W4NPX is Beta Testing a system which allows anyone on the Internet to send email to a person who has Amateur Radio Access and in Return allows that person with Radio Access to Reply.

The name of the Program which accomplishes the transfer of Internet Mail from the Internet to Radio and from Radio to the Internet is called NETLINK. The program was written by Jim Jennings W5EUT, and must run in conjunction with a BBS program called WINLINK.

Netlink started as a manual program whereby the operator would dial his internet service provider, then open Netlink, and then click on the appropriate buttons to transfer messages from the internet to his Winlink Message Manager for ultimate radio transmittal, and at the same time pick up messages from the Winlink Message Manager received via radio, for transmittal to the Internet.

During the next stage of development, the entire operation was fully automated for those operators running Windows 95 with the Microsoft Dial-Up Network running. By fully automated, I mean that you can set a time schedule in its configuration and cause Netlink to actually dial up the Internet Provider, Get and Send messages from the internet to the Winlink Message Manager and visa versa on a timed basis automatically.

The third stage of development added a new feature which enables the operator to automatically retreive weather from various weather reporting facilities on the Internet, and then insert those weather reports into bulletin messages in Winlink, so that boats, Rv'ers or persons interested in obtaining current weather reports through the Winlink system can just log on to a Winlink station and read current weather for their area of interest. This weather is all obtained automatically or can be manually retreived for those operators not running in the automatic mode.

Because there have been major changes in the program and the addition of new controls, it is requested that all new stations or stations previously utilizing Netlink versions prior to version 2.4.3, download the full install version of 2.4.3 at this time.

• Download and See the NETLINK SCREEN

  1. Of the files listed below, the first two file nt243a.zip and nt243b.zip, comprise together the full download of version 2.4.3. Download both of these files and unzip them into a temporary directory, and then run SETUP.EXE. The Setup will created a Netlink Directory if you do not already have one, and then install Netlink 2.4.3. WARNING: IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY RUN NETLINK, PLEASE REMOVE YOUR OLD NETLINK.EXE COMPLETELY FROM THE COMPUTER BEFORE YOU RUN THE INSTALL. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS

     There is also an update of version 2.4.3 to version 2.5.0 for those users who have already installed version 2.4.3. The file is nt051323.zip. If you have previously installed version 2.4.3, merely download nt061908.zip at this time and unzip it into your Netlink Folder were it will overwrite your current netlink.exe file so that you will have an up to date build of Netlink version 2.5.0. Likewise it may be downloaded below or through my ftp site.

     It is also strongly suggested that you download Dial_Up.txt (installation instructions on setting up the Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking).

     Please read any Readme.txt file included in the download of 2.4.3 before running setup.

     If you have not previously downloaded Netlink, please email me w4npx@m6.sprynet.com and let me know so that I may put you on my mailing list for future upgrades.

     • CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Disk A of Version 3.0.0

     • CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Disk B of Version 3.0.0

     • CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD latest update to Version 3.0.0 (current as of 3/04/99)

     • CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Dial_Up.txt(2.5kb)

• Take a Look at the Netlink Screen

• Stations Utilizing Netlink

• DIRECT ACCESS TO W4NPX FTP SERVER If you prefer to download the above or current WINLINK files direct from my personal FTP server, you may click here. If you do not get the link then the my computer is not online. If using Netscape, you may have to hit escape after connecting to my server to see the files. You may also use any FTP client program such as WS_FTP to access my server at ftp://w4npx.dynip.com

• The format for sending and receiving Netlink Messages

  Email Incoming Message Formats:

  In the following examples, I will use W4NPX as 
  the callsign of the Winlink or BBS 
  Station,  you@yourhome.com as
  the EMail user, and
  W4AVO@W4NPX.VA.USA.NA as the HAM user.
  
  Example of a message from EMail sender (you),  to a radio
  user on a Boat who utilizes the services of W4NPX:
  
  This Email User sends a message to W4AVO who 
  is on his boat as follows:
  
   Email to:
  w4avo@cho.win-net.org
  
  (The address is formatted as the callsign@designator.win-net.org.  To see the full list of
  designators for all Netlink stations go to the list of Stations Utilizing Netlink 
  
  If you have already received an email message from W4AVO via radio to email
  all you have to do is click on your email reply button.
  
  
  Radio Outgoing Message Formats:
  
  Example of a message from Winlink User W4AVO on
  his boat to EMail user:
  
  SP NEXUS@W4NPX.#CVA.VA.USA.NA
  
  When the BBS prompts for a SUBJECT type the
  email address of the recipient:
  you@yourhome.com 
  
  MESSAGE BODY: First line will be taken as
  the real subject, so do a short first line for the
  message, skip a line and then if and only if your want
  carbon copies to other email recipients on a separate line
  or lines for each extra recipient (depending on the 
  number of cc: recipients)
  
  cc: yourfriend@hishome.com
  cc: anotherfriend@friendshome.com
  
  and then follow with the remainder of
  the body and end the message with the usual
  /EX
  on a separate line,then do a
  B 
  on a separate line to leave the BBS system++++++++++++