Data on HF Radio

2. Data on HF Radio What offshore sailors can do with data on HF radio • Samples of Email, Position Report, Weather GRIB File, Weather Bulletin and Weather Fax, Nadi/Fiji Fleet Code Who provides data service • Sailmail & Winlink Network Architecture Where the stations are located • Sailmail & Winlink stations worldwide How we do data on HF radio • Step by step instructions for using Email, Position Reports, Weather GRIB Files, Weather Bulletins, Weather Faxes, Nadi/Fiji Fleet Codes • Airmail helper application usage, HF Terminal and Telnet session usage What software is required • Airmail & helper applications installation for Ham and non-Ham • Airmail configuration for Ham and non-Ham • Sailmail & Winlink maintenance/upgrade (see Appendix) What hardware is required • General hardware component layout • RF suppression components • Wiring diagrams for various receivers • Cable matrix for various receivers Appendix Tom Baker - BCA Fleet of 2006

3. Email Sample Email Sample using Airmail Client Software and Winlink 2000 Telnet Connection

4. Position Report Sample Winlink Position Reports Detail callsign=KD7UMG

5. Weather GRIB File Sample Weather GRIB file data can show surface wind speed & direction, atmospheric pressures and surface temperatures in much more detail than Wfax. This sample is using Mscan Meteo File Viewer Software

6. Weather Bulletin Sample Weather Bulletin Sample from Winlink 2000 Catalog

7. Weather Fax Sample Weather Fax Sample Using JVComm32 Software

8. Nadi/Fiji Fleet Code Sample Nadi/Fiji Fleet Code Sample is displayed using PhysPlot application

9. Data on HF Radio What offshore sailors can do with data on HF radio • Samples of Email, Position Report, Weather GRIB File, Weather Bulletin and Weather Fax Who provides data service • Sailmail & Winlink Network Architecture Where the stations are located • Sailmail & Winlink stations worldwide How we do data on HF radio • Step by step instructions for using Email, Position Reports, Weather GRIB Files, Weather Bulletins, Weather Faxes • Airmail helper application usage, HF Terminal and Telnet session usage What software is required • Airmail & helper applications installation for Ham and non-Ham • Airmail configuration for Ham and non-Ham • Sailmail & Winlink maintenance/upgrade (see Appendix) What hardware is required • General hardware component layout • RF suppression components • Wiring diagrams for various receivers • Cable matrix for various receivers Appendix Tom Baker - BCA Fleet of 2006

10. Sailmail/Winlink2000/Airmail Introduction The SailMail Association is a non-profit association of yacht owners that operates and maintains a network of private coast stations in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service. The Association provides radioprinter (e.g. Internet email) communications for its members on a cooperative basis, in order to meet the private business and operational needs of the members' yachts. The SailMail Association provides worldwide coverage through the operation of 16 stations in North America, Hawaii, Australia, Southeast Asia, South Africa and Europe. Sailmail uses the same Pactor technology as the ham radio system, and supports Pactor-1, Pactor-2 and Pactor-3 on all frequencies at all stations. Airmail can be configured for either ham or Sailmail operation, or both. With the addition of a Sailmail configuration file, the same copy of Airmail can provide service for both the ham radio and Sailmail systems. This allows Sailmail to be used for business-related messages which are not permitted on the ham bands, as well in countries where ham radio third-party traffic is not permitted. Winlink2000 (WL2K) is a new ham-radio MBO system introduced in late 1999 by Hans Kessler N8PGR, Vic Poor W5SMM, Rick Meuthing KN6KB and Steve Waterman K4CJX. WL2K is fully integrated with the Internet, and uses Internet message forwarding to make user messages available at any station which they normally connect with. The Winlink-2000 system provides worldwide coverage through the operation of 49 stations in North America, Hawaii, Australia, Southeast Asia, South Africa and Europe. Airmail software operates as a "smart client" for accessing both WL2K and Sailmail networks.

