Hello Everyone,
?
This week's exercise will be to check in to the net without using a Winlink client.? For anyone who is used to sending messages with a packet BBS, this will seem familiar.? If this is new to you, feel free to ask the group for help.? Once you are set up to do this exercise, you can use similar techniques to explore the VHF packet networks in the area, and the nationwide packet networks on HF.
?
This activity may be useful in the event you find yourself needing to send or receive Winlink mail, but you have limited equipment available.? To do this exercise you will need a terminal of some kind that is compatible with whatever modem you typically use to check in to the net.? If you use SoundModem or Direwolf for packet, EasyTerm is a good choice on Windows, and QtTermTCP can be used on Linux or Mac.? If you are using VARA, the author provides a VARA terminal that can be used.? Hardware TNC users or users with a TNC built in to their radio can use a serial terminal emulator of choice (PuTTY or Terminus for instance), or their favorite dedicated packet program that supports their TNC.
?
Step 1.? Open your terminal and connect to your TNC or modem.
Step 2.? Using the terminal, connect to a Winlink gateway of your choice.
Step 3.? When you get to the prompt ("CMS via W0NE >" for instance), type Login to authenicate yourself to the Winlink system.
Step 4.? You will receive 3 numbers.? At the prompt you need to enter 6 charachters from your Winlink password.? 3 of them should be in the positions indicated by the 3 numbers in any order.? For instance if your password is "RadioIsFun123" and you are prompted for [174] a valid response might be siR123.? Another valid response might be RsiIsF.
?
Note:? Anyone who played the game Clue as a kid might see why this isn't the most secure system.? The upshot is it's possible to authenticate with simple equipment.? If you do this often, it may be a good idea to change your password frequently
?
Step 6.? At the prompt, type "SP W0NE"
Step 7.? Enter a Subject and hit enter.
Step 8.? Enter the standard check-in text as the body of the email.? Hit Enter.
Step 9.? On an empty line type "/EX" and hit enter.
Step 10.? Type "bye" to disconnect.
?
Here is the terminal output from my session to use as an example:
?
c W0NE-10
Connected to W0NE-10
Trying
*** KU0HN Connected to CMS
[WL2K-5.0-B2FWIHJM$]
;PQ: 10115952
CMS via W0NE >
login
Login [395]:
CMS via W0NE >
*
Hello KU0HN
CMS via W0NE >
sp W0NE
Enter subject line for new message:
W0NE Winlink Net Check-In
Enter the message body ending with /EX on a separate line:
Ben, KU0HN, Lewiston, Winona, MN, USA, Packet via W0NE-10
/EX
Your message 71W4Z5R6JI40 has been sent...
CMS via W0NE >
bye
Disconnecting...
?
?
You can also type "Help" to see how to read any messages waiting for you on the CMS and other options.? I will paste the help text below.? The commands are extremely similar to a Packet BBS or PBBS on a packet TNC.? Feel free to play around to get familiar with they system.
?
Winlink is designed for automatic message transfer using Airmail, Paclink,?
Winlink Express or other client programs that support the B2F protocol.?
It will also accept limited keyboard commands.?
?
The below is subject to change --?
? ? Automations using this interface are discourged.
?
Your use of this system is acceptance of the risk associated with sending
portions of your password as part of the logon process.
?
Supported Telnet/VHF keyboard commands:
?
H or HELP gives you this file
?
LOGIN -?
? Send any command to initiate login. The CMS will respond with a challenge
? consisting of three digits who's values represent positions of characters?
? within your password. See <RESP>.
?
<RESP> - This is a six character response to the login challenge. Respond with?
? three password characters corresponding to the positions in the challenge
? plus three additional characters of your choosing (in any order).?
? Example: Password is AbC123. Login challenge is: 425. You send '1b2Qz5'.
? AbZ21t would also be valid since it contains the characters 1, b, and 2
? which correspond to the 4th, 2nd, and 5th character in your password.
??
LM - Lists all traffic pending for your callsign account.?
? Shows message ID (MID), date, size, from and subject.?
?
K <MID> - Example: K 1234_KN6KB Marks the pending message as delivered.?
?
KM - Mark all messages as delivered.?
?
B, BYE - Forces a disconnect of the link.
?
R <MID> - Example: R 1234_KN6KB? ?Read the specified message.?
? Only MIDs addressed to your call or originated by you may be read.
? Attachments are not supported.
?
RM - Read all pending unread messages to your callsign.
?
SP <Destination(s)> - Send a message to the destination(s) indicated.?
? Destinations may be a radio callsign or "SMTP:<email_address>"?
? (NOTE! be sure to include the colon after the SMTP!)??
? Multiple destinations should be separated by ";" or ","
??
You will be prompted for a subject of the new message and then prompted for the?
message body.
?
For the message body enter any text. End with /EX on a separate line.
?
Acceptance of the message will be confirmed. You will be sent a service message?
if the message cannot be delivered.
?
-------
If you need help getting connected, feel free to reply to the group.
?
73,
Ben - KU0HN
