Winlink: Email Over Radio When All Else Fails

What happens when the internet goes down, mobile phone networks fail, or natural disasters isolate communities?

That question was explored by Richard VK2SKY during last Sunday's WIA National News broadcast, following John VK4JPM's report on the upcoming national AusAlert test and the recent Telstra mobile network outage. The incidents served as a timely reminder that no communications system is infallible, and why amateur radio continues to play an important role in emergency communications.

One of the most powerful tools available to radio amateurs is Winlink, a worldwide messaging system that allows operators to send and receive email using amateur radio. By connecting to a Winlink gateway outside an affected area, messages can be exchanged with other Winlink users or delivered directly to ordinary internet email addresses, even when local communications infrastructure has been severely disrupted.

Winlink is available for Windows, Linux, macOS and Raspberry Pi, making it accessible to almost any amateur station. Like any emergency communications skill, regular practice is the key. Weekly activities such as Winlink Wednesday and the Hamword challenge provide enjoyable ways to build confidence and familiarity with the system before it is needed for real.

Richard also highlighted the innovative work of PAREDN (Philippines Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network), which combines Winlink, SMS gateways, APRS messaging and EchoLink to conduct regular emergency communications exercises with volunteers across the Philippines. It is an excellent example of how multiple amateur radio technologies can be integrated to provide resilient communications "when all else fails."

To learn more about Winlink and emergency communications, visit:

WICEN Australia: Link
Winlink Global Radio Email: Link
Getting Started with Winlink: Link
Winlink Wednesday: Link
Hamword Winlink Activity: Link
PAREDN (Philippines Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network): Link
AusAlert: Link

Whether your interest is emergency communications, experimentation or simply learning another facet of amateur radio, Winlink is well worth exploring. The best time to learn is before you need it.

Page Last Updated: Thursday, 23 Jul 2026 at 11:34 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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