11. HF Radio HF Radio Pactor Modem Pactor Modem WL2K and Sailmail High Network Architecture Boat Computer Airmail WL2K PMBO or Sailmail Station PMBO: Participating Mail Box The Internet The WL2K PMBO or Sailmail station is connected to the internet at all times

12. HF Radio HF Radio Pactor Modem Pactor Modem WL2K Network Architecture (continued) Other computers, or CMBOs, organize and manage the network traffic. CMBOs are transparent to users. They are redundant, and you never know they are there. Boat Computer Airmail PMBO CMBO: WL2K Central Mail Box Server The Internet CMBO CMBO

13. Data on HF Radio What offshore sailors can do with data on HF radio • Samples of Email, Position Report, Weather GRIB File, Weather Bulletin and Weather Fax Who provides data service • Sailmail & Winlink Network Architecture Where the stations are located • Sailmail & Winlink stations worldwide How we do data on HF radio • Step by step instructions for using Email, Position Reports, Weather GRIB Files, Weather Bulletins, Weather Faxes • Airmail helper application usage, HF Terminal and Telnet session usage What software is required • Airmail & helper applications installation for Ham and non-Ham • Airmail configuration for Ham and non-Ham • Sailmail & Winlink maintenance/upgrade (see Appendix) What hardware is required • General hardware component layout • RF suppression components • Wiring diagrams for various receivers • Cable matrix for various receivers Appendix Tom Baker - BCA Fleet of 2006

14. Winlink 2000 (WL2K) Stations worldwide (over 6000 subscribed users, free to licensed hams) Besides contacting other boats and Internet users, you may order parts, schedule fuel delivery, obtain a tow etc. Stock transactions and other activities that directly or indirectly increase the size of one’s wallet are not allowed

15. Sailmail Stations Worldwide (over 3000 subscribed uses, $250 US/year non-ham users) Besides contacting other boats and Internet users, Sailmail can be used for commercial purposes, such as arranging bank transactions, buying/selling stock, etc.

16. Data on HF Radio What offshore sailors can do with data on HF radio • Samples of Email, Position Report, Weather GRIB File, Weather Bulletin and Weather Fax Who provides data service • Sailmail & Winlink Network Architecture Where the stations are located • Sailmail & Winlink stations worldwide How we do data on HF radio • Step by step instructions for using Email, Position Reports, Weather GRIB Files, Weather Bulletins, Weather Faxes • Airmail helper application usage, HF Terminal and Telnet session usage What software is required • Airmail & helper applications installation for Ham and non-Ham • Airmail configuration for Ham and non-Ham • Sailmail & Winlink maintenance/upgrade (see Appendix) What hardware is required • General hardware component layout • RF suppression components • Wiring diagrams for various receivers • Cable matrix for various receivers Appendix Tom Baker - BCA Fleet of 2006

17. Operating Procedure for Airmail Terminal Program (HF Radio) • Posting message using HF Terminal program • Build email message and “Post” in Airmail Message Index (outbox) • Turn on HF Radio and modem • Open the Airmail “Propagation” program (View+Propagation) from Airmail Message Index window to determine what station/PMBO and frequency to connect to • Open Airmail “HF Terminal” program (Module+HF Terminal) from Airmail Message Index window and select station/PMBO and frequency • Listen to make sure frequency is clear, use headphones if engine is running • If frequency is clear hit green button in Terminal Program to send message • If transmit speed is dog slow (< 600 bps) give up and try either another frequency, another station or another time. 1400 bps to 3200 bps are good numbers to see. This is VERY important, don’t beat a dead horse - try later when conditions improve • “Send” message • Receiving message using HF Terminal program • Repeat steps 2 through 6 above • If receive speed is dog slow give up and try either another frequency, another station or another time • “Receive” message into Airmail Message Index (Inbox)

18. Email via Airmail Terminal Program (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users) speed sending message Terminal program within Airmail sending an email through the HF radio

