Hello,
This coming Sunday, 24 July, is the fourth Sunday of the month and time for the FEMA Region 5 AUXCOMM Winlink Net.? This net is conducted on the second and fourth Sunday of each month by the FEMA Region 5 AUXCOM group.? That said, all amateur radio operators and SHARES stations everywhere are welcome and invited to participate.??
The purpose of the net is to give participating stations training and practice with the Winlink system and Winlink's features.? Among these features is Winlink forms.??
Two of the more useful Winlink forms are the "Check In" and "Check Out" form.? These are short messages for, as the names suggests, checking in and out of a net.? For this week's exercise, please send me a completed Check In form.? Here's how:
If you have a Winlink Account:
1. Open Winlink Express.
2. Open a new message form:
? 2a. Click the new message icon or click 'Message' then 'New Message'.
3. Open a Check In form.
? 3a. On the top line ribbon menu, click 'Select Template'.
? 3b. Click the + sign next to 'Standard Templates'.
? 3c. Click the + sign next to 'Mapping-GIS Forms'.
? 3d. Double click 'Winlink Check In'.
3d1. This opens your default web browser and displays a blank form.
4. Complete the form:
4a. Enter the 'Date/Time' (Winlink will offer you the current date and time).
4b. Select the'Select Status' (should be Net).
4c. Select the 'Band' you'll use to send your form.
4d. Select the 'Mode' you'll use to send your form.
4e. Enter W9REL in the 'Send To' field.
4f. Enter the 'Call Signs of Initial On Site Operators', 'Station Contact Name' (your first name), and 'Station Call Sign'.
4g. Enter the location of a public place close to your physical location in the 'Location' field.
4h. Enter the latitude of the place you entered in the 'LAT' field and the longitude in the 'LON MGRS' field (this should be a negative number).
4i. In the 'Comments' box, enter 'Exercise 2022-14'.
5. If you wish, click the 'Save Check In Data' button.? This creates a record copy of your message in the Downloads folder of your computer.
6. Click the 'Submit' button to send the information on your form to Winlink Express.
6a. This clears the Check In form in your web browser and transfers the contents to the message you created step 2.
7. In the 'To' field of the message form, enter W9REL.
8. On the ribbon menu near the top of the New Message form, click 'Post To Outbox'.
9. On Sunday (24 July):
9a. Open Winlink Express.??
9b. On the top line ribbon menu next to 'Open Session'.
9c. Select the mode you want to use to send your message(s).
9d. Click 'Open Session'.??
9e. Click 'Start'.
If you don't currently have a Winlink account, please open one.? Winlink Express is open to all amateur radio operators and SHARES stations and it's free (operative word is FREE).? In the meantime, use the following procedure to send an email via the Winlink system.
1. Open your email client.
2. Open a new message form.
3. In the 'To' field enter 'W9REL@...'
4. On the 'Subject line' enter '//WL2K Exercise 2022-14 FEMA Region 5 AUXCOM Winlink Net'.??
4a. The '//WL2K is required otherwise Winlink will reject your message.
5. In the text field enter the date and time, your first name, callsign, city, and state followed by anything else you think is pertinent.
6. On Sunday (24 July) send your email.
In the meantime,73
Keep cool, safe, and healthy
Always keep good situational awareness
Skip W9REL/Net Manager
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