Hi Bill,
I believe you are asking about WINLINK.ORG (WL2K) in your message as AirMail is not a system but rather a client that supports WL2K and general TNC/Modem communictions.
The Navy MARS path is that of an updated MDS BBS system with direct PACTOR connectivity as well as ALE network connectivity. This was in part described in Chief NMCM messges last year, see:
http://www.navymars.org/national/all/default.htmAt present the BBSlink server for MARS-ALE is in development and testing where MARSALE.ORG which provides for the HF e-mail to Internet gateway which NMCM can use has been developed ( along with support for WL2K by Army and AFMARS members ) and next up comes the WA8DED emulation where BBSlink will look like a PACTOR TNC to any legacy BBS system. Any MARS member can request an @marsale.org account which uses standard SMPT/POP3 thus allowing any e-mail client to support its use, webmail will also forthcoming.
With MARS-ALE/BBSlink the Remote ALE user gets the benefit of an ALE LQA SELCAL link 24/7 and thus fast connection to the BBS of their choice and can use any of the MARS-ALE supported Sound Card or external TNC/Modem ARQ protocols for the message traffic automation rather than just PACTOR x. Also, regarless of the MARS Traffic Ssystem BBS being accessed on the backend, you only need to read any traffic if you want to do so, you can list and pick messages you want to read at the time of the link or just send your traffic and clear the link, exactly what a station that is in the field needs.
You can learn more as well as become ALE active by joining the technical forum.
Sincerely,
/s/ Steve Hajducek, N2CKH/AAR2EY/AAA9DHT
U.S. Army MARS Deputy High Technology Coordinator
MARS-ALE Software Development Team Leader
Manager Club Station AAR2CAB Camp Evans, N.J.
aar2ey@marsale.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MARS-ALE/Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of U.S. Army MARS management, or the Department of Army.