PSKMail is an ARQ communication system optimized for HF frequencies, providing a decentralized and flexible gateway for internet-based functions when standard access is unavailable. It enables various services, including email, file upload/download, and resource management, using existing hardware and open-source software across multiple platforms. The system is designed for efficient communication in emergencies, offering features like automatic document forwarding and support for various digital modes.

1. PSKmail @ GAREC 2013PSKmail @ GAREC 2013
Rein Couperus, PA0RRein Couperus, PA0R
27.06.2013
The swiss army knife for HF digital communication ?The swiss army knife for HF digital communication ?

2. Possible Disaster Response Setup
LongDi
stance Internation
alSites
OnSite
Operation
Center
LAN / WLAN
HAMNET
HF pskmail
HF pskmail
Othe
r Local
Sites
Medium
Distance Natio
nalSites

3. DA5UWG/DF3FS Test Setup
Pskmail
Server
HF
p-to-p
pactor
link
HF
HAMNET
Service Link
to
next node
DB0PDF
Modified
WLAN Router
running as
digipeater
LogPed Dipole
2,4 GHz
On Site
TCP/IP
70 cm
Packet
Radio
5.7 GHz
Dish
Local Area Network
other
services

4. PSKmail 4
PSKmail ???
● PSKmail is a ARQ communication system
optimized for HF frequencies, used when
internet access is not within range.

5. PSKmail 5
PSKmail ???
● PSKmail is a ARQ communication system
optimized for HF frequencies, used when
internet access is not within range.
● It offers a flexible long-haul gateway to
all usual internet based functions
Footprint = 6000 km
(Clipperton to Atlanta USA)

6. PSKmail 6
PSKmail ???
● PSKmail is a ARQ communication system
optimized for HF frequencies, used when
internet access is not within range.
● It offers a flexible long-haul gateway to
all usual internet based functions
● PSKmail uses a protocol developed by
K9PS for use on HF, and adds modern
DTN techniques for document transfer
between servers and clients when the
Internet is out.

7. PSKmail 7
Who is involved?
● PSKmail is a community effort.
● Developers:
– Rein, PA0R
– Per, SM0RWO
– John, VK2ETA
– Klaus, DL4OAH
– And numerous sysops and testers
around the world...

8. PSKmail 8
PSKmail Philosophy
● Decentralized
● OPEN SOURCE
● Existing hardware only
● Most OS Platforms
● Standard protocols
● Energy efficient
● Non-intrusive
Internet cloud
Server
Server
Server
Clients

9. PSKmail 9
PSKmail Philosophy
Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
● PSKmail uses a decentralized
client/server gateway concept
with servers offering all normal
internet services, NO SINGLE
POINT OF FAILURE!!.
Internet cloud
Server
Server
Server
Clients
There is no
central server
holding any info.
The smallest
working system
is 1 server
+ 1 client.
ISPISP
ISPISP
ISPISP

10. PSKmail 10
PSKmail Philosophy
● PSKmail uses a
decentralized client/server
concept with servers offering
all normal internet services,
NO SINGLE POINT OF
FAILURE!!.
● OPEN SOURCE software
only
– Client: java
– Server: Perl
Internet cloud
Server
Server
Server
Clients
Change the system
yourself if it does not
fit your needs...

11. PSKmail 11
PSKmail Philosophy
● PSKmail uses a decentralized
client/server concept with
servers offering all normal
internet services, NO SINGLE
POINT OF FAILURE!!.
● OPEN SOURCE software
● Uses existing hardware
Internet cloud
Server
Server
Server
Clients

12. PSKmail 12
Existing hardware

13. 13
'PA0R/M special'
(80 meter NVIS)

14. PSKmail 14
PSKmail Philosophy
● PSKmail uses a decentralized
client/server concept with
servers offering all normal
internet services, NO SINGLE
POINT OF FAILURE!!.
● OPEN SOURCE software
● Uses existing hardware
● Platforms available:
– Linux,
– ANDROID,
– OSx,
– Windows (XP, W7)
Internet cloud
Server
Server
Server
Clients

15. PSKmail 15
Runs on modern hardware
Try our bluetooth
adapter...
VK2ETA has made
the client software
available for ANDROID
smart phones

16. PSKmail 16
Bluetooth adapter for FT-817

17. PSKmail 17
Bluetooth adapters for FT-817

18. PSKmail 18
Ultra modern hardware
Sorry, doesSorry, does
not worknot work
on iPhone.on iPhone.

19. 19
PSKmail ARQ
Amtor
PSKmail
or:
Basic bandwidth = 500 Hz

20. 20
PSKmail ARQ in trouble zone...
Amtor
PSKmail
or:
Basic bandwidth = 500 Hz

21. 21
PSKmail ARQ
Amtor
PSKmail
or:
● PSK500 - PSK250
● PSK500R – PSK125R
● MFSK 32 – MFSK 16
● THOR 22 – THOR 8
● Contestia 500/8
Basic bandwidth = 500 Hz
Several new digital modesSeveral new digital modes
were developed especiallywere developed especially
for pskmail, like PSKxxRfor pskmail, like PSKxxR
and THORand THOR

22. 22
PSKmail ARQ
Amtor
PSKmail
or:
● PSK500 - PSK250
● PSK500R – PSK125R
● MFSK 32 – MFSK 16
● THOR 22 – THOR 8
● Contestia 500/8
Basic bandwidth = 500 Hz
Automatic adaptive modeAutomatic adaptive mode
switching, separate for up-switching, separate for up-
and download channelsand download channels
following channel quality.following channel quality.

