After a hiatus, I am looking to get back into the hobby. Of course it is something
to try and decide what in the hobby I want to work on. For some reason, I remembered
hearing about Winlink and was like hey that's something to check out.

Checking it out, I was like, OK so it's basically an over the air email gateway system.
I was also like, there were times when I was RVing fulltime that it might have been
nice to have some sort of system like that. I know there were a few places that I
stopped that did not have any Internet available (not to mention no cell as well).
It would have been nice to have some sort of backup for at least email, which is what
winlink seems to provide.

That said I wondering what the people here's experience trying to operate Winlink is?
Not to mention I was wondering who might be using it on Linux and what if any pit falls
there might be. The biggest one I've seen so far is the VARA/VARA FM, being a Windows
thing and having to use WINE to run it.

Thanks for any information you might have.



... Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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Re: Linux and Winlink
By: nblade to All on Mon Dec 29 2025 12:45:00

Hi,
If you want a total Linux solution check out a program called Pat this can be used with Ardop.
Ardop is a slower protocol, but it is still used.

Tom
--- SBBSecho 3.34-Linux
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Thanks, I have already looked at pat. I still need to get my radios
connected try it out with a radio. I have already tried it out with
just using the telnet connect and it works like I expected. Hell
it reminds me a lot of just using an offline message reader. You compose
or read messages offline downloading messages or uploading replies.

My main hurldes is the radio, I still need to get an HF rig to try the HF connections. There is a 2m Packet station near me, I might try and see if
I can connect via that.

Khronos wrote to nblade <=-

Re: Linux and Winlink
By: nblade to All on Mon Dec 29 2025 12:45:00

Hi,
If you want a total Linux solution check out a program called Pat this
can be used with Ardop. Ardop is a slower protocol, but it is still
used.

Tom
--- SBBSecho 3.34-Linux
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... Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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Wow, it's been a hot minute.

I do remember setting something up on Linux, but I don't remember if I ever did get it running. (The Windows install with VARA was pretty cut and dry, all things considered.)

I've got some other projects going in the shack over the holiday weekend... I'll take a look at my Linux installs and see if I can dredge something up.

Meanwhile, something Winlink adjacent... Have you looked at Network105? That might be something up your alley as well.

73!
Randall
WZ8Q

... People say I act like I don't care. It's not an act.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Arena BBS ú netasylum.com:2323 (21:4/111)

it reminds me a lot of just using
an offline message reader. You

That would be cool if there was a mod to Synchronet (or whatever BBS) that could accept packet calls and do some funky authentication kind of like Winlink does.. then send/accept QWK packets, or just brings you to the QWK menu prompt.

Then you'd probably need a modified offline mail reader to not make it a PITA ;).



--- NE BBS v1.13.2 (linux; x64)
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Never heard of Network105, I'll have to look that up.

Reverend Shaft wrote to nblade <=-

Wow, it's been a hot minute.

I do remember setting something up on Linux, but I don't remember if I ever did get it running. (The Windows install with VARA was pretty cut
and dry, all things considered.)

I've got some other projects going in the shack over the holiday weekend... I'll take a look at my Linux installs and see if I can
dredge something up.

Meanwhile, something Winlink adjacent... Have you looked at Network105? That might be something up your alley as well.

73!
Randall
WZ8Q

... People say I act like I don't care. It's not an act.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Arena BBS ù netasylum.com:2323 (21:4/111)

... Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
* Origin: electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com (21:1/164)

Re: Re: Linux and Winlink
By: nblade to Reverend Shaft on Wed Dec 31 2025 08:36:00

After a short search seems to be some people who do packet on 20 meters.
14105 khz.
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Thanks, I was able to research it a bit myself and saw that. Do not
have the hardware for that yet, I still lack an HF rig and other
stuff. But it is something to look at in the future.

Khronos wrote to nblade <=-

Re: Re: Linux and Winlink
By: nblade to Reverend Shaft on Wed Dec 31 2025 08:36:00

After a short search seems to be some people who do packet on 20
meters. 14105 khz.
--- SBBSecho 3.34-Linux
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... Computer Hacker wanted. Must have own axe.
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