Nov Meeting November-2-2012
The Bears meeting was held November 2, 2012 at the Montpelier Fire Station. Keven opened the meeting and told us the preferred frequency list was ready and published on the Bears web site. Nominations were open for Presidency positions. It was decided the current Presidency would be placed on the ballot for the December election which would be held at the Christmas party on December 7, 2012 at the Senior Citizen Building. They would be willing to serve one more year if no one else really wanted to take over at the end of 2012.
Ted MacArthur, AC7II, Cordell Smart, KE7IK, and Tyler Grittiths, NFUWX from the BARC club out of Logan came and gave a presentation on Winlink 2000, part of radio email. Winlink is used by government, non Government, DHS Tiered services. It is also used widely in maritime communications. It is mainly Windows based. It uses Pactor 1, 2 or 3. Maritime likes Pactor 3, 22-24 hertz. A new software, Windmore operates between 500 and 1600 hertz.
A special e mail address is needed for Winlink. Also needed are a radio, antenna, software and computer. It is not fast. It is best to send text only. Winlink uses the internet to send emails via the radio. The Signal is sent to RMS (gateway) where it is sent to the internet. Over short range, up to 30 miles, packet radio can be used.
Your e mail can go to anyone with a valid e mail address and they can email you back. They do not need to be Ham operators. Winlink goes to any valid e mail and can send radio to radio via internet. It is the email system that “bridges the last mile.” There are over 500 amateur RMS packet gateway stations.
There are three pieces of software.
Air Mail---free
Paclink----free
RMS Express----costs
Air Mail is still widely used. It is not as forgiving as the other two and is used in maritime communications. It sends text files extremely slowly.
Packlink-next generation does HR Pactor, VHF, UHF, TNC types. It is supported including AGW packet engine. It is very stable and a bit cleaner than air mail. It can use Outlook express.
RMS is much easier to use than the others. Check it out at www.winlink.org
Ted, Cordell and Tyler did a demonstration using RMS and Windmore and answered questions.
The BARC club has a pallet of fiberglass tent poles. They will sale six for $21.00. They are very nice for grab and go kits.
Those in attendance were: Gaylen, Gary, Delar, Keven, Jocelyn, Mark, Jordan, Eldon, Jan and BARC gust presenters, Ted, Cordell and Tyler.
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