23. 23
PSKmail frames
Frame 1
PSKmail Pipelining for efficient channel use
Frame 2
Frame 3
fail...

24. 24
PSKmail speeds incl.
compression
● Max. measured speed using 500 Hz bandwidth:
2900 chars/min using PSK500 mode on a clear
channel (demo video @ youtube)
● Max. Theoretical speed for 2 kHz bandwidth:
6000 chars/min e.g. using 5 x PSK250R mode
● We use only 500 Hz bandwidth at the moment for
´good citizenship´ on ham bands

25. 25
Flexible mode table to fit channel conditionsFlexible mode table to fit channel conditions

26. 26
PSKmail servers

27. PSKmail 27
● PSKmail offers a gateway
to the use of most modern
communication functions
like:
– Email to any email
address on the
internet or to your
private LAN or VPN
– File upload/download
Internet access gateways

28. PSKmail 28
PSKmail email client

29. PSKmail 29
File upload

30. PSKmail 30
File download

31. PSKmail 31
PSKmail downloads your wx maps

32. PSKmail 32
● PSKmail offers a gateway to the
use of most modern
communication concepts like:
– Email to any email address
on the internet or to your
private LAN or VPN
– File upload/download
– APRS service for managing
your resources
– Twitter, Messaging,
Bulletins
– Web access (Text only)
– Telnet service from client ↔
internet
– Webmail service for internet
↔ local mail
Internet access gateways

33. PSKmail 33
APRS integrated...
Client connects to Xastir or UI-View mapsClient connects to Xastir or UI-View maps
and downloads your APRS locations fromand downloads your APRS locations from
the Server based on your GPS location...the Server based on your GPS location...
This allows you to manage your resourcesThis allows you to manage your resources
efficiently...efficiently...

34. PSKmail 34
Twitter
In several countries disasterIn several countries disaster
response organisationsresponse organisations
are starting to useare starting to use
social mediasocial media toto
disseminatedisseminate
informationinformation

35. PSKmail 35
Twitter integrated
1

36. PSKmail 36
Twitter integrated
1
2

37. PSKmail 37
Twitter integrated
1
2
3

38. PSKmail 38
Delay Tolerant Networking
built in...
● Auto resume of document transfer next
time a client connects after a broken link
● Automatic document forwarding between
servers via HF if necessary
● Automatic Local mail forwarding
between servers via HF if required

39. PSKmail 39
Roll your own functions...
● Ideas from experience with hurricane Sandy:
– Message forwarding between servers
– Add Web server and Wifi access point to the client to
enable users in Red Cross hubs with a working
smart phone to:
● Write their own mails
● Send their own tweets
● Read twitter messages with certain hashtags
… of course only during emergencies...

40. PSKmail 40
Example: www to pskmail server

41. PSKmail 41
Rapid deployment:

42. PSKmail 42
Puppy linux live CD´s
● Preconfigured live CD´s to run in your
xyl´s laptop
– Puppy server
– Puppy client
● Works in any
Windows PC...

43. PSKmail 43
Does it work?
● A German sailor gets his email via KB2PNM
from his anchor place at Clipperton Island.
● PA0R uses the link between PA0R/M @
Castellon de la Plana and SM0RWO (1300 km)
during the winter season on 10 MHz.
● DH5JF-8 uses pskmail APRS on a daily basis..

44. PSKmail 44
Plans for the future
● Port contestia modem from C++ to java
to get rid of fldigi modem crashes
● Test wide band modes (2 kHz) for even
more speed during real emergencies
● Use high speeed modes on VHF/UHF

45. PSKmail 45
CONTACT + INFO:
● http://www.pskmail.org
● PSKmail mailing list on freelists.org
● PSKmail Facebook group
Email: PA0R@pskmail.org

46. PSKmail 46
PSKmail Philosophy
PSKmail offers a flexible software toolkit with all the
functionality you need.
PSKmail is OPEN SOURCE, and it does not lock you into
an external organization like Micro$oft. If you don´t like it
you can change it and add your own functions.
PSKmail does NOT force you into a fixed
communications concept, YOU DECIDE.

47. PSKmail @ GAREC 2013PSKmail @ GAREC 2013
Rein Couperus, PA0RRein Couperus, PA0R
27.06.2013
The swiss army knife for HF digital communicationThe swiss army knife for HF digital communication