PSKMail – Email Via Ham Radio

PSKmail is a narrow band arq mail delivery system for use by amateur radio hams via short wave (HF) communication. It does not use a special controller, you just need a computer with a sound card.

PSKmail uses the fldigi program as a modem, and can use most any digital mode supported by fldigi, including the new robust PSK modes which include soft viterbi decoding and interleave to increase immunity to qrm and qrn. The operator can choose several mode profiles to match channel conditions.

The system uses adaptive mode control to use the channel capacity efficiently. When channel quality changes during a connected session the system changes speed to accommodate the new circumstances.

PSKmail has a client/server architecture. Unlike Packet Radio the PSKmail protocol only allows 1 connected client at the time. Bandwidth (3dB) using the maximum speed (PSK500) is max. 500 Hz, providing a net throughput of ~400 wpm.

The multiplatform PSKmail client is written in java, and runs on windows, linux and OSX. The server is written in perl. Applications include a Mailbox (port 24) allowing down/upload of local mail and mail from the internet, downloading information from the web (ASCII text only), position update and station-to-station messaging via APRS(port26), and chat mode (between clients).

Pskmail is predestined for emergency communications. Even if the local internet is down, the long range on HF guarantees a connection to the internet. And it is child’s play to set up an ad hoc server.

Pskmail also works together with Sylpheed and other Linux mail clients. You can use the mail integrator you are used to (any mbox compatible system).

You can use PSKMail to get and send your email, twitter and aprs messages!!

Runs on Linux, Windows, BSD and Macs too

Read more at http://pskmail.wikispaces.com/

Reading and sending your email via ham radio, cool is it ?

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