Winlink Information
(page updated on 4/27/2026)
Local Winlink RMS Gateways
| Station | Frequency | Location | Modes | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K3CUJ-10 | 145.01 | Ellicott City | Vara FM | Howard County ARES |
| WM3M-10 | 145.09 | White Flint | Vara FM, Packet | MMARSI |
| WA3YOO-9 | 145.75 | Ashton | Vara FM, Packet, Post Office | MCACS |
| WB3KAS-10 | 145.75 | Ft. Washington | Vara FM, Packet | PG ARES |
| W3LRC-10 | 145.75 | Laurel | Packet | Laurel ARC |
| KF3AK-10 | 145.77 | Gambrill Mt. | Vara FM |
Notes:
- VHF/UHF RMS gateways can be used as digipeaters for peer-to-peer connections between local stations when Internet access to the Winlink Central Message Server is unavailable.
- When seeking a HF RMS gateway, a simple strategy is to listen to voice stations on your target band to see where propagation is good. Then select a gateway from the Channel Selector in the same general part of the county. For example, if you are hearing stations in the Midwest on voice, choose a gateway station in the Midwest.
- The Vara modems perform significantly better than most alternatives under less-than-ideal conditions. A license to use Vara costs $75, and multiple instances of both the HF and FM versions may be installed for one license fee, as long as all installations are under a single call sign. It is well worth the modest cost and highly recommended.
- When using Vara, you have two (on FM) or three (on HF) choices for bandwidth. Under ideal propagation conditions, the wider bandwidth mode achieves greater throughput, which is a significant benefit when sending a lengthy message. But if the band is crowded, you will be more successful (and considerate of others) when you choose the narrow bandwidth. Be sure to select a gateway having a compatible bandwidth.
Winlink Tactical Addresses
| Winlink Tactical Address | Assigned To |
|---|---|
| MDMONTEC | Montgomery County ARES Emergency Coordinator (KN3U) |
| MDMONTHCH-SS | Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring) |
| MDMONTHCH-GMTN | Holy Cross Germantown Hospital |
| MDMONTMMMC | MedStar Montgomery Medical Center (Olney) |
| MDMONTNIHRAC | NIH Radio Amateur Club Station (Bethesda) |
| MDMONTVAN | MCACS Communications Van |
† If you are configuring a laptop to be used for Winlink at one of these facilities, you will need to obtain the password in order to retrieve messages addressed to that facility’s tactical address. Before sending a message to another facility’s tactical address, verify that they are able to retrieve it.
Maryland-DC Section Monthly Digital EMCOMM Challenge
The Maryland-DC Digital EMCOMM Challenge is a monthly training activity sponsored by Maryland-DC ARES to familiarize operators with advanced features of Winlink and other digital modes that are useful for emergency and disaster communications. All ARES members in the MDC section are encouraged to participate. (We have a few participants from neighboring sections as well.) One purpose of the Challenge is to encourage the regular use of Winlink among amateur radio operators. It’s easy to participate — all you have to do is send a Winlink message to tactical call sign MDCWINLINK-1, asking to be added to the mailing list for the challenge. You’ll receive a Winlink message each month with instructions for that month’s exercise.
Most exercises do not require you to be on a certain frequency at a specific time. Rather, a range of time is specified, and you complete the activity at a time of your choosing within the specified time span.