Winmor Long Distance Radio Email On Winlink 2000 Without Pactor

[Frank]

Its a bit fussy getting into but it is still 'free' etc.... password comes with registration & no demands for dosh... ... maybe pskmail should have its own thread?

[idpnd]

Hopefully the PSK gurus will implement the WINMOR protocol

[Hamsailor]

Originally Posted by scotte

I downloaded this only to find the file protected with a password!?!? I thought WINMOR is supposed to be an open and free alternative to PACTOR?

PSKMAIL - http://pskmail.wikispaces.com/ - is truly open source and free... And cross platform to boot. No passwords, nothing shrouded in secrecy...

Am I misunderstanding something about WINMOR?

Scotte,

I was a Beta tester of WINMOR, and got my copy of RMS Express for free as a result.

I also recently downloaded the software again, and was not asked for a password.

Now, this could be because I already had a free registration key to the product.

As I understand it, the software will still work even without the key, up to a certain date, about one year from now.

It truly works well. Thruput speeds in the field of about 8Kbytes/min on 1600 Hz bandwidth have been seen over a 1000 km path.

For the price (about $39 eventually), it compares very well to the alternative.

Your choice,

Hamsailor.

(Not making a dime out of this.)

[haiqu]

This is actually pretty exciting news. As an early adopter of Gerald Youngblood's SDR1000 (I wrote my own front-end in Delphi) and a wannabe yachtie I've been looking for a replacement for the PACTOR system, which always seemed to me to be a bit proprietary, expensive and antiquated for what it did. Granted, it's idiot-proof but then again not all potential users are idiots.

WINMOR could just fit the bill once the code becomes available and I can rewrite it to integrate with my code. Sending an email would then just become a simple matter of clicking on another transmission mode button. If I can send basic email and get weather that's all I really need, and it would alleviate some of the desire for Iridium and other expensive toys.

73,

VK3XVK

[Frank]

In April I fired up PSKMail on the yacht and find it is quite handy. I was using it in the Falklands with a local server that is not on the inet list of servers as it is 'intermittent'. Worked well and as stated elsewhere it is multiplatform... I have been running the Javapskmail program together with Fldigi on a Macbook. Haven't used it in Oz yet but I see there is a German land mobile in Kakadu using it just now.

Today I got off my backside and installed the Winmor stuff.... no need to register but you do get a pop up that asks for $39 .... no need to pay if you don't want to... you will just keep getting the pop-up.

Easy to install, works good thus far. Running it on the Macbook with VMware Fusion and XP Prof.

In both cases running through a Signalink USB. They are about $100 and are also good for lots of other digital stuff which may or may not be of interest to sailors. I use it with Cocoamodem 2.0 for getting faxes.

Both worth a look... both free.

73

Frank

VK3JFH aka VP8DNM

[haiqu]

Hey Frank,

Good to hear from someone out there actually living the life, especially an ex-Melbourne boy. Nice tip about PSKMail, I checked into it and it looks useful. Only a few years ago links from ham systems into the internet were illegal so I guess that has changed now, which should make life much more interesting when I eventually break free of the working world and start wandering.

The Falklands are an interesting place to end up, and the fact that you have a VP8 call seems to indicate you're planning to stay a while. What's the attraction?

Cheers,

Rob

[Frank]

Gday Rob,

The attraction of the Falklands?.... Its on the way back to Chile I guess.... not much there but sheep, birds and fish...... and wind.

They have no recip arrangements with anyone so if you want to be MM there you have to get a local call, costs 20 pounds.

Ham into the internet? Bin around a while, thats how Winlink works.

Cheers,

Frank

[haiqu]

Hi Frank,

Always thought that was an odd rule, glad it has been softened even if only for remote travelers. I'll have to read up on current rules, been off-air for a few years. Writing firmware for wireless security networks tends to dull the enthusiasm for after hours ham activities, it seems too much like working.

Having started on the internet with a homebrew 1200 baud modem — after being on Fidonet a few years first — it will be just like the old days!

Take care,

Rob