19. Operating Procedure for Airmail Telnet Client (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users via Internet) • Posting message using Telnet Client program • Build email message and “Post” in Airmail Message Index (outbox) • Open Airmail Telnet Module (Module+Telnet Client) from Airmail Message Index window and choose Telnet Client Station/PMBO from pull-down list • Hit green button to send message • Receiving message using Telnet Client program • Open Airmail Telnet Module and choose Telnet Client Station/PMBO from pull-down list • Hit green button to receive message The Airmail Telnet Client can be used for sending/receiving email, receiving weather bulletins, receiving GRIB files, sending/receiving position reports. In other words, everything you can do in Airmail Terminal Client at 4,800 bps max can be done through Telnet Client at Internet speeds. We often cruise around an anchorage looking for an open WiFi connection to use

20. Email via Airmail Telnet Client (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users) receiving message Note: When using Winlink 2000 Telnet Client, the rules of Amateur Radio do not apply since you are not going out over the HF airways. Business type transactions are allowed but only in Telnet

21. Using Saildocs to retrieve data (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users) Saildocs is a free service that can return text data from the Web, all you need is the URL of the source document

22. Saildocs brings back to text (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users) Here the first retrieved document (Subtropic forecast) is shown

23. Example of Surfing the Web using Saildocs, your SSB & Pactor modem We will email off for the text version of this web page so we know what to expect when we land in Opua, NZ. Airmail Telnet Client will be used but Airmail Terminal program would have also worked. The following steps apply for any email sent & received.

24. 1. Add New Address 3. Compose Email, Save and Post 2. New Address Ready 4. Outbox shows Email was “Posted”

25. Propagation Airmail Helper Application 5. Check a few Propagation Reports if sending via HF Radio (View+Propagation)

26. 6. Send Email 7. Outbox shows Email was sent sending message 8. Receive Response receiving message Send and Receive Email using Telnet Client

27. 9. Inbox shows Email was received 10. Read Text Webpage

28. Position Reporting • Lets folks at home share in your adventures. Gives them a map to track your progress • Do let folks at home know that the lack of an updated position should not be a cause for alarm • Remember that most position reports are removed if track is not kept current (more on alternatives later) • Position reports allow you to see other cruisers in your area • Don’t report if near sensitive areas like Somalia Coast, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Venezuela etc. • Don’t report if you don’t want people to know where you are (running from the Law, bill collectors, mother-in-law etc.)

29. Let’s find KD7UMG (Tom & Dawn on SV-Warm Rain) Ham Example: The Position Reporter web page (http://www.winlink.org/userPositions) Select Call sign from column on right.

30. Position Report Detail for KD7UMG Results after clicking on “View position report for KD7UMG”

31. Let’s find KD7UMG (Tom & Dawn on SV-Warm Rain) Sailmail Example: Position Reporter web page http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/reporter_list.php) Select Call sign from column on right.

32. Let’s find KD7UMG (Tom & Dawn on SV-Warm Rain) Sailmail Example: Position Reporter results

33. Yotreps Position Report Data Entry Ham users enter position report detail using the Airmail (Winlink 2000 version) position report form. Hitting “Send Now” button will enter position report in APRS database, check “Copy to Yotreps” box to also enter position report in the Yotreps database Sailmail users enter position report detail using the Airmail (Sailmail version) position report form. Hitting “Send Now” button will enter position report in the Yotreps database

