July 12-13, 2025

EXERCISE, EXERCISE

This week we will look at an often overlooked feature of Winlink, the catalog.
Begin by navigating to Settings > Winlink Catalog Requests.
On the right side of the new window, click the Update via Internet or the Request Update via Radio button.   You should do this often!
When the catalog update is confirmed, select the weather (WX_) category for your state or area.
Under Description, double click the most local zone for you, then click the Post Request button.
Close this box, then open and start a session (Telnet is OK).
Wait a minute or two and reopen and start a session (Telnet is OK) and accept the SERVICE message.
Select the new SERVICE message from SYSTEM and look for your most relevant report section
Copy the first part to the clipboard, like mine:

IAZ067-090700-
Muscatine-
Including the city of Muscatine
613 PM CDT Tue Jul 8 2025

.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy this evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. West winds around 5 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the mid 80s.
Northwest winds around 5 mph.

Start a new message and select Standard Templates > ICS USA Forms > ICS213 General Message.

Click the Setup button and enter your call or club name
Check THIS IS AN EXERCISE

• 1. Incident Name: Iowa Winlink Weekend
• 2. To (Name/Position): WB0GAG/NCS
• 3. From (Name/Position): enter your name/operator
• 4. Subject: Today's weather
• 5. Date: click to set the date
• 6. Time: click to set the time
• 7. Message: Paste your WX report here.
• 8. Approved by: You
• 8b. Position / Title: As appropriate.
Submit once you have proofread and you are satisfied with the message, click "Post to Outbox".

Send as normal. If you have no radio capability yet, use telnet.