One part of the scourge has been mitigated, the reliance on a sole
source provider (German company SCS - the patent holders on the TNC for
Pactor III)  of hardware to use the Winlink system.  

1)  We Are still lacking open source code and full disclosure.

This leaves us wide open for the 'chosen few' to put whatever back doors
they wish into any link of the system.  This means "when all else fails"
a handful of people have the ability to shut down the remaining global
communications infrastructure if you assume that people continue to rely
on Winlink as the solution.

Maybe they didn't do this, maybe they did, but they are unwilling to
disclose the source code under the guise of 'security'.  Any time I have
run across this in industry (I work as a systems administrator and
security analyst) this is and excuse to cover up a hole or
vulnerability.

2)  The system is still lacking proper DCD to properly avoid interference
with other ongoing communications channels on the same frequencies.

This means that Paclink and Telpac will continue to interfere with
existing communications in a potential time of need.  The system as it
functions now falls directly under intentional interference.  

It is the equivalent of an operator QRM'ng a Mayday distress call on
phone simply because he can't be bothered to recognize the ongoing
traffic before he tries to pass his own traffic.  

Winlink passes its traffic with total disregard for any other traffic
already occurring on its chosen frequency.  It continues to hammer the
frequency until it has completed its traffic so if it gets interference,
it will just keep hammering until it has squashed the other traffic or
caused the other operators to move.

3)  The system has a dependency on the Windows operating system.

This is an operating system that is continually being locked down and
placed under more and more dependency of the 'mother ship' of Microsoft.
Where will you be when your Windows system dies and needs updates to be
unlocked if the internet is down?  How will you call tech support with
no telephones?

Please, I encourage all of you to install this software and see for
yourselves the major issues with this system.  Oh and when you do sign
up, it requires a person to actually approve your account first or you
won't have access to the network....I just hope those who are the blind
believers have their account information handy when disaster strikes as
the moderators of the account process might not be around or reachable.

Unfortunately I became aware of Winlink too late, after too many people
had been bought.  This is something that will be very difficult to wipe
off the face of amateur radio at this stage.  Our only option as
amateurs is to avoid any further adoption at all costs and continue to
pursue open and reliable communications options that don't interfere
with what we already have in place.  

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Mark Thompson <wb9qzb> wrote:
> http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/08/26/10284/?nc=1
>
> New HF Digital Protocol to Debut at DCC WINMOR, an HF digital protocol
> designed for use with the Winlink 2000 network, will be unveiled at
> the upcoming ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Chicago,
> September 26-28.  http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html According to developer
> Rick Muething, KN6KB, WINMOR will effectively eliminate the need for
> external PACTOR hardware.  "This new protocol is implemented through a
> Windows application that uses a computer sound card for all the
> analog-to-digital conversion. It provides error-free ARQ transfers
> within 200, 500 or 2000 Hz bandwidths," Muething said.  In terms of
> throughput, Muething said that the 200-Hz WINMOR mode appears to equal
> the performance of PACTOR I. In WINMOR's 2000 Hz mode, its performance
> RIvals PACTOR III.