Below's a refresher for Winlink.  For anyone reading this, hardware needed is VHF radio, TNC (either external or internal to the radio), Computer, appropriate cabling.

1/  One should have Winlink Express - sometimes called RMS Express - downloaded from winlink.org.

2/  Need to be registered as a Winlink user.

3/  Check and refresh your Winlink account page if you’ve been a user previously.

4/  Connections:  Your TNC if external needs to be connected to the PC and the radio.  If using internal TNC, just connect computer to radio.  This effort can be a bit laborious and frustrating, but not if you’ve had things going before.

5/  Open Winlink.  It is likely on your desktop, but wherever, it is called RMS Express.  If this has not been opened in a while there will be quite a few updates, of which they are frequent.  It may be really helpful to have all the latest TNC stuff when we come to that in a minute...

6/  When Winlink opens, it will (should) be on a page with System Folders on the left, and a series of tabs showing Settings, Message and so forth across the top.  Note the Open Session dialogue box.  Here is where you choose the service you wish to use.  For example, Packet Winlink for VHF, or Winmor for HF.  

SPECIAL NOTE:  Double clicking on the “Open Session” words is what triggers a session.

7/  But before triggering a session, open Settings and check everything there.

8/  Now you are ready to Open Session.  Double click it.

9/  If your TNC is working correctly, it will be initialized, and you will see this happening on the main part of the screen, but…

10/  Probably you will need to choose the right TNC and a few other important bits.  So, on this page, you will see another Settings tab.  It is the second tab at the top, after Exit.  Enter settings and do all that.   Click Update when you are finished.

11/  If you have done all correctly, now your TNC will be initialized and you will clearly see the evidence.  Or not.

12/  Ready to contact?  As of today, you can use Wayne KA1VRF-10 RMS, but you must go through W4AKH-2…. continue to next item 13/

13/  Click the Channel Selection, fourth tab from the left.  Choose KA1VRF-10.  His will be first one listed because they are ordered by distance, closest first.  You’ll be shown the frequency 145.530.  Dial it.

14/  Very important:  See "Connection Type".  For now, must be Digipeater.  When you choose Digipeater, the Via box will light up.  Type W4AKH-2 in it.  This is the route everything will be following.

15/  That’s it.  Almost.  When you are ready to transmit, click Start at the top of the screen.  The main screen will show activity, and it will be obvious if all’s ok.  If you see Disconnected, as I have 1,467 times, something is most likely wrong with one of your settings.  Or your antenna fell down.

From here, you can compose messages, send, receive and all that jazz.