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---
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title: Winlink on a Windows computer and a TX-500
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summary: >
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For anyone interested and mainly for my notes archive, this is the setup that
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I currently have set up on my Windows equipment for Winlink. I started taking notes
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on the **Microsoft Surface 2 Go** and ended up installing all this on the **HP Elitebook 830 G6**
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(which has an **integrated GPS sensor**).
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# date: 2024-05-11T23:53:55+02:00
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date: 2024-06-01T09:45:09+02:00
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# lastmod:
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coverCaption: Winlink Express
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categories:
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- amateur-radio
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tags:
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- winlink
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- portable
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- digirig
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- mobilinkd
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- packet radio
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- vara fm
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- vara hf
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- gps
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---
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First let us start with what I used until now for any Winlink session that
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I made (either at home or portable in the field/forest/mountain).
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## The old setup (on a linux box)
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I use a Lenovo X1 Carbon as my daily driver. It is quick enough and compact
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and I used it for a while now for hamradio stuff too. I never did FT8 or
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similar "messengers" on it though. In particular I did some winlink sessions
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using [Pat] in combination with [rigctld], [direwolf], the [AX.25 tools],
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[VARA] (HF and FM) and [ARDOPCF] (never got one connection from home).
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[Pat]: https://getpat.io/
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[rigctld]: https://hamlib.github.io/
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[direwolf]: https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
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[AX.25 tools]: https://packet-radio.net/ax-25/
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[VARA]: https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
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[ARDOPCF]: https://github.com/Dinsmoor/ardopcf
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A more precise note on how I established different connection types is
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[already
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written down in the article before]({{< ref "64-packet-radio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux" >}}
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"Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd, Digirig and the SignaLink USB on Linux").
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## Using Winlink Express on a Windows computer
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I planned to use the Surface 2 Go tablet for Winlink and related tasks -- but while I
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wrote down my notes in this article I finally realized that I want to user a more
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powerful device than the Surface 2 Go. I ordered a used HP Elitebook 830 for this
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and I finished the main setup already.
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<abbr title="For your information">FYI</abbr>: most screenshots are still from the Surface tablet.
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I like to have the sound control open to adjust volume levels.
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## ARDOP setup
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Following some screenshots showing my settings for ARDOP:
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Set the desired drive level within these settings. I usually have to set it to <kbd>87</kbd>-<kbd>88</kbd>.
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I use a Lab599 Discovery TX-500 (with Lab599 as the CAT option).
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I also use a Digirig and I can therefore use the COM port to trigger the PTT function.
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{{< video "ardop-session-web" "An ARDOP session" >}}
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## VARA HF setup
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{{< video "vara-session-web" "A VARA HF session" >}}
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## VARA FM setup
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The Digirig was not connected at the time when I made the screenshot here, so you see an invalid soundcard setting above.
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Make sure to select the proper USB sound devices.
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{{< video "varafm-session-web" "A VARA FM session" >}}
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## Packet radio setup
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{{< video "packet-session-web" "A packet radio session" >}}
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## Using the internal GPS sensor
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My Surface 2 Go was a non-LTE version and I think those versions are the only ones with built-in GPS sensors
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so I always had to use external GPS devices like the [U-blox7 GPS stick](https://www.amazon.com//dp/B01MTU9KTF/).
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But starting with the Elitebook 830 G6 I now have a device with integrated GPS sensors that I want to
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use with Winlink Express.
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Heads up: Winlink Express let you use a COM port or a TCP/IP connection to obtain coordinates, so we will
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need some sort of middleware that can read the internal sensors and forward the location information to a
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**virtual COM port**.
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### GPSREverse and GPSDirect
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I have tried [GPSReverse and GPSDirect](https://www.gpssensordrivers.com/) first but had no luck with it.
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I then started another try on a search engine but specifically looked for experienced off-grid operators like
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Julian, OH8STN -- because I remembered some videos of him using a Surface tablet as well. And of course, he
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[also used the internal GPS device of his LTE model](https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/11/02/microsoft-surface-go-lte-gps-for-ham-radio/).
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### Using GpsGate Splitter
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Goto the [GpsGate Splitter](https://gpsgate.com/gpsgate-splitter) website and download the Splitter aswell as
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the **Windows Location API Plugin** (scroll down a bit).
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{{< alert >}}
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The program is a 14-day free trial and can be bought for EUR 30€ (USD 40$) and is well worth the
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investment.
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{{< /alert >}}
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On the welcome screen click <kbd>Advanced setup...</kbd> on the bottom. This opens the GpsGate settings dialog.
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Select <kbd>Windows Location API</kbd> as input.
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Move to the tab <kbd>Output</kbd> and choose <kbd>Virtual COM Port</kbd> in the drop-down menu
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for the output. Click <kbd>Add</kbd> and choose which port to use (I use <kbd>COM1</kbd>).
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Go back to the <kbd>Input</kbd> tab and click <kbd>Open</kbd>. You can now close the dialog
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form and it will remain active in the systray (bottom right of the screen, somewhere near the clock).
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After a reboot the GpsGate service should start automatically and restore your virtual COM port that
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you can select in Winlink Express.
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## What you have to look for
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There are probably more things to keep an eye on, but those are the few ones that
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I usually take care of.
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### Time synchronisation
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Most digital modes rely on accurate time settings, so you may synchronise with a timeserver or use
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the GPS mouse.
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### RX signal
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In ARDOP try to get your receiving signal withing the green bar. 
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The top blue bar will then change to green aswell.
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In VARA HF make sure the left indicator is near the needle as in this screenshot. 
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You can achieve this with different methods.
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- Change the microphone level within Windows.
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I try to leave this setting to <kbd>80%</kbd> but I sometimes have to adjust it a bit.
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It is good at <kbd>80%</kbd> for VARA FM, but for ARDOP I often have to increase it to <kbd>100%</kbd>.
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- Change the REF level on your radio.
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On the TX-500 I usually maintain a REF level of <kbd>-19</kbd>.
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### TX signal
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You may need to look into your radios manual to get the optimum value of the signal.
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On the TX-500 I look at the DIG meter. Get the bar nearly full and you are good to go.
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(The ALC meter on the TX-500 does not move a bit on my setup)
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## Some nice shortcut commands for the desktop
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I catch myself often doing quick looks into the device manager to verify
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the actual COM ports are still what they are used to be and I am also adjusting
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sound volumes (USB speaker & mic) very often.
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I created two links on my desktop that open the device manager and the
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extended sound options just with a double-click for me.
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Device Manager
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: Right click on the desktop, select <kbd>New ›</kbd> → <kbd>Link</kbd>
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and enter `devmgmt.msc`. Hit <kbd>Enter</kbd> or click <kbd>Next</kbd>,
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name the new link appropriate and you're done with this one.
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Sound control
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: Right click on the desktop, select <kbd>New ›</kbd> → <kbd>Link</kbd>
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and enter `mmsys.cpl sounds`. Hit <kbd>Enter</kbd> or click <kbd>Next</kbd>,
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name the new link appropriate and you're also done with that one.
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The sound control shortcut may have a non-ideal symbol, to change it right click
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onto the new shortcut, select <kbd>Properties</kbd> and click on the button
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<kbd>Other symbol...</kbd>. In the next dialog I choose another file
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(click the button <kbd>Search...</kbd> next to the textfield). I use the
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symbol from `C:\Windows\System32\SndVol.exe` -- open that file and you can
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choose between three simple symbols for this new shortcut on your desktop.
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Close all dialogs by clicking on <kbd>OK</kbd> and that's it!
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