[drats_users] D-RATS 0.3.2b4

[Ron Wenig]

Dan,

You can download Paclink at www.winlink.org Paclink is the client 
software that allows you to use RF packet to connect to an RMS Gateway.  
The RMS Gateway uses the old FBB protocol to upload or download mail for 
you with one of 5 CMS Servers which are redundant servers.  The password 
to sign on to the servers is built into the RMS Gateway software which 
also rotates through the CMS Servers.  Doing it this way no password is 
needed for the client just a valid ham call.  If you have an internet 
connection you can skip the RMS Gateway and connect directly to the CMS 
Server, also with a builit in password and also rotating through the 
servers.  The only password that's needed is the internal one for your 
localhost so that you can check your mail using the familiar Outlook 
Express.

On the winlink site you can also get the RMS Packet software that is the 
RMS Gateway that anyone can set up.  To get the software you have to 
register your call with the Winlink Team so that they can authorize you 
to use the CMS Servers.  I think you mentioned this when you said you 
have to join the club :-)  The send you registration code that is needed 
to run the program.  This program runs waiting for Paclink stations to 
connect via RF again no password is needed but the RMS Packet sysop 
could filter out a callsign if needed. 

I think it would be really cool if there was a hook in D-Rats.  This RMS 
Gateway station could also run D-Rats with a hook into the telnet part 
that checks for mail from the CMS Server.  A D-Star client could user 
D-Rats to send or receive mail the same as a Paclink client.  This would 
greatly expand the coverage of the Paclink client to the RMS Gateway 
because you could use D-Star repeaters.  What a great enhancement to 
ARES emergency communications.  That's the first thing I thought of, as 
a Winlink user, when I started to use D-Star and D-Rats.  Dan, I guess 
you are going to have to join the Winlink development Team so you can 
use up some of that spare time that you have :-)

Ron ny3j

Dan Smith wrote:
>> The password for Outlook Express, since it's the localhost, is whatever 
>> you want it to be as long as the one in Paclink is the same.
>>     
>
> Oh, hmm.  Can't Paclink provide access to multiple stations on the
> network?  If so, do they all have to use the same password?
>
>   
>> CMSTelnet is just when you use Telnet to check for mail directly 
>> to the CMS Servers.  In Paclink this password is automatically sent from 
>> the program.  When you use Airmail you have to enter it in the Telnet 
>> setup program.
>>     
>
> Right, I guess I just don't see the point in Paclink requiring a
> different password.
>
> Anyway, I guess I'll try to get Paclink installed somewhere so I can
> play with it and make sure I know what it's doing.
>
> Thanks!
>
>