Radio Nets and Email

Here are the radio nets and frequencies as well as info on Sailmail and Winlink that we have used on our travels down the Pacific Coast from Canada  to Central America.  Any updates and corrections would be appreciated.   Please send them to us by signing our log.
Thanks for your help.

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HF SSB Nets

           Note:  In an EMERGENCY anyone may use the Ham bands to call for help.

Ham 2 Meter Repeaters and Nets

Email via Sailmail or Winlink

To send or receive email on a boat, RV, or other mobile installation, there is nothing better, more reliable, and less expensive than using Sailmail or Winlink. (My mate would like to have a satellite phone so she can talk to the grandkids, but that is another story). Winlink has the usual ham restrictions against "for profit" transmissions. Both systems use HF SSB radios operating in the 2-30 MHz range connected via a TNC (Terminal Net Controller) to a notebook computer. Messages are transmitted via shore-based stations that are connected to the internet. All the shore stations in Sailmail are connected to each other (Winlink operates on the same principles, so you can replace the word "Winlink" for "Sailmail" in the following discussion).

When someone sends an email to your personal email address (i.e. CALLSIGN@sailmail.com), the email goes to all Sailmail stations where it is stored awaiting your radio connection. When you connect to any one station, it first accepts all the email you are sending out and then sends you all the email it has waiting for you. After you log off, it sends your outgoing email via a normal internet connection and notifies all other Sailmail stations to clear the email they had been holding for you. The feature of this setup is that it allows a choice of compass direction and frequency to find a station that has the best propagation conditions.

The Airmail software allows you to enter you lat/lon position in the program. Everytime you send a Winlink email, your position is updated on an APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) by Winlink. Friends and family then can find your position displayed on a world map. They can also send an email to the APRS and get an email respons with your position report. Go to the Winlink box below and then select APRS to check up on hams you may know.

I use both Sailmail and Winlink. My equipment consists of an ICOM 710 radio with an SCS Pactor II TNC and a notebook computer. The Airmail software program written by Jim Corenman, KE6RK, (with strong moral support from his bride, Sue) is used by both Sailmail and Winlink. Jim and Stan Honey, WA6IVA, started Sailmail back in 1996 to handle messages for the Pacific Cup Race from California to Hawaii. Sally Honey does a yoeman's job keeping the system going while Stan gets to navigate on world record setting sailboats and Jim and Sue continue their world circumnavigating skills on SV Heart of Gold. There are a number of hams that set up and continue to operate the Winlink system. The only one I have communicated with is Steve, K4CJX, but I know there are several others deeply involved in Winlink. On behalf of all the users of Sailmail and Winlink, I would like to thank you for what you have done. You have spent considerable time and money to provide an outstanding communications network that is a great benefit to us cruisers.

You can read more about mobile email as I like to call it by clicking on the following:

Websites of Interest to Hams

Look up any Ham Callsign on the FCC Database
http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3

Rod's (AC6V) Homepage with Zillions of Ham links
(Rod's a member of the Palomar Amateur Radio Club)
http://www.AC6V.com

Northwest Boater's Net (Designed by Bill Whitney, WO7O)
Lots of links to other HamBoater Nets and Info
http://www.olympus.net/personal/wojobill/page3.html