Pat — Cross-Platform Winlink Radio Email & Fallback Messaging Client
Protocols: Winlink B2F • Telnet / VARA / ARDOP / AX.25 • UK Regulatory Clearance: MIT software & Telnet/Starlink/5G transport are 100% cleared for UK commercial use. However, UK Amateur Radio Winlink RF gateways (MB7...) are restricted by Ofcom to licensed Radio Amateurs for non-commercial, unencrypted traffic. Commercial B2B sites transmitting over RF must use licensed Ofcom Business Radio data channels or Iridium/Starlink transport.
Architectural Overview
Provides a store-and-forward low-bandwidth email and situation-report gateway over radio or satellite fallback links when primary fibre and cellular WANs are severed.
72-Hour Blackout Plant-Room Use Case
Transport: Telnet over Starlink/5G Failover OR HF/VHF Radio Modem (ARDOP / VARA / AX.25) • RF transmission on Amateur bands requires an Ofcom Amateur Callsign (non-commercial/cleartext); commercial B2B sites must use licensed Ofcom Business Radio data channels or Iridium/Starlink transport.
Production Configuration & Deployment Snippet
# Pat Winlink HTTP Daemon & Transport Configuration (~/.config/pat/config.json) # 1. Commercial B2B Fallback Transport (Telnet over Starlink DC / 5G Backup): pat --listen="telnet,ax25,ardop" http --addr="127.0.0.1:8080" # 2. UK Ofcom Regulatory Notice: # Amateur RF Gateways (MB7*) = Callsign required, non-commercial, cleartext only. # Commercial RF Data = Use licensed Ofcom Business Radio channel or Satellite IP.