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Using the BTECH UV-PRO with Winlink Tutorial
If you’re a radio enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of Winlink, a global messaging system that uses radio frequencies to send emails, files, weather reports, and even GPS data. Winlink is especially valuable in emergencies or remote locations where traditional internet access might not be available. It provides reliable communication by bridging traditional email with radio signals, making it perfect for ham radio operators, emergency responders, and adventurers alike.
With your BTECH UV-PRO radio, you can easily connect to Winlink Express on Windows. Here’s a straightforward tutorial to help you set up your UV-PRO radio for Winlink.
Setting up your UV-PRO Radio:
- On your UV-PRO radio, navigate to:
- Main Menu > General Settings > KISS TNC – make sure the “Enable KISS TNC” box is unchecked.
- Go back and select General Settings > Digital Mode – ensure the “Enable” box is checked.
- Set “Share Location” to 600 seconds.
- Set “Digital Channel” to any channel and “Format” to APRS.
- Find the local VHF Winlink frequency for your area. Save this frequency as a memory channel on your radio (name it something easy like “Winlink”).
Pairing UV-PRO Radio with Your PC:
- Turn on Bluetooth pairing mode on the UV-PRO:
- Navigate to Menu > Main Menu and check the “Pairing” box.
- On your Windows computer:
- Right-click the Start button, then select Settings.
- Go to Devices, then click “Bluetooth & Other Devices”.
- Click “Add Bluetooth or other device”, then choose “Bluetooth”.
- Select “UV Pro” from the list and follow the on-screen prompts to pair.
- After pairing, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button again.
- Expand “Ports (COM & LPT)” to see your Bluetooth devices.
- Write down the COM port numbers listed (you’ll need these later).
Connecting UV-PRO with Winlink Express:
- Open Winlink Express on your PC.
- On the main screen:
- Select “Packet Winlink”, then click “Open Session”.
- Select “Packet Winlink”, then click “Open Session”.
- A new window opens:
- Click “Settings”.
- Under “Serial Port”, select one of the COM ports you noted earlier.
- Click “UPDATE” to save settings and close this window.
- Click “Settings”.
- Back on the Packet Winlink window:
- Click “Start”. Watch the data screen for confirmation that you’re connected to the UV-PRO.
- When successfully connected, the UV-PRO radio will show a phone icon.
Important
- Remember, you cannot connect to the UV-PRO via its programmer app while using Winlink. Close this app and any other programs that may connect to your UV-PRO.
- Initially, you might need to try different COM ports to find the correct one. Once connected successfully, your settings will be saved, simplifying future connections.
With the BTECH UV-PRO’s versatile Bluetooth TNC capability, you now have a powerful tool that makes your radio a flexible hub for emergency communications, remote messaging, and reliable connectivity wherever you are. Enjoy seamless radio-to-email communication and explore all the possibilities your UV-PRO radio offers!
Comments (2)
Good info. Please duplicate for WOAD, Winlink On AnDroid.
I use WOAD too on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for Winlink.