExpress
Download and install the newest version of VOACAP itshfbc here: http://www.greg-hand.com/versions/ The current version as of this document is rms_express_install_1-2-30-0.zip .
Make sure in SmartCAT you have both a CAT port and a dedicated PTT port. In my example, COM4 is my CAT port and COM5 is my dedicated PTT port. Create Slice A DiGiU/3K and enable DAX 1 with TX. Enable the DAX button on the P/CW Panel.
Open RMS Express and click on Files -> RMS Express Setup
Enter your call sign and 6 figure Grid Locator. If you donate to Winmor, enter your key here ( I cleared mine for this demo). Their work is worth donating to!
Click Message -> New Message. In the To: field, if you put an email formatted address with an @ sign, the gateway will try to deliver it out of the WinLink system onto the internet. If you simply place a call sign, such as K6OZY, it will keep it in the system and try to deliver it to that ham when they check for email on any node.
When you send your first email, the WinLink system will create your account. If you do not use it within a certain time period again, the system will delete your account.
Fill out the various portions of the email just as you normally would, but be brief. Remember, this is going over HF and bytes are slower.
Click on Post to Outbox. Now you have an email queued for delivery.
Make sure "Winmor WL2K" is selected in the Open Session drop down box and click "Open Session:"
This opens the Winmor Winlink 2000 session manager and TNC. We now need to setup the specifics for the radio.
Click on Setup -> WINMOR TNC Setup. Select the DAX Audio TX/RX 1 sound cards. Change your Inbound Session Bandwidth to 1600hz. Increase your drive level to 100. This will not overdrive with your DAX set to default RX Gain of 50 and Default TX Gain of 44. Click Update.
Click on Setup -> Radio Setup. Pick Flex radios from the radio model. Pick "USB Digital" mode. Set your Radio Control Port to COM4 and PTT Port to COM5. It is required to use a dedicated PTT port to get the quick response required for PACTOR.
Click Update. This will restart the TNC.
Click on the Channel Selection button. It will open a new window.
Click on "Update Table via Internet" to download an initial list of gateways. After the propagation paths are calculated, sort by Path Reliability.
RMS Express will show you all channels. Double Click the gateway for the best band for your station's capabilities. It should now switch to that band and check for busy status. Make sure your station is ready for transmit (i.e. tuned, power, etc), and click Start. It is very cool to watch this system work. It is very robust and reliable. Please watch my video for a full demo of sending an outbound email.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96HzIabCJvw