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167 lines
6.8 KiB
167 lines
6.8 KiB
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title = 'Winlink on my iPhone with RadioMail'
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aliases = '/posts/2023-11-05-winlink-on-my-iphone-with-radiomail'
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summary = '''Finally there is an absolutely portable way
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to operate Winlink.'''
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date = '2023-11-05T07:20:12+0100'
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lastmod = '2024-09-22T08:22:27+0000'
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categories = [ 'amateur-radio' ]
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tags = [ 'winlink', 'radiomail', 'ios' ]
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Have a look at the recent (as of today) announcement which already explains
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all the new features: :link: <https://radiomail.app/news/radiomail-1.2/>
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{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
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**Updated on 18 Feb 2024**:
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Since this post was published :link: [another version appeared](https://radiomail.app/news/radiomail-1.3/)
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that also includes the possibility to **remotely start and control VARA HF** and **VARA FM**
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applications on a **headless** Windows or Linux **miniPC** (or notebook, or Raspberry Pi --
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whatever device can run VARA apps as long as it in the same network as your iOS device).
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The tool used for this is called **Varanny** and auto-fills the remote hosts data into
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your RadioMail configuration just with a tap of your finger -- it starts the desired VARA
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application on the remote host with the pre-defined configuration, so you can easily swap
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configurations as you swap your rigs. A fantastic solution!
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Downloads and Documentation (look at the README file and the Wiki page!) are on :link: [Georges
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Github repository](https://github.com/islandmagic/varanny).
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{{< /alert >}}
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## Get the app and: Pricing :money_bag:
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Find the [application in Apples AppStore](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radiomail/id1613839993):
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be aware that it might cost something. I paid 17.99€ in October 2023.
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If you want to use Winlink Forms you have to subscribe to a yearly (9.99€)
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or monthly (1.99€) plan to support the developer.
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{{< alert circle-info >}}
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I'd like to point out, that you always have to pay for software. Either with money,
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or with your personal information. The big tech companies like Google for example get
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paid with information that most of us deliver with their smartphones and laptops. That
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is one reason why YouTube hates adblockers.
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<small>But that is another story...</small>
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{{< /alert >}}
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## Winlink Forms :memo:
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[Winlink forms][1] work very well. There is also a way to import your self-made
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forms -- which also works very well on most forms. I got one form that I was
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unable to import, but I haven't found the reason yet (it gets imported into
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Winlink Express without problems though).
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Some forms can be found here: [WLNET-OE][2] (weekly winlink net; Austria)
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[1]: https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpressForms
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[2]: https://groups.io/g/WLNET-OE/topics
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## Setup the application
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Using your Winlink username (callsign) and your Winlink password (the same
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that you would use for Winlink Express on a Windows Computer).
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## A quick walkthrough via TELNET
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Tap <kbd>Stations</kbd> in the top right corner and add the <kbd>WL2K</kbd>
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station to your favorites (if it's not in there already).
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Tap the envelope :envelope: in the bottom left corner and choose the
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<kbd>WL2K</kbd> station from your favorites. Choose <kbd>Send & Receive</kbd>
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and hit <kbd>Connect</kbd>.
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That's it basically.
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## Using the Mobilinkd TNC4 with the Icom ID-52
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### Basic configuration of the TNC with Mobilinkd Config App
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As with most equipment, you need to set the audio levels on the Mobilinkd TNC.
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There is a [configuration app at the AppStore](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mobilinkd-config-app/id1449681533).
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| TNC input settings| TNC output settings |
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| :---------------: | :---------------: |
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|  |  |
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The actual battery state can be viewed in <kbd>Power Settings...</kbd>.
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After you finished the confgiguration, disconnect the Config App from your TNC.
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### The actual use of the TNC with RadioMail :tokyo_tower:
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Connect the Mobilinkd TNC with an appropriate cable to your transceiver. I'm using
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my [Icom ID-52]({{< ref "/equipment/radio-stuff/handhelds/icom-id52" >}}) for this because this is the radio if have usually with me -- if any.
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{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
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Read through the [:open_book: User Manual](http://www.mobilinkd.com/downloads/) as it is
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really helpful (yes I know, real men and specially tech geeks don't need
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manuals -- they just post stupid questions on mailing lists later...)
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{{< /alert >}}
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Once you are in the app, select your favorites from the full stations view by
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tapping the top right button called <kbd>Stations</kbd>.
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Select the station and tap <kbd>Add to Favorites</kbd>.
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Now, when you want to connect to a gateway, you can choose from your favorites
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from within the <kbd>Connect</kbd> screen by hitting <kbd>Favorites</kbd>.
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Then select the mode and your favorits get listed.
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### Compose a message using forms
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Compose a message while using forms by **tapping and holding** the
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{{< icon "edit" >}} button on the bottom right corner.
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{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
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Don't forget: you need a subscription to use forms, as they require
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more maintainance to keep always updated with the regular [Winlink Forms][3].
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[3]: https://www.winlink.org/WinlinkExpressForms
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{{< /alert >}}
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## Using RadioMail with VARA-HF
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This is also valid for VARA-FM (but I won't cover that, because I use the built-in packet
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option from RadioMail).
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You need another device (usually a Windows Laptop or Tablet) that can run VARA-HF.
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Put your iPhone and the device that runs VARA-HF into the same network so they can talk
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to each other. Also enable the **KISS** interface in the VARA-HF software (or VARA-FM)!
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Go to <kbd>Settings</kbd>, <kbd>VARA HF Modem</kbd> (in <kbd>DEVICES</kbd>) and enter
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the IP Address of the host running VARA-HF. Example below:
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RadioMail on your iPhone can now talk to the VARA HF Modem on your Surface tablet (for example).
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## Would I recommend using RadioMail instead of Winlink Express?
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No, not yet as a Winlink Express replacement. The app is nice and it is really fun
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to use but there is no possibility to export messages from Winlink and import them
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into RadioMail and vice versa.
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Also there is no synchronisation between the Winlink Express and the RadioMail
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mailboxes (like INBOX, Outbox, Sent Items etc.).
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Also the failed import of one of the forms (link above) makes me feel a bit like
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the app ain't fully ready for productive usage yet -- that may change anytime, so
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keep that in mind though.
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If you only intend to use this portable with the minimum amount of equipment to carry:
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this may be the way to go. I really know very few people that do not carry a phone with
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them at all times and you only need a handheld radio with the Mobilinkd TNC to send
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and receive Winlink messages via PacketRadio.
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