The goal of Iowa ARES® Winlink Saturday is learning and practicing the use of the Winlink programs to prepare for their use with the agencies we intend to serve, as well as supporting ARES® itself.

We will be practicing the various message forms we can expect to be asked to use.

Messages are to be sent any time on Saturday, Central Time.

Specifics for Check-in weeks:
Use the basic Winlink Check In template which is in Standard Templates, in both GENERAL and MAPPING-GIS forms.
Enter WINLINK SATURDAY, using the Setup button.
In Comments: call sign, first name, city or town, county, state, mode (Winlink HF, VARA FM, VHF packet, etc.)
Example: WB0GAG, Bruce, Muscatine, Muscatine, IA, VARA HF
Fill in the remaining entries as you wish, but make your location data accurate "enough".
You can save your data for reuse with the Save Check In Data button.
If you don't want to include your own phone number, use (any area code)-555-0121, which is not in use anywhere in North America.
Click the Submit button and follow the prompts.
Send any time Saturday, preferably by radio (RMS), although you can use Telnet if you are just starting or can't get a radio connection.
Eastern Iowa and Illinois are on 145.610 MHz, packet Winlink. We are working to extend deeper into Iowa.
Send to IAWINLINKSAT or WB0GAG. Check the exercise scenario for any additional addresses.
Peer to Peer (P2P) volunteers are welcome and don't need to be available for the whole time. Notify WBØGAG of the hours, band and mode you want so it can be added to the web site.

April 27, 2024

EXERCISE, EXERCISE

Sometimes you need a generic form. That's what this week will use.
Start a new message and select Standard Templates > GENERAL Forms > Customizable Form.
This form is also in Standard Templates > ICS USA Forms > Customizable Form in Winlink Express.
You can roll your own or do a to-do list of sorts for a hamfest or parade that your club supports.
The row marked # is a row of column labels. Call each column whatever suits you.
Fill at least 3 rows.

Enter any "Sender's Comments or Additional Information" you wish, beginning with "EXERCISE, EXERCISE".
End your message with your
call sign, first name, city or town, county, state, mode (Winlink HF, VARA FM, VHF packet, etc.)
Save a copy for later if you wish, then click "Submit" and follow the prompts.

In the message composition window, make sure "Send As:" is set to Winlink Message.
Check "Request message receipt" if you wish a confirmation message.
Set "To:" to WB0GAG or IAWINLINKSAT. Add any others you would like to receive the message.
Set "Subject:" to Iowa Winlink Saturday.

When you are satisfied with the message, click "Post to Outbox".

Send as normal. If you have no radio capability yet, use telnet.

Specific suggestions are welcome, especially incident scenarios and which forms to use. Planned scenarios include:

• Railroad derailment - Hazardous Material Spills
• Flash floods
• Plane crashes
• Hill slides
• Tornados
• Earthquakes
• Search and Rescue operations
• Marathon and parade communications