[ARRL-OK] Army MARS Implementing Winlink 2000 with Airmail Network

[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

Subject:        Army MARS Implementing Winlink 2000 with Airmail Network

Source:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/03/02/5/?nc=1

Army MARS Implementing Winlink 2000 with Airmail Network

NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 2, 2006--After a thorough study of  security and
connectivity issues, the Army Military Affiliate Radio System (_MARS_
(http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/) ) has launched the final phase  of
implementing
_Winlink 2000 with  _Airmail_
 as a system-wide communication tool. A global MARS-Winlink 2000 network  is
expected to be in service by this summer. Winlink 2000 Network 
Administrator Steve
Waterman, K4CJX/AAR4WU, a member of the Winlink  Development Team, is the
MARS team
leader.  "Army MARS identified a real need to provide digital  messaging to
complement the existing voice and digital systems," said Waterman,  who
also served
on the ARRL Ad Hoc Committee on Amateur Radio Emergency  Service (_ARES_
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch1.html) )  Communications.
"It becomes
a critical need as the demand for more and more  capacity approaches, and
there's a
tremendous amount of interoperability built  in."

In announcing the network, MARS Eastern Area  Coordinator Grant Hays,
WB6OTS/AAA9E, said Winlink 2000 will provide  rapid and reliable
interconnection
among government entities served by MARS and the broad range of local and
regional
agencies accessed by Amateur Radio  generally. "Winlink 2000 has the
capability to
automatically establish  alternative communication routes utilizing its
large number
of participating  Amateur Radio stations," MARS said in its news release
announcing
the network. Waterman said the amount of redundancy built into the  system
is really
substantial. "Among other things, where appropriate, Internet 
accessibility will
take the load off the limited number of frequencies available  for the MARS
service," he observed.

For seven years, Winlink 2000 has supported  emergency communication
worldwide. During the catastrophic 2005 hurricane  season, Amateur Radio
operators
provided indispensable communication backup when  conventional
telecommunication
systems failed. In the wake of the earthquake and  tsunamis that hit South
Asia in
late 2004, Amateur Radio operators with  Winlink 2000 capability--many of
them
maritime--found Winlink 2000  to be especially helpful for handling emergency
communication.

Amateur Radio organizations already embracing the  technology include ARES,
the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (_RACES_ (http://www.races.net/)
)--a FEMA
auxiliary--and many civil  agencies. In past emergencies, these
organizations have informally linked with  MARS through members whose
stations
participate in multiple systems.  With the addition of Winlink 2000 with 
Airmail,
Hays said, the different networks will continue to operate  separately and
independently, and the new software will automatically move  messages
among them as
needed. "It will also switch traffic to the Internet  where available and
appropriate to bridge any radio gaps or to deliver addressed  e-mail," he
said.

Army MARS has long operated its own MARS Message  Center System (MMCS), which
uses HF radio to deliver messages throughout the US  and to overseas military
installations. "Before the advent of e-mail, keeping  servicemen and their
families and friends in touch was a major function," said  the Army MARS
release. "Disaster readiness has overtaken that function in the  last
decade and
continues to expand."

Hays says the Winlink 2000 with Airmail  network augmentation is one of two
innovative technology projects currently  under way in Army MARS. In
conjunction with Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps  MARS, members are also
testing an
advanced Automatic Link Establishment (ALE)  implementation. "This is the
HF radio
technology already widely used by military  units and government agencies
for moving
traffic in large volume," he explains,  noting that MARS volunteers
developed the
software. "Winlink 2000 and ALE  can work in tandem to speed delivery of
messages,"
Hays said.

Since MARS members operate on military frequencies,  only MARS members will
be able to directly access the MARS Winlink 2000  system, Hays said. Messages
to and from the amateur participants outside MARS  would be interchanged
automatically at designated Participating Mailbox  Operation (PMBO) stations.
"While only designated members are authorized to use  ALE, all MARS members
may use the Winlink 2000 system after registering  their call signs and
passwords at one of the MARS participating stations," Hays  explained.
"Four Winlink
2000 participating stations were fully  operational for the start of
system testing.
Others will be added as needed."  Early versions of Winlink and its
predecessor
Aplink have a long history in MARS going back to the early 1980s. 
Communication
security concerns delayed adoption of the advanced Winlink  2000 facility
until
recently when it was further investigated and understood,  Hays recounted.

More recently, the Winlink Development Team  and its participating station
system operators have also been active with the  ARRL in providing a national
emergency digital network system for the Amateur  Service.  Working with
Waterman on
the MARS-Winlink 2000  project are Paul Drothler, WO4U/AAA4TN, Laurence
Collins,
K7DMB/AAA9NV, Don  Nutt, N6TDM/AAR7JG, and John Scoggin, W3JKS/AAA9AC.
Scoggin is
the MARS National  Automation Coordinator. Drothler and Collins are state
MARS
Directors and Nutt  is a National Coordinator for SHARES, the Shared HF
Resources
network linking  federal agencies including MARS. All are experienced
engineers.

A radio amateur since 1955, Waterman joined the  original Winlink Development
Team in 1986. In 1998 he participated in the  decision to wrap
store-and-forward e-mail connectivity into early Winlink  versions. Other
members of
that group were Victor Poor, W5SMM, the team leader  and the person who
conceived
Aplink and Winlink; Rick Muething,  KN6KB, Hans Kessler, N8PGR, Ed
Galipeau, WA1LRL,
Lee Inman, K0QED, and Tom  Lafleur, KA6IQA. They also assisted in the MARS
project.
Army MARS has some 2500 Amateur Radio operators  specially trained and
licensed for
military communication. The Air Force and  Navy-Marine Corps field similar
volunteer
teams. Their shared mission is  providing emergency communication to the US
Department of Defense and other  government departments and agencies.


Bill Lennox
US  Air Force (Retired)
Emergency Management Consultant
KD7EFP
When all  else fails, Amateur Radio works!
Assistant Emergency Coordinator - Plans  (ARES), Washington County, Oregon.
Assistant Radio Officer - Plans (RACES),  Washington County, Oregon.
Washington County - 500,000 individuals living and  working west of Portland,
Oregon.