Winlink Express Installation and Configuration
Winlink Express is an email client program used to send and receive email messages using amateur radio and the Winlink Global Radio Email network. Download the Winlink Express email client software. Once you download the archived file, open, extract, and run the setup file.
Click the Next button.
Click on User Programs
Click Winlink Express Install
Extract the zipped files
Click the Winlink Express Install
Click on more info
Click on Run Anyway
Click Install and follow the prompts
If you paid for a registration code enter here
Click update now
Type your callsign in the My Callsign field. If you already have a Winlink account, type your password in the My Password field. However, if you do not have a Winlink account, type a new password in the My Password field and an account will be created the first time you connect to the Winlink Common Message Servers (CMS). Type your non-Winlink email address in the Password recovery e-mail field for account recovery. You can add any of the optional Contact Information you would like. Once you are finished, click the Update button.
Click on the Session drop-down list to see a list of session types.
Select Telnet Winlink and click Open Session to the left of the session list.
Click the Start button to test your connection to the Winlink Common Message Servers (CMS).
If this is your first time using Winlink, your account will be created automatically. Once the session has disconnected, click the Exit button.
A valid tactical address in Winlink must follow specific formatting rules and be configured properly in Winlink Express Setup.
Rules for Tactical Addresses
Length: Between 3 and 24 total characters before @winlink.org (or 3 to 12 characters in some legacy client references).
Character Types: Must start with alpha characters only (A–Z). A single dash (-) is allowed to separate text, and alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9) can follow the dash.
Restrictions: No numbers are allowed to the left of the dash, and spaces or special characters are not permitted.
Examples: TSA-EMCOMM1@winlink.org, SHELTER-1@winlink.org, or Gima@winlink.org are valid; 1138TSA@winlink.org or REST STOP ONE@winlink.org are invalid.
Call Sign Distinction: A tactical address is an operational label for a site or role—it does not replace the individual FCC-licensed amateur radio call sign required to legally identify the station.
How to Set Up a Tactical Address in Winlink Express
Open Winlink Express and go to Settings > Winlink Express Setup.
Locate the Auxiliary Callsigns and Tactical Addresses section.
Click Add Entry and input your assigned tactical address and password (if registering an online account).
Check Enabled on the active computer for that site (only one station per site should have it enabled at a time).
Click Save and Update