RMS EXPRESS MESSAGING PROCEDURES Lewis Thompson AAA6TX April 24, 2011 1
Table of Contents Introduction.. 3 RMS Express Telnet Message Procedure.... 4 RMS Express Pactor Winlink Message Procedure.... 5 RMS Express Winmor Winlink Message Procedure.. 6 RMS Express Peer-To-Peer Message Procedures.... 7 Message Transmission/Reception Verification.... 9 P2P Message Transfer During Net Operation. 10 P2P Message Reception At An Unmanned Station. 10 2
Introduction RMS Express has two means of message forwarding. The most familiar and most used mode of operation is the transmission of e-mail messaging to the Internet via either a RMS HF station (HF Pactor or HF Winmor) or directly to a CMS (TELNET via Internet). VHF modes are not discussed in this document. A lesser known capability of RMS Express is its ability to transfer e-mail traffic directly between two connected stations. The message transfer, both directions, is automatic once a connection is achieved. This method, Peer-to-Peer, permits error free messaging with attachments (ICS-213, etc.) even if the Internet has failed or long-range RMS HF stations were unavailable due to propagation conditions. Further, the receiving station need not be manned as long as it is listening for a connection on a known frequency. All connected modes, use ARQ, Automatic Repeat Request, to achieve error-free transfer of messages and attachments. RMS Express Winlink (Internet) Message Procedure Messages sent by a MARS station to either a RMS HF station or a CMS will have the form as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: RMS Express Winlink Message for Internet Transmission Note that the To: box can contain both Winlink Airmail addresses (AAR6PC) and Internet addresses. Any number of addition e-mail addresses may be placed in either the 3
To: or Cc: boxes. The Winlink Message button must be checked. The Subject: line must start with //MARS R/, //MARS P/ or //MARS O/. When the message is complete, it must be posted for transmission by clicking on Post to Outbox. The next step is to send this message to either a RMS HF station (HF Pactor or Winmor) or by Telnet to a CMS. Telnet Mode The Telnet mode is selected in the pull-down menu (right box) of the main RMS Express screen as shown in Figure 2. Click on Open Session to start a Telnet session. You must have an active Internet connection. Figure 2: Telnet Mode Selection Figure 3: Telnet Session Window 4
Click on Start to begin a Telnet session and send the posted message. RMS Express uses the WL2K server to automatically select the CMS station. Exit back to the main screen when finished with the Telnet session. Pactor Winlink Mode To Open a PACTOR Winlink Session, select Pactor WL2K from the mode pull down box and then click Open Session. This opens the Pactor Winlink 2000 Session box shown in Figure 4. Note that an external Pactor modem (P1, P2 or P3) must be attached to both your computer and transceiver. Figure 4: Pactor Winlink 2000 Session Click on Channel Selection to bring up the HF Channel Selector shown in Figure 5. This table is ordered in descending probability of successful connection based on your geographic location and the propagation conditions. RMS Express used ICEPAC, the same propagation modeling program used by Airmail. Select a RMS station and then close the screen. The selected station s call sign, center of intelligence and dial frequency (USB) will be shown in the boxes at the top of the Pactor Winlink 2000 Session screen. Set your transceiver to the dial frequency, tune the antenna then click Start. If propagation is favorable, a connection will be achieved and the posted document will be automatically transferred, any traffic for your station will be downloaded and then the HF RMS station will automatically disconnect. This process is greatly simplified, if you have automatic frequency control between your computer and transceiver. 5
Figure 5: HF Channel Selector Winmor Winlink Mode In a similar fashion, a Winmor Winlink session can be conducted. Note that Winmor and Pactor 1 are Training Modes and should not be used for operations except under exigent circumstances if Pactor 3 is not available. Care must be taken to not interfere with or delay RMS access by Pactor 3 equipped stations. The Winmor Winlink 2000 session is shown in Figure 6. The Channel Selection button is used to select a Winmor station and the Start button initiates a call from your station. You must set the correct dial frequency and tune your antenna before transmitting. Note that multiple windows will be open during an active Winmor session. 6
Figure 6: Winmor Winlink 2000 Session Windows RMS Express Pactor Peer-To-Peer Message Procedure RMS Express software also allows the exchange of message traffic between two stations directly without the use of RMS HF stations and the Internet. Either Pactor (with an external modem) or Winmor maybe used. A message prepared for Peer-to-Peer transmission is shown in Figure 7. When the Peer-to-Peer Message button is checked, the CC: box is grayed since this message is going to be sent only to the station in the To: line. The message is then posted by clicking Post to Outbox. 7
Figure 7: Peer-To-Peer Message A Pactor or Winmor session is opened from the main RMS Express screen by selecting either Pactor P2P or Winmor P2P and then clicking Open Session. The Pactor P2P screen is shown in Figure 8 and the Winmor screens in Figure 9. Figure 8: Pactor Peer-to-Peer Session screen 8
Figure 9: Winmor Peer-to-Peer Session screen In both cases, the traffic destination station s call sign, shown in the To: box of the message, must also be entered in the left box on the Pactor or Winmor P2P session screen. The center frequency must be entered in the Center Frequency (KHz) box. Note that the frequency must be in KHz. See page 21 of the new Net Plan for center frequencies. The dial frequency is then calculated by the RMS Express software and displayed in the Dial Frequency (KHz) box. The dial frequency for Pactor 1 modems that have fixed offset frequencies (PK-232 and DXP38) will be correctly displayed if the Pactor modem setup was properly done. In each case the antenna should be tuned first and then a connect command initiated by clicking on the Start command. The calling station will initiate a connection with the station shown in the call sign box and traffic for each station will be transferred, followed by an automatic disconnect. If traffic is successfully passed, the sending station s Outbox will be empty and the receiving station s Inbox will contain the message. Note that traffic can be passed both ways during a session, just like a Winlink session. 9
Pactor Message Transfer During Net Operation The transfer of a P2P RMS Express messages during a net can be handled exactly the same way as a MT-63 message. The term Pactor or Winmor should be used instead of MT-63/Olivia after the message destination. For Pactor, the transmitting and receiving stations will have to shift frequency if either or both stations have a PK-232 or DXP38 modem. If both stations are using either a KAM or PTC series modem, no frequency shift is necessary. The transmitting station must place the receiving station s call in both the message (figure 7) and the terminal window (figures 8 or 9). This can be done before the message is listed, so minimum net time is used for the actual message transfer. After the NCS directs the traffic, and the sending and receiving stations have used the required voice procedures, the transmitting station simply hits the Start button on the RMS Session screen and the message transfer is automatic including connecting and disconnecting from the receiving station. The receiving station should go to his Inbox and double click on the new message. Once the new message has opened, he can obtain the message number and roger for it. Note that this PACTOR/Winmor procedure is a little more complex, but this is the only method presently available to transfer a message with an attachment without error (ARQ). This type of message will most likely be used for ICS-213 forms between government operations centers and deployed teams. If Pactor III is available and the radio link is good, pictures and maps can be transferred as attachments. Message reception at Unmanned Station Some customer stations, like the SOC, JOC and others may not be able to maintain a continuous watch. RMS Express P2P will allow MARS stations to drop message traffic to these locations without requiring the station to periodically check into a HF RMS Winlink station or be continuously manned. The sending station has verification that the message was delivered by checking the Outbox of his Message Index. The receiving station simply needs to check his Inbox to determine if new message traffic has been sent. All that is necessary is for the receiving station to keep the Terminal Screen of RMS Express open and monitor on a known frequency. For example, the SOC monitors KDC-Pactor continuously. 10