Send E-mail over Amateur Radio using Winlink

Ever needed to send an e-mail, and you have no Internet or cell coverage? This could be crucial if you are injured on a hike, or involved in a natural disaster and need assistance. Winlink is an amazing system that is supported by volunteers (non-profit organization) that allows licensed amateur radio operators to send and receive email messages over amateur radio without Internet or Cell phone service or even power if you have enough battery power.

This is not limited to using a handheld device running VHF/UHF, but also mobile, portable, and base stations running HF.  The latter is crucial if you want to be able to send messages in situations when there is no power and no internet.

What this means is you can send a distress message not only by voice, but you can send an e-mail to hundreds or thousands of miles away using an HF radio, antenna, battery, and a laptop with some cables and connectors.  In a natural disaster situation, this can be the way you can send your coordinates and additional pertinent information for rescue.

What do you need to get started?  This will require a dedicated article, so instead of that, here is a summary.  If there is enough interest (Like this post so I know), I will write a full article on how to set this up.

1. Licensed Amateur Radio Operator – At least a Technician license
2. An amateur radio – Can be VHF/UHF, but having a device that can do HF will extend your reach
   • VHF/UHF
     • Kenwood TH-D75 or D74 (built-in TNC)
     • Icom ID-52, ID-51
     • Yaesu FT5D, FT3D, VX-6, VX-8, etc
     • Others
   • HF
     • Icom IC-705
     • Yaesu FT-817/818
     • Xiegu G90 or others that can support HF
     • Others
3. A terminal device running Winlink e-mail software
   • Windows PC – Winlink Express (Free – but please donate $25)
   • Mac (this is a bit technical and tricky, but not too difficult)
   • Android – WoAD (Free)
   • iPhone – RadioMail ($14.99 for the app)
4. Method to connect the radio to the terminal device
   • Digirig – This one is my preferenceSignalink USB
   • Built-In TNC on the radio (Kenwood TH-D74 or TH-D75 as examples)
5. Supporting Cables, if required

A simple test I did was to install RadioMail on an iPhone, connect the Kenwood TH-D75 via Bluetooth (this is not as simple as it sounds), selected a nearby station, press Connect, and it connects to send/receive messages.

I have also tested it with a Windows PC running Winlink Express, connected via a Digilink to a Yaesu FT-817nd on HF, using Vara HF to connect to a distant station over a significant distance over 300 miles to another state, and connected to send/receive messages.

I will most likely start with a tutorial on Android and one on iPhone using the Kenwood TH-D75.  I can expand on the list or maybe end up with a document that will live in Patreon.

I hope this helps.