34. Weather GRIB (gridded binary) File Intro What is GRIB and why does it provide so much for so little? GRIB is a code form used by operational meteorological centers for storing and exchanging meteorological charts and other patterns of wind, sea state, temperature etc. The information is put into a compressed digital, binary format that enables high speed transmission and reception. It is useful to  sailors for the efficient reception of charted information using GSM, GPRS, Satellite  phones or HF radio to Internet link. GRIB files augment the information one gets from Weather Fax reports. Most common GRIB data shown is surface wind speed & direction, atmospheric pressure and surface temperature. Where does the data come from and what is it? A major source is the US NWS (Numerical Weather Prediction)model, the GFS (Global Forecasting System) which calculates how the weather is expected to develop,  For this purpose it defines the atmosphere on a three dimensional grid of points.  The lowest level of this model is at about 20 meters above ground (or sea level).  This is at a height where the pressure is about 3 hPa (mb) lower than at the surface of the earth.  From the forecast wind at this level and using algorithms embodying surface roughness and stability, the NWS derives a forecast at 10 meters.  The forecast winds are also used to drive a wave model known as the MMAB Operational Wave Model (aka wwave3). NWS wind data in GRIB format are available, free, from at least two sources.  Saildocs provide the wind at the 10 meter height above sea (or ground) level.  Global Marine Networks (GMN) provides wind data from the output of  wwave3.  Source: http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/grib.html

35. Generating Saildocs GRIB file Request (Sailmail & Winlink 2000 users) Drag mouse in grid area to choose area for GRIB file in Airmail Catalog (Window+Catalogs+Saildocs), click “Request” to set GFS GRIB Parameters and Send (don’t use Subscribe at Sea)

36. Weather GRIB file Request in Airmail Outbox GRIB file is requested via email, received GRIB file is shown in View Fax viewer

37. Weather Routing using GRIB files (eChart overlay) GRIB file is overlaid on eChart in MaxSea and Waypoint Entered

38. Weather Routing calculations (eCart Routing Using GRIB Data) MaxSea Routing Module Calculates Waypoints based on GRIB Data

39. Routing Waypoints displayed on Chart Suggested Routing based on GRIB file and Boat Performance Parameters (polar)

40. Weather Bulletins (Airmail Winlink 2000 and Sailmail Catalogs) Updateable over the radio, the built-in Airmail, Winlink 2000 and Sailmail catalog of bulletins contains over 800 text-based and graphic weather products that bring the user just about every publicly available weather product type, worldwide. Weather fax images are only available to Winlink 2000 users.

41. Send for Weather Bulletins via Email

42. Weather Bulletin (continued) Resultant Weather Bulletin received by email

43. Weather Fax Many good HF radio weather fax programs exist. Most new ones tune radio through modem if frequency control cable is present • GetFax comes free with Airmail, bare bones program • JVComm32 is an excellent program with good reception and image controls ($70 US) • Mscan Meteo allows you to automatically only download faxes desired, skipping over others ($149 US) When radio propagation is poor, PC time is being restricted or schedule will be missed, get the fax emailed to you • Via Winlink2000 catalog • Via satellite phone Learn to read & understand Wfax charts: http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/UsersGuide/UGprint.html

44. Weather Fax via HF Radio Size of received file is 30KB, cost $0.00

45. Weather Fax via Winlink 2000 Catalog Request E Pacific 96Hr Surface Fcst 00Z Wefax When propagation causes poor weather fax reception or you won’t be on board when the schedule runs, get the fax emailed to you

46. Weather Fax via Winlink 2000 Catalog (continued) Size of emailed file is 13KB, cost $0.0

47. Weather Fax via Internet (Satellite Phone) Size of emailed file is 70KB, cost ~ $3.00 US ($1.00 to send request and $2.00 to receive fax)

48. WMO Nadi/Fiji Fleet Codes Lookup Nadi/Fiji Fleet code in either Saildocs or WL2K catalog Request is Posted in Outbox and Sent

49. Received Nadi/Fiji Fleet code data shown in Inbox The encoded content is very compressed and only 2K in size

50. Nadi/Fiji Fleet code data is displayed using PhysPlot application PhysPlot is a free general purpose meteorological plotter with the ability to plot isobars, wind arrows, fronts, pressure systems sea temperatures and other data from a variety of sources Source:http://www.pangolin.co.nz/physplot/index.php Reference: http://www.yachtvalhalla.net/articles/fleetcode/fleetcode.htm