...is a network of amateur radio and authorized government stations that provide worldwide radio email using radio pathways where the internet is not present. The system is built, operated and administered entirely by licensed "Ham" volunteers. It supports email with attachments, position reporting, weather and information bulletins, and is well-known for its role in interoperable emergency and disaster relief communications. It is capable of operating completely without the internet--automatically--using smart-network radio relays. Licensed Winlink operators/stations use both amateur radio and government radio frequencies worldwide. Support for the system is provided by the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation, Inc., a US 501(c)(3) non-profit, public-benefit entity. Winlink Global Radio Email®️ is a US registered trademark of the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation, Inc.
...are created with a client program. You can not create one here.
We require
A valid amateur radio license, or
a license or authorization from a participating government service or agency.
GMRS, LMR, ship station, other marine or general radiotelephone licenses DO NOT qualify.
How To Get an Account
Download, install and configure any client software. We suggest Winlink Express. After you install, study the program's help about configuration and use.
If using Winlink Express:
With an internet connection, fill out the form presented on first startup. Be sure to include a password and password recovery address. Click 'Update'. Winlink Express makes the process easy. Your account is created!
If you use a different program than Winlink Express:
Follow the program's instructions to configure it for your callsign and use. Connect with the system (sending a message via Telnet is okay) to begin creating your account. Do not use a password on your first connection. Your account's radio email address is YOURCALL@winlink.org. A message containing your password will be posted by the system to your account. Retrieve it with a second connection. After retrieving your password, secure login will now be enforced by the CMS, so be sure to set your password in your client program before your next connection try!
To recover your password and log into your account on this site:
At any time, use the recovery form [My Account] to have a password re-sent to your account or password recovery address. Retrieve it using the appropriate program.
Use your callsign as your username, and password to log in here. You can change your password once you're logged in.
Click the 'edit' tab on your account page here, then edit your account settings and set a password recovery address!Click 'Save' at the bottom of the account info form.
Winlink accounts stay alive only with client program use via radio or telnet connections only; Webmail and other accesses don't count!. Accounts off-air for 400 days are automatically purged. Use it or lose it!
On August 22, the Honduras National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) delivered Amateur Radio equipment to COPECO -- a government disaster-organization coordination agency -- for use in an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) pilot project that aims to take wider advantage of the Winlink HF email system for emergency communication. The ITU pilot project includes Central America and the Caribbean with the goal of achieving implementation throughout South America. Winlink already enjoys wide usage in North America by Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams. ITU donated the equipment.
"The most important thing is that CONATEL, COPECO, and radio amateurs start working with the Winlink tool," said ITU Area D Representative Miguel Alcaine. "I am very happy to know that we are doing something before disaster strikes."
The donation consists of an HF radio, a VHF radio, a multiband dipole, a VHF antenna, an automatic antenna tuner, a modem, and coaxial cable.
National Commissioned Minister of COPECO Lisandro Rosales said that one of his agency's objectives has been to strengthen information and communication technologies (ICTs) -- a primary ITU initiative. "We have realized that telecommunications is a key element in order to give early warning and to warn about imminent danger, or to coordinate assistance or reconstruction activities," Rosales said.
"This program and radio equipment will allow first responders that work during emergencies to send information [via HF], when telephone and digital communications collapse or if there are power outages," commented Omar Paredes, HR1OP, secretary of Club de Radio Aficionados Central de Honduras (CRACH). -- Thanks to IARU Region 2 and the ARRL
Update: 9/7/2018
XE1BRX, Senor Remba from FMRE in Mexico will arrive Monday 9/10/18 to start the final configuration and gateway power up.
Gateway call sign is HR0COP. Tentative next installs are Costa Rica and Dominican Republic for 2nd week in October 2018, two teams same day.
Parte dos, una plática sobre el funcionamiento y utilidad de este sistema, Técnicos de #Copeco y de Conatel Honduras participan en capacitación de telecomunicaciones en emergencia y subsistemas de radio VHF y HF, impartida por miembros de la Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones #OIT y presentada por Jonathan Remba XE1BRX miembro de la Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores. En unos días mas se harán las otras seis instalaciones: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica y Republica Dominicana.
August 24, 2018--The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today requested and was granted a temporary waiver of section 97.307(f) of the Commission’s rules to permit use of Pactor 4 for amateur communications between the United States mainland and Hawaii related to Hurricane Lane relief. The waiver is in effect through Tuesday, August 28, 2018. Another formal order related to a longer, 30-day waiver will be released next week.
US amateur Pactor gateways capable of running Pactor 4 and are involved in hurricane relief communications with Hawaii are requested to configure their stations to permit connections with this mode. Watch for further news regarding these temporary waivers of FCC rules to avoid violations.
August 11, 2018 -- UPDATE. We no longer have any shelters open in Redding or Weaverville, CA (Carr Fire). Our efforts have moved to the Recovery Phase.
-- Jim Piper, RN
Liaison to Amateur Radio
Gold Country Region, American Red Cross
1565 Exposition Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
August 1, 2018--Carr Fire Information from 0800 briefing.
115,538 acres burned 35% contained. Repopulation in some areas of Redding have begun.
Currently there are 12 + operators from Shasta County, Sacramento County, Butte county, and El Dorado County are working at Shelters for the Carr Fire.
Paul Peterson, K6PTT, is doing a fine job acting EC for Shasta county. Currently the following shelters are being supported:
Shasta College
Crosspoints Community Church
Foothills High School
Simpson College
Trinity High School in Weaverville
Winlink continues to be the go to mode to communicate with the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center. There are no voice channels that can reach Sacramento. There was hope that Carla system would work, but a Carla node burned in the fire.
The radio station at the Red Cross DOC is being lead by Michael Joseph KK6ZGB. The are running the Winlink station KA6ARC.
Red Cross will be opening a Local Assistance Center at 0900 tomorrow morning at Shasta High School. I am waiting to hear if they would ned a radio volunteer at this location.
The Shelter consolidating plans are being finialized today and MAY start tomorrow. Will let everyone know when I know anything.
--Michael Joseph KK6ZGB
Amateur Radio Liaison
Sacramento Valley Section Regional ARES
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The mission of Boat Watch is to maintain a worldwide network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue; have a boat stolen; or to whom urgent messages need to be relayed. Winlink Global Radio Email is proud to be a partner of BoatWatch.org since 1999.
Current Watches
See Boatwarch.org for a current listing of lost or overdue vessels.
Interested in monitoring Winlink RF activity for FCC rules compliance? Welcome! Please go to this page.
Open Message Viewer
All messages passing through licensed US amateur radio stations by radio are freely accessible by other licensed amateurs right here. Help the US amateur radio community police itself. Search and view, and please report a message if you spot a violation. US Amateur Radio Message Viewer
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Winlink Was There...
Lives and property saved, damage mitigated and training, training, training: Why Winlink volunteers do what they do. Here is a sampling of events and incidents in which the system was significantly involved.